Fresh off their 2025 NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder are charging into the future, this time with architectural ambition. During his annual State of the City address, Mayor David Holt unveiled the first renderings of the Thunder’s new downtown arena, a $900 million project set to open in 2028.
The new venue, designed by renowned architect David Manica, promises to be a transformative landmark for Oklahoma City. Featuring a striking 360-degree glass curtain wall, the arena will offer panoramic views of the skyline and surrounding parks, including the adjacent Myriad Botanical Gardens. The transparent design isn’t just aesthetic, it’s symbolic of the city’s openness, growth, and connection to community.
The arena’s elevated main entrance, set atop a grand podium, leads into a unified concourse space that blends upper and lower levels. Inside, the seating bowl is engineered for intimacy and energy, with optimized sight lines that bring fans closer to the action. A new iteration of Thunder Alley, the team’s signature fan zone, will be built into the arena’s footprint, offering street-level engagement and pregame excitement.
Architect Manica described the design as “transparent and authentic,” adding that the shared concourse space will foster a sense of unity among fans.
“The city becomes a backdrop for every experience in the arena,” he said.
The arena will be constructed across the street from the current Paycom Center, which will remain the Thunder’s home through the 2027–28 season. Once the new venue opens, the team will sign a lease that keeps them in Oklahoma City through 2053, ensuring long-term stability for the franchise.
Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett praised the project as a “unique and transformative downtown landmark” that celebrates the spirit of competition and strengthens Oklahoma City’s global identity.
The $900 million cost will be covered by a 72-month, one-cent sales tax, approved by voters in December 2023. Additional funding includes $78 million from MAPS 4 and $50 million from the Thunder’s ownership group. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, following the demolition of the former Myriad Convention Center.
The arena will be built by Oklahoma-based Flintco and national firm Mortenson, both of which have extensive experience in sports venue construction.
OH MY GOD THEY COOKED
THE NEW OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER ARENA RENDERINGS ARE HERE AND THEY ARE INSANE pic.twitter.com/3d0vHmpZ4x
— ThunderChats (@ThunderChats) July 16, 2025
A peek into the future of downtown OKC.
Preliminary conceptual designs of the Oklahoma City New Arena 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/d3hCpwMTZH
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) July 16, 2025
A first look at the Thunder’s future $1 billion arena in downtown Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/nzYrdJ370i
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) July 16, 2025
