New Downtown Arena

[PoliSciGuy]

If ownership covers anything north of, say, 40% of this arena I will happily eat crow and - probably even better news for some on here - I will shut up about this deal

[Laramie]

Bookmarking for when the final details come out.

Agree, so am I.

What I don't understand is--we have no idea what is going to be included in this arena.

1. Site not selected
2. Square footage not determined

A $70 million dollar rumor; would love to know the source of that. Just don't see Mayor Holt calling that a
significant contribution.

[OUGrad05]

The rumored number is $70 million vs. approximately a $1 billion total cost.

'Significant' is a highly subjective term.

Are we really considering a $1billion arena? I'm in favor of building the arena, but I was thinking more along the lines of $550-650mil.

I'm not sure I'm onboard for 1bil. We as a city can do a LOT with a billion dollars.

[BoulderSooner]

Are we really considering a $1billion arena? I'm in favor of building the arena, but I was thinking more along the lines of $550-650mil.

I'm not sure I'm onboard for 1bil. We as a city can do a LOT with a billion dollars.

the new arena will cost very close to that amount .. yes

[Laramie]

Are we really considering a $1billion arena? I'm in favor of building the arena, but I was thinking more along the lines of $550-650mil.

I'm not sure I'm onboard for 1bil. We as a city can do a LOT with a billion dollars.

Agree more along the lines of a $550 million - $650 million arena. So $70 million would be significant.

Also, I trust Pete, he wouldn't have put that figure out there if he didn't consider his source credible. Significant contribution is subjective.

Milwaukee's Fiserv Forum tour IMO was a benchmark for our new arena. Their arena costs $524 million - 724,000 sq. ft - seating capacity, 17,500.

Populous: https://populous.com/project/fiserv-forum

I can support an extension of MAPS to fund a new arena development comparable to Fiserv Forum.

Also: As anchor tenant, the ownership will get that $70 million back in 'naming rights' revenue.

[PoliSciGuy]

$70m is not a significant amount of money for any modern arena, especially from an ownership group that will gain significantly more than that in terms of valuation thanks to the new arena. We don’t need to do free PR for billionaires.

[mugofbeer]

I think it all depends on how much the areana actually ends up costing. $70 million of a $650 million facility is a decent amount and $1 billion in OKC would be a world-class facility.

[BG918]

I would think $1B would include additional development around the arena on the Cox site with the actual arena in the $500M range. Something like Rogers Place/ Ice District in Edmonton:

[chssooner]

I wouldn't mind something like this. Just might not have the ability to fill those towers. But a development similar to this would be awesome!

[caaokc]

I think it was said somewhere here that the $1B is just for the arena.

[jdross1982]

The 1 billion number comes from total cost of the arena including the land. If it is built on the Cox site, that is an estimated savings of 150 million bringing down cost to 850. When you transfer the 70 million earmarked for upgrades to the Paycom center that brings the number down to 780 mil. This is BEFORE the owners contribute what Holt said was a significant contribution but that number hasn't been floated anywhere. This is also before any RFP's are put out for development around the site which will absolutely come as the site is massive and can support a bigger arena, a hotel or 2 plus a LA live type development with restaurants and bars and retail included.

[soonerguru]

There will be ancillary programs and development that are part of this package, guaranteed. Not necessarily high-rise buildings but other community-oriented development that has nothing to do with sports or the Thunder.

[April in the Plaza]

They really should make the 18-19 Native American Jerseys the official logo/brand

Those were tight AF and it wouldn’t cost them much (in the grand scheme) to make the switch.

But I do wonder if we start to look a little bit too much like Alabama or Stanford football if (i) the team is named the OKC Thunder; (ii) we have a Bison mascot; and (iii) the logos, marks and uniforms are tribal but make no reference to the Thunder.

I do think it would be cool if parts of the arena leaned into the LED thunder cloud motif. Maybe not in the bowl but in part of the concourse or lounge spaces.

[SEMIweather]

I’ve always thought a good rebrand would involve a scissor-tailed flycatcher whose wings transform into thunderclouds.

I have zero talent for graphic design but think of something like the below photo for inspiration:

[Mississippi Blues]

To this day the only Thunder merch I’ve ever bought is a Westbrook Native American themed jersey. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s the only thing the Thunder have come out with that I actually like.

I can think of a handful of reasons why people might dislike it, but a rebrand as the Thunderbirds could be interesting if done properly, imo. Ties into an element of Native American heritage while still being able to retain a degree of the Thunder identity.

[GoGators]

I'd be fine with 20% from ownership so long as they also commit to a full re-brand.

the Dorito/shield logo has to be one of the worst in pro sports.

Could not agree more. a complete re-brand is sorely needed.

[Laramie]

The Thunder is actually a Thundering herd of bison. Know there are many logos associated with thunder-lightning. Like the ECHL Wichita Thunder.

Oklahoma City ownership group IMO should have keep the Supersonics logo of which they own the brand.

Many of you are too young to remember The Operation Bongo II in 1964:

The Oklahoma City sonic boom tests, also known as Operation Bongo II, refer to a controversial experiment, organized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in which 1,253 sonic booms were generated over Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, over a period of six months starting in February 1964.

Oklahoma City could have claimed the name 'Supersonics or Sonics,' as a result of those tests that if you are old enough to remember the booms that rocked the city and shook buildings and many structures during that six month period.

Understand that many of you will never be comfortable with the Thunder brand. The franchise had approximately two months to come up with a name and logo:

Six final choices were:

Barons - Bison - Energy - Marshalls - Thunder - Wind

Oklahoma City Narrows List of Names to Six: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...f-names-to-six

.

[Laramie]

[GoGators]

There's nothing wrong the team name. The franchise just needs a new logo and color refresh. NBA teams do this all the time. The current OKC logo is very bad.

caaokc is correct. The Thunder should heavily utilize the 2018 City Edition uniform color scheme and logo design while doing a re-brand. Turquoise and sunset as the primary team colors would go crazy.

[Laramie]

Put the logo on the waistband on top of the new arena and sides.

Agree, we should be proud of the city's heritage and wear more versions on the team's uniform.

[soonerguru]

^^^^ Yikes! That's truly awful. Sorry. I just think it's a really poor logo concept.

I would appreciate something celebrating our Indian heritage but I'm fine with the Thunder. Indians are not mascots.

[caaokc]

Yikes. Where are these from?

[Dob Hooligan]

I don't think a rebrand is a remote possibility. Our Knicks replica colors and uniforms are quite popular worldwide (plus within the league office and board of governors).

[shai2022]

I don't think a rebrand is a remote possibility. Our Knicks replica colors and uniforms are quite popular worldwide (plus within the league office and board of governors).

I can promise you it is indeed a remote possibility. Lol

[shai2022]

Id bet my savings on a rebrand in the next decade.