Olympic events confirmed. A downtown stadium and surrounding district announced, a massive water park and swim lagoon to open, and we should see conceptual plans for the new $1 billion arena.
Here is a quick summary of some of the biggest projects in and around Oklahoma City.
$1 Billion Arena
OKC citizens voted to fund a new $1 billion downtown arena, which will be located on the site of the old Cox Center.Demolition will start in the next few months and conceptual plans should follow shortly thereafter.
The goal is for the Thunder to play home games in the new facility by the 2028/29 season.
Boardwalk at Bricktown
While there is still considerable skepticism regarding Legends Tower, proposed as the tallest building in the U.S., we await the start of this project's first phase, which is to include three 27-story towers.The Dream Hotel would be flanked by two residential buildings and the whole thing would share a common podium with parking and commercial/restaurant space.
The California developer promised a summer start, but thus far there have been no permits filed, let alone dirt moving.
Downtown Stadium District
As part of MAPS 4 with additional public funding, OKC will finally get a dedicated outdoor stadium.The site will be the former Producers Coop south of Bricktown and will be part of a larger retail and entertainment district.
Preliminary planning has commenced for the stadium and more details regarding the surrounding commercial development should be shared in 2025.
2028 Olympic Games
Official confirmation was received of LA28 Olympic events coming to OKC. In fact, it proved to be more than just the whitewater canoe slalom events, but also the entire softball competition.Grandstands and other amenities will be added in advance of both the 2026 Canoe Slalom World Cup and the 2028 games. Improvements have already been drawn up for Devon Park.
This will put Oklahoma City on a truly international stage with publicity you simply cannot buy.
OKANA Indoor Waterpark and Resort
A 100,000 square foot indoor waterpark, a massive outdoor swim lagoon, tons of restaurants, shopping, a hotel, convention center… That’s OKANA well under construction next to the First Americans Museum on the Oklahoma River.The hotel will open in late February and the waterpark and the rest should be ready to go this spring.
OAK Lifestyle Center
The 20-acre site at NW Expressway and Penn opened its first phase this fall, with Capital Grill, Arhaus, Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, Williams Sonoma, a stand-alone Pottery Barn, Lively Hotel, and luxury apartments.Many more restaurants and retail stores to come, including Mesero and a large RH Gallery with a rooftop restaurant and bar.
The Half
The Half at Broadway Extension and Britton is doubling in size, all the way to Wilshire. Already featuring Chcken n Pickle, Flix Brewhouse and more, The Half also opened a large apartment community. Andretti will open in 2025 and add a hotel, Popstroke, and a bunch more restaurants will follow.
Convergence
Rising just east of downtown prominently along I-235, Convergence will feature offices, bio tech, an Innovation Hall and in a future phase, a hotel.
Alley North
This project is moving forward with a new headquarters for Guernsey Engineers and Architects to start this year, one of the first timber-framed large structures in the state.After announcing Papadeaux, the seafood chain backed out but is looking for another site in the OKC area. Alley North will add a hotel, retail, and apartments.
Wheeler District
With hundreds of sold homes, restaurants, a brewery, apartments under construction and of course the iconic Ferris wheel, the Wheeler District on the site of the old Downtown Airpark continues to wow on S. Western.In 2025 they added lots more homes, started construction on an apartment project, and opened AKAI Sushi. Much more housing, a pizza place, and more coming for 2025 and beyond.
The Citizen
12-story building next to the OKC Memorial opened this fall with offices, a restaurant and a private club.
Page Woodson
Quiety, a huge and popular mega-housing complex is finishing its final phases on the northeast side. In addition to a beautifully restored former Douglas high school, lots of new construction has been built all around serving many workers and students at the neighboring Health Sciences Center.
State Fairgrounds Coliseum
Well under construction, once complete the neighboring Norick Arena will be demolished and in 2025 OKC will have a brand new, state-of-the-art facility primarily for hosting horse shows which have become a huge economic engine for the city.
Zoo Improvements
The new Exhibition Africa exhibit formally opened this spring just as a massive new marine mammal habitat has started on the site of the old Aquaticus. Not only will there be an elaborate new indoor/outdoor area for sea lions but we’ll be getting a big penguin display. The zoo also revealed a long-term master plan which includes millions in future improvements.
Planetarium
The new $8 million state-of-the-art planetarium opened at Science Museum Oklahoma this year.The new facility is located in the space formerly known as the Omnidome at the east end of the complex.
UNP Arena
In Norman, a huge entertainment complex with a brand new arena for OU basketball is in the planning stages in University North Park near Rock Creek Road and I-35.
The Armory
Although plans for a conversion to a hotel have stalled, stay tuned for more details about a live music venue, taproom, and restaurant coming to this amazing building.Formal plans should be announced early in 2025.
Gold Dome
Could this be the year the Gold Dome finally comes back to life? A Tulsa concert promoter has proposed a complete renovation into a live music venue.
