This arena deal will almost surely increase the spotlight on the cost of this amenity to the city as a whole.

At $1B of capital cost, citizens should be advocating for a line item budget of the arena itself.

It would be nice if the article weren't behind a pay wall so everyone could see the claims and start to learn what's going on. I know it happens but l find it hard to believe millions of dollars are just being disbursed with no on-the-spot oversight and approval.

https://archive.ph/20241117134605/https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/local/oklahoma-city/2024/11/17/paycom-center-okc-audit-overfunded-millions/76135597007/

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2025/01/16/paycom-center-okc-2025-shows-events/77724255007/


From a farewell show for country music icon Alan Jackson to a fall stop on popular comedian Nate Bargatze's world tour, Oklahoma City's Paycom Center is planning an eventful 2025 after a record-breaking year in 2024.

The downtown OKC arena ended 2024 having hosted 41 concert events, breaking the venue's previous record of 37 comedy or music shows in 2022.

“Paycom Center is proud to represent the region as a top destination for touring events,” General Manager Chris Semrau said in a statement. “Our team works tirelessly to bring the best entertainment to the community, and that hard work is reflected in another record-breaking year.”

The best-selling arena in Oklahoma for 2024, Paycom Center moved up to No. 38 in the United States and No. 60 worldwide on Pollstar’s end-of-year list of Top 200 Arenas. Pollstar is a leading trade publication covering the global concert business.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/2025/01/16/paycom-center-okc-2025-shows-events/77724255007/

But I was told that the Paycom was a total PoS and nobody wanted to perform there.

But I was told that the Paycom was a total PoS and nobody wanted to perform there.

Literally no one told you that.

LOL pretty sure literally nobody made that case. That said, this bodes extremely well for the future of concert bookings in the new building, which besides the newness and improved attendee comfort will allow more back-to-back and large stage set shows due to greatly improved load-in/load-out circumstances,

LOL pretty sure literally nobody made that case. That said, this bodes extremely well for the future of concert bookings in the new building, which besides the newness will allow more back-to-back and large stage set shows due to greatly improved load-in/load-out circumstances,

I believe that's what people said Paycom isn't capable of. A quick conversion from basketball to concert back to basketball, with 42 dates a year already booked plus playoff holds. We do miss some shows because of the physical limitation of the building.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The bigger logistical issue is a cramped loading dock that doesn’t allow simultaneous load-out and load-in. Drastically reduces the window for back-to-back events of any kind, although basketball is not as much of a limiting factor because all of the equipment is already on-site.