Another signpost was reached on Tuesday on the path toward a potential new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The OKC City Council voted in favor of holding a special Dec. 12 election to determine if the new arena plan gets approved.
The vote will ask OKC residents if they are interested in continuing its current one-cent sales tax for an additional six years. The new arena proposal also states that construction costs will be at least $900 million with $50 million of that contributed by Thunder ownership.
If approved, a new OKC arena will be opened by the 2029-30 season.
Paycom Center — the Thunder’s current home — is ranked near the bottom of the league in size and age. After their 15-year lease expired earlier this year, the Thunder agreed to sign a three-year lease to stay at Paycom Center until 2026.
The short-term lease allowed the Thunder and OKC to negotiate the details of a new arena proposal and begin construction.
Press release from the City of OKC on today’s City Council approval for a Dec. 12 vote on a new arena: pic.twitter.com/l2Gr1nkk8L
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) September 26, 2023
The full meeting can be watched below:
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]