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Oklahoma City voters will be asked March 4 to approve a temporary one-cent sales tax to pay for improvements to the Ford Center that are expected to put the arena on par with with best National Basketball Association venues in North America, Mayor Mick Cornett said today.

The Seattle SuperSonics have applied to relocate to the city in 2008. The city has contracted with the architects who designed the Ford Center, The Benham Companies, to study the improvements that will be required to bring the arena to NBA standards.

A practice facility, better concession areas, new restaurants and other fan amenities are among the changes expected to be included in the architect's report.

The changes would be funded by a temporary sales tax, to be collected beginning Jan. 1, 2009 -- the day after the MAPS for Kids penny sales tax expires. Cornett said the tax likely would last one year to 15 months and would raise about $100 million to pay for the improvements.

Cornett said the city, working in consultation with the NBA, has determined a new arena won't be needed. The renovations will make the Ford Center comparable with the league's best arenas and will prevent the city from needing a new arena for many years.

"This is basically the equivalent of a new arena," Cornett said. "It should last at least 15 years. We'll have a state-of-the art arena."

City officials considered including Ford Center improvements in a MAPS 3 initiative expected to go to a vote late next year, but Cornett said it can't wait.

NBA owners are scheduled to vote on the SuperSonics relocation request in April. Cornett said the improvements must be approved before then to convince the league Oklahoma City is committed to hosting an NBA franchise permanently.