Paycom Center (formerly Chesapeake Arena)

[jedicurt]

Paycom Center: Home arena of the Oklahoma City Coyotes. /s

i mean... may not be as sarcastic as you think....

[caaokc]

Surprising but also not surprising. Casual instagram comments not realizing that the Thunder are on the come up and could be really good soon.

[Laramie]

^ ^ ^ Phoenix MSA has the population to support the NHL Coyotes--larger than our whole state population.

Tulsa (BOK Center, 17,099) and Oklahoma City's Paycom Center (15,152) will be evaluated if a move is considered along with other markets like Austin, Louisville and Norfolk-Virginia Beach.

Oklahoma will be evaluated for the future home of an NHL expansion or relocation franchise--doesn't mean we will land a franchise. Oklahoma City has a new arena on the horizon; also our current Paycom Center could become a temporary home. Same could be said for Tulsa's BOK Center with the Coyotes becoming the anchor tenant.

Former Mayor Mick Cornett was right about Oklahoma City-Tulsa TV market as being one which now boasts 1.3 million household viewers.

If Phoenix fails to act, no doubt Oklahoma's two metros which support NBA could support NHL as well--will be considered.

Tulsa area will show signs of more metro growth come 2026 pending some large developments, that could loom big if the NHL Coyotes arena situation isn't settled by then.

[G.Walker]

Having two large arenas right next to each other like that provides a barrier in downtown, and inhibits development and walkability. Long had we hope that the old Cox center be demolished, and that site redeveloped.

Hopefully they don't keep the Paycom center operating for that long.

[G.Walker]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

[chssooner]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

Why on God's green earth would anyone think of something like this? This may be the least effective solution I've seen.

[G.Walker]

Why on God's green earth would anyone think of something like this? This may be the least effective solution I've seen.

Saves time and money, the current location is perfect. And its not uncommon for professional teams to play at other arenas while new ones get built. Tulsa would welcome the Thunder and would have sell out crowds.

[chssooner]

Saves time and money, the current location is perfect. And its not uncommon for professional teams to play at other arenas while new ones get built. Tulsa would welcome the Thunder and would have sell out crowds.

Yeah, and OKC loses out on hundreds of millions in revenue. So I don't think they would do that. Just not fiscally responsible. And OKC doesn't own the hotel land.

[G.Walker]

OKC doesn't own the Thunder. Thunder owners and management will decide what it best for the franchise. They won't lose any money. And surrounding businesses don't make hundreds of millions of dollars a season because of the Thunder. Maybe a few million extra a season. And Tulsa billionaire George Kaiser (chairman of BOK) is part owner of the Thunder, so there ya go.

[pickles]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

This is... not a good idea.

[Mballard85]

Paycom Center: Home arena of the Oklahoma City Coyotes. /s

Man I'd love to see it.

[kevin lee]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

Tulsa!? Ewwww!

[soonergolfer]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

Lol. I am sure the season ticket holders since the inaugural season and all of the other downtown businesses would be totally cool with this decision. Haha.

[Rover]

I say demolish the current Paycom center and Marriot hotel on that site and rebuild a brand new arena. Thunder contracts with city of Tulsa and play at the BOK Center for 2 seasons while new arena in Oklahoma City is constructed.

Yes, because we want to make sure and preserve a low/no paying tenant in the Cox Center. LOL. Let's keep the older cheaper one and tear down the newer nicer one. Makes perfect sense.
This is a made up solution only Tulsans can dream of. Never would happen.

[BDP]

Do we know what the specs are for the new scoreboard? Just curious how it compares in size / resolution to the current one,

Hopefully, the stat board will show more than points and fouls.

[warreng88]

This is a really stupid question, but here we go: Let's say someone has had the same tickets for five years in the current arena in section 101, Row J, seats 1 & 2. When the new arena is built, how would the process of selling tickets work? Would they work with the current season ticket holders to get them close to where they were, would it start all over again? I am sure there is an example out there, I am just to lazy to find it.

