Construction At Promenade For New Tulsa Oilers Ice Rinks Nearly Halfway Done

The Tulsa Oilers' new practice ice hockey rink at Promenade Mall is almost halfway through construction.

The former department store is seeing more activity than it has in years.

As the old Macy's gets flipped into a space for the Tulsa Oilers to practice, sparks are flying and there's movement everywhere inside.

"Eight to nine aerial lifts working all at the same time in concert, while they're pouring concrete, while they're digging out dirt. Yesterday we ran close to 100 dump trucks in and out the front door,” Oilers owner, Andy Scruto said.

Scurto credits the construction company for taking quick action to meet a deadline.

"Thompson Construction has done a phenomenal job of doing a project that should have probably taken two years, in one,” he said.

The western rink is starting to take shape, with plans for concrete to be poured later this summer. On the east side, things are just getting started.

One of the few reminders of Macy's left right now, is some of the tile flooring.

Scurto said they are keeping the escalator in place, which will take people up to the sports bar on the second floor.

With 800 pages of plans to stick to, Scurto said they are still on track to wrap up this fall.

"The target originally was October, it may bleed a little into November,” he said.

From shopping to skating, the space will have a new life in just a few months.