Another milestone was achieved on Tuesday for a potential new arena the Oklahoma City Thunder would call home.
OKC Mayor David Holt unveiled the details of Paycom Center’s successor, but an important temporary one-cent sales tax vote remains to be decided. If the vote on Dec. 12 approves the extension of the sales tax, then arena plans will be finalized.
The new arena is expected to cost at least $900 million and is planned to open by the 2029-30 season. The Thunder will sign a 25-year lease once the building is open and that will keep them in OKC beyond 2050.
If everything goes to plan, a new arena will guarantee the Thunder’s tenure in OKC will outlast the Supersonics’ tenure in Seattle.
By 2050, the Thunder will have played 42 years in OKC since their arrival in 2008. The Sonics were only in Seattle for 41 years, from 1967 to 2008.
A pretty interesting fact considering how some circles within the NBA community still view the Thunder as foreign and unwelcome considering how OKC acquired them.
By the time a new arena opens, maybe both sides can have their way. There’s been talks over the last several years of the NBA expanding soon and Seattle is always listed as one of the top preferred choices for fans.
The Sonics returning to Seattle as an expansion team could cool the animosity between both franchises.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]