[BDP]

This is a really stupid question, but here we go: Let's say someone has had the same tickets for five years in the current arena in section 101, Row J, seats 1 & 2. When the new arena is built, how would the process of selling tickets work? Would they work with the current season ticket holders to get them close to where they were, would it start all over again? I am sure there is an example out there, I am just to lazy to find it.

I don't have any specific information on how they would do it, but I imagine they will do everything they can to keep long term season ticket holders happy. I seriously doubt it would start over. I'm guessing they would at least base it on the current priority systems they use each year for season ticket holders looking to upgrade.

[jn1780]

I don't have any specific information on how they would do it, but I imagine they will do everything they can to keep long term season ticket holders happy. I seriously doubt it would start over. I'm guessing they would at least base it on the current priority systems they use each year for season ticket holders looking to upgrade.

Yeah, I image season ticket holders would get to choose new seats first in a new arena.

[jedicurt]

Yeah, I image season ticket holders would get to choose new seats first in a new arena.

usually the way this is done, yet. it typically goes based upon how long you have been a season ticket holder, or if they do accrued points for priority, or something like that. having never been a Thunder Season ticket holder, i dont' know how they do it, but i have seen it done both ways with other professional sports franchises to determine their tenure order. Hopefully we won't fall into the PSL method of doing things, because that is just awful for fans.

[Laramie]

IMO, Keep both the Paycom Center and the new Oklahoma City Thunderdome development.

Make the new arena multipurpose for NBA-NHL/AHL. Transition Paycom for more toward concerts, large gatherings for
the new convention center complex and indoor large rodeo events.

[BDP]

The only downside to that is that we'd probably still have all the "superblocks". Granted, if a new arena goes on the Cox site, it could be done is such a way to make it less of a barrier and more pedestrian friendly, even for downtown visitors that aren't going to a game. But, like all of this right now, it's kind of hard to have an opinion because we'd don't really know what kind of arena development we're talking about.

[bombermwc]

The Paycom isn't going anywhere after the new arena is built. The Myriad block is going to allow for a new arena and a lot of other development (leaving room for expansions like the Paycom had done over the years....and every other arena in the country).

Demoing one is a massive cost to the city as we lose the benefit of having plots of land in the core of downtown, ready to absorb any new arena construction for all time. While it's there, we have the benefit of having a 1st and 2nd arena to work TOGETHER and not against each other. We can host the Big 12 Basketball Men's AND Women's tournaments next door to each other in top class conditions for BOTH groups. Graduation season means we have the ability to host multiples at the same time. If we have a second tier of a sport come in like not the NHL, then the Paycom is where they will play to save money. Concerts/Events that want the space but the lower cost can go to the Paycom and not feel like second class citizens like they did at the Myriad.

The list of benefits goes on and on, but that ability to not have to go scope and purchase land for the next area (which will never end) is monumental. There's no barrier today and there won't be a barrier tomorrow. That grid on the Myriad's land isn't being restored and we're not missing anything by not having it, nor do we gain much getting it back (there's no demand for it either).

[G.Walker]

To have a new arena on the Ford site and keep Paycom and Cox would be horrible superblocks. No one wants that.

[jdross1982]

To have a new arena on the Ford site and keep Paycom and Cox would be horrible superblocks. No one wants that.

No one is saying having 3. The Cox site is going to be demo sooner rather than later. Paycom is not going anywhere for 20-30 years period. New Arena will go on the Cox site (Ford site isn't even an option for this as that will become a completely different development) and just because you have an arena doesn't make it a super block. and to think that Bricktown/downtown businesses only make a few million per season bc of the Thunder FAR UNDERESTIMATES the impact the NBA has in the area. Hotels, restaurants, retail, parking, Will Rogers airport flights all significantly improve based on the Thunder home games.

[Pete]

After I posted about Paycom staying put after the new arena opens, I talked to a couple of people in the know and it sounds like there are multiple developers competing to redevelop the Paycom site.

So, the new arena will likely be constructed on the Cox site (along with associated entertainment uses), Paycome will be razed and redeveloped and I imagine the old Fred Jones Ford site will be developed about the same time.