Tag: David Holt

BREAKING: OKC voters approve new OKC Thunder arena proposal

BREAKING: OKC voters approve new OKC Thunder arena proposal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder will remain in OKC for the foreseeable future following Tuesday’s voter approval to continue a one-cent tax for six years. Approximately 71% of the 57,926 ballots were in support of extending the tax to fund the construction of a new arena.

The vote caps more than a year of discussions and negotiations. It means the Thunder will get a new home to replace Paycom Center, which has been the home of the Thunder since they arrived in 2008.

The ballot proposal called for the tax extension and the creation of an arena facility sales tax fund that would be used to pay for a new publicly owned venue that will cost, at minimum, $900 million. The ballot proposal also spelled out the Thunder will play at the new arena for at least 25 years.

Though not on the ballot, the Thunder agreed to contribute $50 million toward construction, and at least $70 million will come from the MAPS 4 project. The facility is projected to open by the 2029-30 season.

Following the lopsided election win, Thunder owner Clay Bennett released the following statement:

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement on the new arena approval:

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The Thunder have played at Paycom Center since they arrived in 2008, but the arena itself opened in 2002, making it one of the oldest/smallest NBA arenas.

The long-term 15-year lease expired this year, which resulted in the Thunder signing a three-year lease that ends in 2026.

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PHOTOS: Best images from OKC pro-arena kickoff campaign

Let’s look at the best photos from the kickoff campaign even centered around supporting a new arena that would secure the long-term future of the Thunder.

Following the approval to conduct a Dec. 12 election on the continuation of a one-cent tax, OKC Mayor David Holt hosted a campaign kickoff event downtown to support the passing of a new arena proposal.

If passed by voters, a new OKC arena will become the long-term home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who are currently signed to a short-term lease with Paycom Center that expires in 2026.

During the event, Holt spoke about the importance of building a new arena that is more suited to host an NBA team. The $900 million-plus investment will include a $50 million contribution by Thunder ownership.

Let’s look at some of the best photos of the event.

OKC Mayor David Holt talks about remembering history, new arena changes and more

. @CAlmanza1007 spoke with OKC Mayor David Holt about the new arena proposal following Thursday’s kickoff campaign event.

OKLAHOMA CITY — In less than three months, a new OKC arena will be voted on by local residents to determine the fate of the current proposal.

The Dec. 12 vote will ask OKC residents if they wish to continue the current one-cent special tax rate for six additional years to fund a new arena.

The current proposal projects the construction costs of a new arena to be at least $900 million with $50 million contributed by Thunder ownership. The opening is planned for the 2029-30 season.

If tax is approved, the long-term future of the Oklahoma City Thunder will be secured. The Thunder have promised they will sign a 25-year lease for the new building. The team’s current lease at Paycom Center expires in 2026.

On Thursday, OKC Mayor David Holt hosted a kickoff event at Scissortail Park for the pro-arena campaign. He re-emphasized the importance of a new arena and why OKC needs to build it to keep the Thunder.

“The truth of the matter is no one thinks we should have this team except for the people in the city, the people who own this team and the people I’m looking at right now,” Holt said.

Afterward, Holt spoke to local media and answered questions about the campaign and the new arena proposal. USA TODAY’s Thunder Wire asked him a handful of questions.

The conversation is lightly edited for clarity.

OKC City Council approves Dec. 12 vote for potential new Thunder arena

A special OKC election will be held on Dec. 12 for the approval of a new arena proposal.

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.

The full meeting can be watched below:

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OKC Thunder to remain at Paycom Center until new arena is built

The Thunder’s current lease at Paycom Center expires in 2026, but it sounds like they’ll stay there until a new arena is built.

While OKC will — hopefully — begin the process of constructing a new arena soon, it appears Paycom Center will remain the home of the Oklahoma City Thunder for the time being.

In a press conference following the announcement of details of a new arena, OKC Mayor David Holt confirmed to local reporters the Thunder will remain at Paycom Center until a new arena is built.

The plan is for a new arena to be open by the 2029-30 season. The estimated construction cost will be over $900 million with Thunder ownership chipping in $50 million.

Pending voters’ approval, a new arena will secure the long-term future of the franchise in OKC as it will keep the Thunder in town beyond 2050.

Building a new arena takes several years to complete, so Holt saying the Thunder will stay at Paycom Center confirms they’ll sign a second short-term lease if necessary.

