It’ll be a years-long process, but discussions for a new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder began last summer when OKC Mayor David Holt brought up the importance of it.
The creation of a new building would guarantee the Thunder’s long-term future in Oklahoma City. The Thunder are playing in Paycom Center, which is the smallest arena in the league. It has been their home since their inaugural 2008-09 season.
When asked for updates in his end-of-season press conference, Thunder general manager Sam Presti essentially said the ball is in OKC’s court.
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“That’s really a Mayor Holt thing, so I’d really defer to him,” Presti said. “I know he’s talked about it a little bit publicly, but I don’t want to like step out of my lane on that. It’s really his thing.
“I commend him because he’s thinking forward about the future of the city, and I think that’s what’s driving his focus on that. But I don’t want to talk about that without — he’s the one that needs to speak about it, I think.”
As said, this will likely take several years to plan as building a new arena is a complex and expensive project. While it’ll be a while before we get an actual update, it’s a clear positive sign that both the city and franchise seem to be on the same page when it comes to the importance of a new arena.
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