OKC voters approved the proposal to build a new downtown arena that will house the Oklahoma City Thunder for several generations on Tuesday. An overwhelming 71% of voters voted in support of it.
The arena proposal approved included a $900 million cost for the publicly-owned venue with $50 million contributed by Thunder ownership. At least $70 million will come from the MAPS 4 project.
Once completed, the Thunder have pledged to sign a 25-year lease. The venue is scheduled to open by the 2029-30 season.
In the aftermath, Thunder fans celebrated on social media. Notable figures such as Thunder owner Clay Bennett released a statement on the election’s result. NBA commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement.
The approval likely means OKC is guaranteed to keep the Thunder for the long haul.
“A signature of the Oklahoma City Thunder, beyond the team’s success on the floor, has been their deep connection to their fans and their community. This vote for a new arena is another example of that bond,” per Silver’s statement.
“We are grateful to the people of Oklahoma City for the confidence they have shown in both the Thunder and the NBA as we embark on a new era of global sports and entertainment.”
The approval means the Thunder will remain in OKC beyond their current three-year arena lease. The Thunder franchise relocated from Seattle in 2008.
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