New Arena (formerly Prairie Surf)

[Rover]

This isn't a surprise, though. It's always been presumed to have them by this summer. And since construction isn't starting til next year, we don't need them til the fall.

I think that most people totally do not understand what goes into the actual design of a large project like this or other large buildings. The designers are not trying to just create exciting marketing illustrations, but previews of what the actual building will look like given the actual space design, expected materials and finishes, etc. To do it realistically takes significant time and resources and is reliant on other parts of the design process to be substantially complete and approved by the client. Patience and reality thinking doesn't seem to be in very big supply with much of the public.

[April in the Plaza]

I have a very ignorant take.

I feel like the inside of all these arenas seem very similar. Nearly you see one, you've seen them all sort of thing. How the outside and how the concourse looks is what I am most interested in.

Not necessarily. Gainbridge and FiServ are very distinctive because of the window situation and the open concourse with views to the court, respectively. Would be cool to integrate both elements, even if we have to give up some seats to do so.

ETA: looks like Indy might have covered up the windows with additional seating during a recent renovation.

[Jake]

Hot Take: I want the arena to actually look nice inside and out. Especially since it'll cost over a billion dollars. We should have high standards for this project.

[Laramie]

Renderings will make an impact. The current Architect has involved Flintco-Mortenson, could this be a hint that the arena will blend in with the current Convention Center
and Omni Luxury hotel.

The current U.S. Administration is threatening 25%-50% tariffs on Canadian steel which according to Morgan Stanley analysts because the U.S. is a net importer of steel
and aluminum from Canada will drive domestic costs up.

MANICA Architecture, with a great portfolio was hired as design architect and TVS as the architect of record.

Although I would like to see an arena with a beautiful exterior and something comparable in capacity to 18,500 seats to allow for growth, the arena will have more suites,
(Current 34) probably something in the 60-70 range and more lodge and premium seating: it will include at least 750,000 square feet.

MANICA promised something signature for Oklahoma City. Plan to keep an open mind and look for the positives of this project. Anxious to see the new plans which will
incorporate some other plans on the site by the City.

Employment on the site is expected to top 1,000 workers.

[Laramie]

As far as hosting the NBA All Star weekend and activities, it's obvious that the NBA wants to limit the cities to host this event to one small market (SLC) and the larger markets
already in the mix that have hosted this event. Personally, I don't care anymore, the event is an economic boom for the host cities and luxury hotels.

I still think that if the Omni expanded 400 more rooms increase height 11 more floors from 17 to 28 floors (Total: 1,005 rooms), it would allow OKC to host and attract more
events and the addition height would add to the OKC Skyline.

[jn1780]

Renderings will make an impact. The current Architect has involved Flintco-Mortenson, could this be a hint that the arena will blend in with the current Convention Center
and Omni Luxury hotel.

The current U.S. Administration is threatening 25%-50% tariffs on Canadian steel which according to Morgan Stanley analysts because the U.S. is a net importer of steel
and aluminum from Canada will drive domestic costs up.

MANICA Architecture, with a great portfolio was hired as design architect and TVS as the architect of record.

Although I would like to see an arena with a beautiful exterior and something comparable in capacity to 18,500 seats to allow for growth, the arena will have more suites,
(Current 34) probably something in the 60-70 range and more lodge and premium seating: it will include at least 750,000 square feet.

MANICA promised something signature for Oklahoma City. Plan to keep an open mind and look for the positives of this project. Anxious to see the new plans which will
incorporate some other plans on the site by the City.

Employment on the site is expected to top 1,000 workers.

Hopefully, things stabilize before construction actually starts.

[bison34]

Hot Take: I want the arena to actually look nice inside and out. Especially since it'll cost over a billion dollars. We should have high standards for this project.

I just don't get where people are thinking it won't. Not one thing that has come out has me thinking "oh, corners are definitely going to be cut now."

I just know what looks good to you may not look good to Jimmy down the street, so there will be differences of opinion. But quality-wise, not one party involved screams a cut corner.

Not bashing at all.

[Jake]

I just don't get where people are thinking it won't. Not one thing that has come out has me thinking "oh, corners are definitely going to be cut now."

I just know what looks good to you may not look good to Jimmy down the street, so there will be differences of opinion. But quality-wise, not one party involved screams a cut corner.

Not bashing at all.

My comment was in response to the several earlier that essentially said “I don’t really care what it looks like.”

People should have opinions on how it looks. Positive or negative. They’re paying for the majority of it.

[Laramie]

I just don't get where people are thinking it won't. Not one thing that has come out has me thinking "oh, corners are definitely going to be cut now."

I just know what looks good to you may not look good to Jimmy down the street, so there will be differences of opinion. But quality-wise, not one party involved screams a cut corner.

Not bashing at all.

+1 Exactly

[scottk]

A point of reference....

Paycom Center/Ford Center was constructed starting May 1999 and opened in summer of 2002 for $89.2 Million Dollars as a bare bones facility which is approximately $156 million in 2024 cash due to inflation, and of course once the Thunder arrived a lot of upgrades were made for another $103 million in 2011.

With the budget hovering around $1 billion dollars for the new arena, this arena will have approximately 5-6 times the budget as the original arena. Given the architect's history of designing NBA arenas and having a decent budget, we hopefully should get something of high quality.

