Lucas Oil Live

777 Casino Ave., Thackerville, OK 73459 United States

Building Area (sf): 250,000

Completion: 11/7/2023

Lucas Oil Live is a premier entertainment destination crafted to deliver an immersive, high-energy experience for guests, featuring 6,500 seats with optimal sightlines and seamless venue access. Designed for flexibility, it hosts a variety of events from concerts and sports to conventions and community gatherings, making it a cultural anchor in the region.

The architectural design of Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Resort, just an hour from Dallas, Texas, establishes a vibrant entertainment destination, where every aspect is crafted to enhance the guest experience. The journey begins at the southern six-story parking garage, with a seamless, climate-controlled connection to the events venue via a glass skyway. Guests descend a monumental stairwell into the energetic concourse before entering the auditorium, which accommodates 6,500 seats designed for popular-music events.

Beyond its role as an entertainment hub, Lucas Oil Live is crafted as a versatile, multipurpose venue that adapts seamlessly for a range of community events. Its infrastructure is designed to support concerts, sporting events, large conventions, and local gatherings, positioning it as a cultural cornerstone for the region. With a spacious concourse, abundant concession and retail areas, and thoughtfully placed restrooms, the venue promotes smooth guest flow, ensuring an enjoyable experience during high-capacity events. This blend of functionality and modern amenities strengthens the venue’s role in fostering a sense of community connection and belonging for diverse audiences.

The interiors of Lucas Oil Live are inspired by the dynamic energy of sound waves, equalizer patterns, and rhythm, embodying a contemporary “rock-and-roll” aesthetic enhanced with refined, hospitality-driven elegance. The venue’s layout is thoughtfully designed to offer every guest a welcoming and immersive experience. The fan-shaped hall and strategically placed entry points create a seamless flow throughout, with each of the 6,500 seats carefully positioned to provide unobstructed sightlines—ensuring that every guest enjoys a prime view of the performance. The events center offers an elevated experience across several seating levels including Club-Level Seating and a V.I.P. Lounge.

To meet the needs of top-tier performers, the back-stage areas have been designed for maximum functionality. The dock, stage room, catering, green rooms, and meet-and-greet areas offer all the amenities required for national tours, allowing for streamlined loading, efficient touring preparation, and a comfortable experience for marquee acts.

The success of Lucas Oil Live at WinStar Resort directly empowers the Chickasaw Nation to make a positive, lasting impact on its Native American community. Revenue generated from these vibrant destinations helps fund essential services and community initiatives for tribal members, ensuring access to quality healthcare, comprehensive education programs, and the development of cultural centers that preserve and celebrate Chickasaw heritage. These profits also support a range of social services, from housing assistance to youth programs, strengthening the tribe's self-sufficiency and resilience. By reinvesting in its people and infrastructure, the Chickasaw Nation leverages the success of these facilities to build a sustainable future that honors tradition while embracing progress.

1. This distinctive venue transcends the ordinary, boasting a rebellious rock & roll-inspired design that harmonizes glass, unique LED lighting elements, and an angled structure. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
2. Project Floorplan showing 60,000 SF event center with seating for 6,500 on 3 levels; VIP lounge; VIP party room; 100,000 SF of pre-function and amenity space including restrooms, 8 concession stands, security, back of house kitchens, and vertical circulation.
3. Exploring the volumetric design of Lucas Oil Live at WinStar World Resort, this 3D axonometric diagram reveals the dynamic structure and spatial layering that enhance sightlines, access, and overall guest experience in the 6,500-seat entertainment venue.
4. The exterior’s angled glass, offering an unobstructed view of the thematic soundwave motif within. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
5. The exterior’s angled glass, offering an unobstructed view of the thematic soundwave motif within. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
6. From the entry bridge, the design narrative unfolds, with a ribbon of fins winding through the pre-function area, complemented by a rock-inspired color palette in denim-like hues of purples, blues, and greys. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
7. Drawing from imagery associated with charting sound, including graphic equalizers, sound waves, and instruments measuring amplification, every element reflects a connection to the world of music. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
8. Concessions - This infusion of rock and roll aesthetics is heightened by the strategic use of black paneled walls and exposed industrial elements like steel braces, creating a visual bridge from the front of the house to the stage. Wood elements on the ceiling add warmth, completing the immersive experience. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
9. Club Level - This infusion of rock and roll aesthetics is heightened by the strategic use of black paneled walls and exposed industrial elements like steel braces, creating a visual bridge from the front of the house to the stage. Wood elements on the ceiling add warmth, completing the immersive experience. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography
10. Operational needs are the heartbeat of any successful venue, and at Lucas Oil Live, the design team’s solution for the flat floor near the stage seamlessly accommodates a wide array of events. Photography by Dero Sanford / ThinkDero Architectural Photography