After their 15-year lease expired earlier this year, the Thunder elected to sign a short-term three-year lease that keeps them at Paycom Center until 2026. The new arena likely will not be ready by then, which means the Thunder will have to sign a third lease with Paycom Center.

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New OKC Thunder arena details officially revealed

The new OKC arena will cost at least $900 million and will be open by the 2029-30 season.

OKC Mayor David Holt announced the full details of a proposed new arena that will keep the Oklahoma City Thunder in town for the foreseeable future.

After openly discussing the benefits of a new arena for more than a year, the wheels are finally in motion to begin the process of building the Thunder a new home.

Some details of the finalized plan for a new arena are:

  • The project will cost at least $900 million; sales tax will not increase.
  • Thunder ownership will commit $50 million for the publicly-owned arena.
  • At least $70 million will come from the MAPS 4 project.
  • The arena will secure the Thunder’s future in OKC beyond 2050 via a 25-year lease, with it opening by the 2029-30 season.

The new arena is pending official approval of a temporary one-cent sales tax vote that will take place on Dec. 12. The temporary tax will start after the expiration of the MAPS 4 increase. As a result, OKC’s current sales tax rate will not increase.

In an official statement, Holt also spoke about how desperately OKC citizens wanted a new agreement to be made between both parties, citing the cultural importance of having a professional sports team in the small-market city:

“As this very public discussion played out over the last year, the people of Oklahoma City have overwhelmingly expressed to me two desires – 1) keep the Thunder for as long as possible, and 2) don’t raise taxes if it can be avoided. We have accomplished those two priorities with this plan, and it is truly a win-win for all of us. Perhaps the most important aspect of the deal is the length – this is twice the commitment we received in 2008 and will keep the Thunder here beyond 2050. My children will be my age when this agreement ends.  For a generation, we will retain the economic impact and quality-of-life benefits we have enjoyed as a big-league City. It is an investment that pays for itself many times over.  With this new arena, we will also continue the aspirational investments in ourselves that our residents have made for a century. We will construct an arena worthy of America’s 20th-largest City, leaving a legacy to future generations.”

Thunder owner/chairman Clay Bennett also released an official statement about the news:

“For fifteen years the Thunder has been honored to help lead the transformation of Oklahoma City and enhance the tremendous pride our citizens have in their community. We now have an opportunity to build on that progress, advance our status as a true big-league City, continue to grow our economy and secure the long-term future of the Thunder. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mayor Holt, members of the City Council, and the forward-thinking business and civic leaders in our community. Together we can develop an arena to serve as a crowning achievement in the ongoing renaissance of Oklahoma City.”

The Thunder have played at Paycom Center since their arrival in 2008 — but the arena itself opened in 2002, making it one of the oldest/smallest NBA arenas.

The long-term 15-year lease expired earlier this year, which resulted in the Thunder signing a short-term three-year lease that ends in 2026.

The short lease gave the Thunder and OKC extra time to work out the details for a new arena. Paycom Center will remain the home of the Thunder until the new arena is built, which means a second short-term lease might be necessary if the new home is not ready by 2026.

The full official statement on the new proposed arena can be found here.

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Recap: OKC Mayor David Holt talks about a potential new arena

“It is time to plan for a new arena and 2023 is the year to make that commitment.”

During last year’s State of the City address, OKC Mayor David Holt brought up the possibility of building a new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Thunder’s lease at Paycom Center ends in 2026 after they signed a short-term extension. But considering the size and age of the arena — both near the bottom of the league — it’s almost time to build a new NBA home to secure the long-term future of the franchise.

In this year’s State of the City address, Holt spoke more in-depth about a new arena, saying it’s time to take the next steps in the multi-year process and come to an agreement on a proposal before the end of 2023.

Let’s look at the biggest takeaways from Holt’s address and the details he provided about a new potential arena.

Sam Presti talks about potential new arena in end-of-season press conference

Here’s what Sam Presti had to say about talks of a potential new arena.

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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Thunder GM Sam Presti comments on new potential arena and concerns of it being publicly funded

With Sam Presti being the face of the Thunder, it was important to hear his comments on the possibility of a new arena.

The talk of the summer for the Oklahoma City Thunder centered on a potential new arena down the road.

During his State of the City address, OKC Mayor David Holt brought up a new arena being necessary to secure the long-term future of the franchise.