[bison34]

My comment was in response to the several earlier that essentially said “I don’t really care what it looks like.”

People should have opinions on how it looks. Positive or negative. They’re paying for the majority of it.

Agree. 100%. But I think people worrying about it now (not saying you are, but it seems people are) is just movement for the sake of motion.

Once renderings are released, I expect the response will be vocal, either way, and they should be.

[jn1780]

Anything around 1 billion is going to basically look the same. Want something fancy? Add another 500 million or a billion dollars.

[Pete]

We still don't know a lot, particularly how additional development on this site will fit and who will pay for it.

Assuming it's the Thunder ownership (they had originally proposed Thunder Alley next to Paycom), the total investment could end up being a lot more than the current $1.1 B budget.

[bison34]

We still don't know a lot, particularly how additional development on this site will fit and who will pay for it.

Assuming it's the Thunder ownership (they had originally proposed Thunder Alley next to Paycom), the total investment could end up being a lot more than the current $1.1 B budget.

I still have my doubts on the land surrounding the arena, unfortunately. If it is the Thunder owners, that ownership group leaves a lot to be desired, from a development aspect (as in they are inexperienced in that realm). I hope to be proven wrong.

But with regards to the arena, it will be a thing of beauty! $1 billion here will be a palace!

[FighttheGoodFight]

I still have my doubts on the land surrounding the arena, unfortunately. If it is the Thunder owners, that ownership group leaves a lot to be desired, from a development aspect (as in they are inexperienced in that realm). I hope to be proven wrong.

But with regards to the arena, it will be a thing of beauty! $1 billion here will be a palace!

It'll all work out when the Thunder ownership invite Westbrook to be a part owner. We will have the "Why Not?" Plaza for all thunder games.

[Urbanized]

Unless there is mixed use area within and a parking garage (maybe even a train and bus station on one side), most people on here won't like it at all. Haha!

What’s funny is that this arena is going to have every single one of these things. Or maybe you were just ironically pointing that out..?

[bamarsha]

What’s funny is that this arena is going to have every single one of these things. Or maybe you were just ironically pointing that out..?

No, and I didn't mean in the area like a stand alone arena with that close by. I meant incorporated into the design (train loading unloading directly to the main concourse, multi-family house on top of the arena... just not 1907' tall, etc.)

You have to admit, the general consensus of posters here is pretty extreme (very anti-suburbs).

[kukblue1]

What's going on on the east side of the building. I think it's for all the electrical equipment is are they moving all that also

[OkieBerto]

No, and I didn't mean in the area like a stand alone arena with that close by. I meant incorporated into the design (train loading unloading directly to the main concourse, multi-family house on top of the arena... just not 1907' tall, etc.)

You have to admit, the general consensus of posters here is pretty extreme (very anti-suburbs).

No one is anti-suburbs, but you aren't going to put a giant arena in the suburbs. The best way for those people in Edmond to see the game would to give them a train to downtown. This would help with City and Suburban traffic. It would also be much cheaper, but continue to think that these solutions are anti-suburbs. So many other cities thrive on the fact that their Suburban population comes into the urban area to spend money, OKC is no different.

[Pete]

People need to stop with the "everyone here hates everything" and similar all-encompassing nonsense.

All it is a stab a few people you don't happen to agree with; there are thousands of posters and tens of thousands of readers here with about as many opinions.

And it's far more negative than the negativity you purport to call out.

[April in the Plaza]

I still have my doubts on the land surrounding the arena, unfortunately. If it is the Thunder owners, that ownership group leaves a lot to be desired, from a development aspect (as in they are inexperienced in that realm). I hope to be proven wrong.

But with regards to the arena, it will be a thing of beauty! $1 billion here will be a palace!

Meh, i mean they are the money guys behind The Oak, The Half, and probably a few other key developments either here or elsewhere in the country. When you have that type of capital, you can bring in the right people to manage the development.

[BoulderSooner]

What’s funny is that this arena is going to have every single one of these things. Or maybe you were just ironically pointing that out..?

there will be space for transit on the site .. but do you think that will be developed anytime soon??

[bison34]

Meh, i mean they are the money guys behind The Oak, The Half, and probably a few other key developments either here or elsewhere in the country. When you have that type of capital, you can bring in the right people to manage the development.

Just seems altruism and that ownership group don't go hand in hand. Hence the less than 5% contribution to the arena that will benefit their wealth immensely.

They could easily just sit on it, and that is my fear, since it is the cheap and easy thing to do.

Hopefully I'm proven wrong.

[BoulderSooner]

Just seems altruism and that ownership group don't go hand in hand. Hence the less than 5% contribution to the arena that will benefit their wealth immensely.

They could easily just sit on it, and that is my fear, since it is the cheap and easy thing to do.

Hopefully I'm proven wrong.

the have first right to develop .. they don't own the land and can't
"sit on it"

[bison34]

the have first right to develop .. they don't own the land and can't
"sit on it"

Ah, OK. Then my fears are calmed a little. Will depend how long that first right lasts. If it's a long period of time, I can see them "sitting" on it. I mean, look at the land next to the Paycom Center. Downtown landowners seem to have no problem not developing their land.