New Arena (formerly Prairie Surf)

[PhiAlpha]

Will the City be having a "closing" house for the Myriad/Cox Convention Center or Norrick Arena? One final time for the public to walk through for photos and memories, or any chances to grab a piece of memorabilia before these structures are demolished? I can't imagine items out of these two spaces can be repurposed for any additional use given the age of both of these facilities.

Both of these arenas have held every type of event for the past 60 years, and until the Ford Center/Paycom Center, these were the two arenas for concerts, hockey, rodeos, basketball tournaments, and any indoor event of significance in the City's history.

I remember President Clinton speaking at a packed State Fair Arena days after the Murrah bombing, and my first concert at the Myriad and how I thought it was a massive immaculate structure in the 90's.

Close. It was a massive incomparable structure.

LOL. It would be cool if they did something like that. Lots of memories in both.

[catcherinthewry]

OG&E will not finish moving lines until June so actual demolition can't start until then.

[kukblue1]

OG&E will not finish moving lines until June so actual demolition can't start until then.

Have they even starting clearing the inside yet? I'm sure there are things they can start doing on the inside.

[catcherinthewry]

Have they even starting clearing the inside yet? I'm sure there are things they can start doing on the inside.

Nothing has been awarded yet. Once the bid is awarded I'm sure there is stuff they can start doing on the inside while OG&E are moving the lines.

[Pete]

City Council will approve the demolition contractor in their March 25th meeting and work will start immediately and take about 6 months to complete.

All this was discussed at length in yesterday's Council meeting.

[jn1780]

I did original think that interior asbestos removal would have started in January, but I guess not.

[Rover]

Demo should be completed in plenty of time before construction is ready to commence.

[Pete]

These are images from the demolition package:

[BoulderSooner]

the one thing OKC needs to do is close a north lane of traffic on the west side of this property to create a pedestrian walk way to the Peake ..

[Mr. XXL]

my first concert at the Myriad and how I thought it was a massive immaculate structure in the 90's.

I remember when the blazers played the majority of their games at the fairgrounds and how big of a deal it was to us when they got to play at the Myriad. Like we had all gotten promoted from JV to Varsity.

[Laramie]

I remember when the blazers played the majority of their games at the fairgrounds and how big of a deal it was to us when they got to play at the Myriad. Like we had all gotten promoted from JV to Varsity.

Yes that's true. The first hockey game played in the Myriad was a game between the CHL's Tulsa Ice Oilers and the Dallas Blackhawks. Attended that game along with an estimated crowd of 4,500. Sad, we opened the Myriad and didn't have a team. IIFC OKC's CHL team was relocated (development team Boston Bruins), OKC did not have a team on the day the Myriad opened and Ray Miron (Tulsa GM) fielded that void having the Oilers play some games in OKC.

Also, let's not forget 1990, the Oklahoma City Calvary minor league CBA team owned by Chip Land. They averaged around 5,200 fans the first year. Attendance dropped over the remaining years... ...team folded in 1997. Also, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.

[Rover]

Pete, do you know what if any requirements there are for re-claiming/re-use of materials from the demolition?

[gjl]

Last hockey game I went to at the Myriad was either 2001 or 2002. Probably 02.

[burksooner]

Just wanted to share this video from a few weeks back. I absolutely love this design and how much it complements DC

Hoping for something that complements OKC this well with the new stadium design

[_Kyle]

When did they say that we may see the first renderings?

[bison34]

When did they say that we may see the first renderings?

Likely this summer.

[Mr. XXL]

Also, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.

Before the yard dawgz, we had the Oklahoma Wranglers. I had season tickets the first year, $64 for end zone seats, LOL.

[Sonicthunder]

When did they say that we may see the first renderings?

My guess sometime in July when holt has his state of city there will be a big deal they’ll probably name it something like “project 2028” or something like that lol half kidding but I’m guessing at the same time the stadium renderings will be released with maybe at least concept art of the stadium district as a whole

[floyd the barber]

I cannot wait for the ridiculously, corporationized nonsense this arena will be called.

"OG&E Court at the Paycom Thunderdome Center, sponsored by Love's."

[PhiAlpha]

I cannot wait for the ridiculously, corporationized nonsense this arena will be called.

"OG&E Court at the Paycom Thunderdome Center, sponsored by Love's."

Oklahoma City Arena, home of the Oklahoma City Thunder who play on Oklahoma City Court.

[Laramie]

IIRC Paycom Center still has the naming rights option, it's their call with the ball being in their court.

[bombermwc]

But is that true? They own the naming rights on the CURRENT arena. I don't think that would transfer to a new construction unless it was stipulated in the agreement in the first place.

[Urbanized]

Paycom’s naming deal is via the Thunder, not really tied to the building itself. If the team, the sponsor and the City all agree they’ll just transfer the name. And the soon-to-be demolished building currently known as the Paycom Center will be nameless right up until the wrecking ball comes.

I’m also guessing it won’t be a direct transfer but rather a first right of refusal for the new building but at a higher sponsorship level.

[warreng88]

But is that true? They own the naming rights on the CURRENT arena. I don't think that would transfer to a new construction unless it was stipulated in the agreement in the first place.

Yes, I asked this back when Holt teased the idea of a new arena and it looks like the naming rights would transfer based on where the Thunder play. And I think the naming rights started in 2021, so they go through 2036.

[PhiAlpha]

Paycom’s naming deal is via the Thunder, not really tied to the building itself. If the team, the sponsor and the City all agree they’ll just transfer the name. And the soon-to-be demolished building currently known as the Paycom Center will be nameless right up until the wrecking ball comes.

I’m also guessing it won’t be a direct transfer but rather a first right of refusal for the new building but at a higher sponsorship level.

It won’t be nameless. It can be Oklahoma City arena on Oklahoma City Blvd.

Or we can call it the Ford Center. It’ll be like a star player signing a one day contract to retire as a member of his former team.