BOK Center execs plans to build eight more suites and a "VIP lounge for new suites on the facility's top level," according to Zack Stoycoff of the TULSA WORLD. The construction would expand the arena's "luxury viewing options for the first time, increasing the number of suites to 45." The arena opened in '08 with 33 suites "it rents on mulityear contracts, mostly ranging from 12 to 15 seats, and four 'party suites' it rents for single events." The renovation will add six "leased suites with 12 to 24 seats -- dubbed 'Skylofts' because they are on the arena's top level -- two 20-seat party suites and a 1,500-square-foot food lounge with a bar, televisions and couch seating." The new suites will "replace two rows of regular ticketed seats at the bottom of the third level, bringing a slight net decrease of seats in those sections." The suites "will have direct access to the VIP lounge, which will be built in nearby concourse space used for temporary food vendors." Initial phases of the construction began this week, and BOK Center Dir of Business Development Evan Falat said that work is "optimistically expected to finish in stages in October and November." The project's cost is listed at just under $800,000, but Falat indicated that the figure "may change after the project's final bids are reviewed Friday" (TULSA WORLD, 7/18).