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State of Downtown Event - Unveiling of the 2025 State of Downtown Report

2025 STATE OF DOWNTOWN TULSA HIGHLIGHTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS VISITOR TRENDS

TULSA, OK (May 1, 2025) - Nearly $2 billion has been invested by the public and private sectors in Downtown since 2008. Current active construction projects total more than $800 million with an estimated $400 million in the development pipeline. Downtown Tulsa is the region’s center of economic activity. This data and other indicators and trends were presented in the 2025 State of Downtown Tulsa report by Downtown Tulsa Partnership.

Downtown Tulsa Partnership hosted its third annual State of Downtown event on Thursday, May 1, at Gradient Innovation Lab, convening civic and business leaders and community stakeholders to discuss progress and opportunities of Downtown Tulsa. Key findings and data trends from the 2025 State of Downtown Tulsa report were presented followed by a discussion featuring leaders from Tulsa Community College, OSU Medical Center, James Mountain Inhoff VA Hospital in Tulsa, and Gradient Innovation lab, moderated by Jason Collington, Executive Editor of the Tulsa World. Attendees also heard from City of Tulsa Deputy Mayor Krystal Reyes about the administration’s early priorities for and commitment to Downtown Tulsa.

“This year’s report showcases the incredible investments and projects being made across multiple sectors and districts of our Downtown,” said Brian Kurtz, Downtown Tulsa Partnership President & CEO. “From three new hospital buildings to mixed-use infill developments and a proposed convention center hotel, these investments must be protected with intentional investments in infrastructure and services to attract residents, workers, and visitors to this growing neighborhood.”

Downtown Tulsa Partnership annually publishes the State of Downtown Tulsa report, along with regularly updated online data dashboards, to provide a data-rich overview of ongoing development, economic growth, and opportunities that exist.

Highlights from the 2025 State of Downtown report include:

  • Downtown’s workforce maintains roughly 80% pre-2020 levels, indicating that growth in new and emerging employment sectors is needed to increase daytime populations
  • Private and public sector investments and development since 2008 total nearly $2 billion. Active projects currently under construction total more than $800 million
  • Total visits to Downtown decreased for the first time since 2020, driven in part by fewer national events hosted in Tulsa drawing visitors to Downtown from around the country.
  • Ticket sales at Downtown’s major entertainment venues grew 14% between 2023 and 2024 showing that Downtown remains a regional destination for culture and entertainment.
  • More than 250 rental units were delivered in 2024 with 580 more expected to open in 2025.
  • National and regional data show that these three sectors are expected to see some of the strongest employment gains over the next decade:
    • Accommodation and Food Services: projected to grow by 17%
    • Health Care and Social Assistance: anticipated to expand by 9%
    • Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (PSTS): forecasted to increase by 10.5%
  • Nearly $1B in active and proposed developments will reshape the west side of Downtown including the Academic Medical Campus and a new 600 to 650-key convention center hotel.

The development pipeline indicates that we expect to see more than $1.2 billion in completed projects over the next three to five years, approximately 2/3 of development value from the 15 prior years.

“We maintain a positive outlook on the future of Downtown Tulsa,” said Kurtz. “It’s apparent that Downtown’s economy and workforce must evolve to maximize daytime and resident populations that are critical to our future. The opportunities ahead are greater than that challenges we experience today, and DTP is committed to cross-sector partnerships and championing solutions that achieve a growing and welcoming environment.”

The 2025 State of Downtown Report can be found online at downtowntulsa.com/report.