This was the first time a new arena was publicly brought up by either the city or franchise. Holt said he did so to give the city a heads up of what the future will likely hold.

The Thunder have played in Paycom Center since they moved in 2008, and the arena itself was opened in 2002. With the arena being a little over 20 years old, Holt said it has reached its ceiling in terms of modifications and upgrades and that it’s time to start talking about a new arena.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti spoke about a potential new arena for the first time in his preseason media availability and said the franchise holds a very endearing relationship with the city.

“What I can say about that is the first thing that needs to be said is the relationship between the civic leadership here and the organization is uncommon. It’s a very — it’s all part of what makes the basketball in Oklahoma City so unique. I’ve tried to explain that to people in the league and with the other teams and stuff like that. It really is unique. It’s a unique place.

“Now, part of it is because of how we started 15 years ago when we arrived. That starting point, like from scratch, from nothing, from no logo — this was nonexistent — you build relationships, and I think that you also recognize that the mutual value of those relationships. So that’s the greatest thing when I hear Mayor Holt speak.

“And those relationships will be important as time goes on, but I’m really confident that they’ll be a great partnership as there has been since the day we arrived. I like to think part of that is also because we’ve tried to be a great partner with the community.

“I said at the end of my last press conference — I don’t want to say the end, but somewhere in there — we were pretty limited in what we could do in the community with COVID, and I kind of made a statement like we’ll be back out there, and we have been. This past summer, we’ve been out there quite a bit, and it’s been awesome.

“I know that stuff doesn’t get covered as much anymore because it happens a lot, and I think that’s a good thing because it’s normative. But we’re in the community almost every day doing something. We got something going — I think we’re unveiling another Thunder Court near Scissortail Park. We’ve got the book bus recently. Someone sent me pictures of Jalen, J. Will at a Loves with their granddaughter. That’s just very unique here, you know what I mean.

“That gives me the opportunity to say to J. Will, hey, when we talk about being a Thunder player, this is part of that. Now, a lot of guys that have been here for the last two years haven’t had the full 360 experience of what being a Thunder player is because they haven’t had the opportunity to be out in the community.

“I think that’s part of the reciprocity of a relationship. We’ve always taken it seriously. We want to be representative, and there’s a mutual aspiration for what the city can potentially be.

“When we arrived here, we had this thematic thing that said rise together. Most of you remember that. Some of you may be too young. But rise together with the city and the team was aspirational to get to the point where we have some of these things.

“The thing I love about Mayor Holt is he’s maintained that aspiration to strive for having first class things in Oklahoma City. I think that’s great.”

Presti was also asked about the concerns of some members in the Oklahoma City community of a new arena being publicly funded despite the franchise being worth $1.6 billion. Presti took the diplomatic approach of answering the question by essentially saying all sides should be listened to so that there can be a compromised solution.

“I think everybody has a right to an opinion. That’s what makes the country and community we have great. I think those concerns should be heard, and I think the people that feel otherwise should be heard as well. Hopefully through that process, there can be an honest exchange of ideas without there being a polarized point of view of right and wrong or your tribe and my tribe or everything’s wrong in the world.

“Like the only way to get to that is thoughtful discourse, respectful discourse, but I definitely think that your points are all taken and people should be heard. I think vice versa, to be heard, you also have to be willing to let other people be heard as well. Hopefully we can come to a place where everybody feels like they’ve been heard.”

The answers to these questions likely will not be learned for a long time — perhaps even several years — as the process of planning and building a new arena is a multi-year commitment. But with Presti being the face of the Thunder, it was important to hear his comments on the possibility of a new arena.

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Oklahoma City officials considering building Thunder a new arena, per The Oklahoman

Oklahoma City considering building the Thunder a new home, per The Oklahoman.

The Oklahoman reported in a recent article that Mayor David Hold will consider building a new arena for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The team’s contract with Paycom Center expires in 2023 but the city was able to agree to a three-year extension with the arena.

The Thunder have played at Paycom Center — previously called Chesapeake Energy Arena — since the team arrived from Seattle in 2008.

A new arena for the Thunder locks up the long-term future with the franchise staying in Oklahoma City — although that was never really into question as the franchise is still relatively new.

The Thunder are owned by Clay Bennett — who grew up in Oklahoma City and owns his businesses locally.

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