Oklahoma City Thunder 2024-25 Season

[Dob Hooligan]

I hope you are joking, not afraid of any team? You should be afraid of the Cavaliers since Cavaliers defeated the Thunder last week

I saw the Thunder play the Cavaliers in OKC this week and the Thunder were up 42 points in the third quarter before they emptied the bench for the rest of the game.

[Boop]

I saw the Thunder play the Cavaliers in OKC this week and the Thunder were up 42 points in the third quarter before they emptied the bench for the rest of the game.

Cavaliers, Mavericks, Bucks, Rockets, Spurs, Warriors, Nuggets gave Thunder losses so far so you should be afraid of those teams

[amocore]

Cavaliers, Mavericks, Bucks, Rockets, Spurs, Warriors, Nuggets gave Thunder losses so far so you should be afraid of those teams

What are you talking about ? It is the regular season, do you have to finish 82-0, not to be worried ? No reason to be really worried against most of those teams. We are really impressive this year ! Way ahead in the west although we have our fair share of injuries.

[Boop]

What are you talking about ? It is the regular season, do you have to finish 82-0, not to be worried ? No reason to be really worried against most of those teams. We are really impressive this year ! Way ahead in the west although we have our fair share of injuries.

Thunder is not really impressive since Thunder lost to a terrible Spurs team fully healthy

[April in the Plaza]

Thunder is not really impressive since Thunder lost to a terrible Spurs team fully healthy

No chet and no i-hart in that game, my brother in Christ.

[Rover]

Thunder is not really impressive since Thunder lost to a terrible Spurs team fully healthy

That’s deep analytics. Lol.

I take it you aren't a sports fan. Negative in other threads too.

You may not like the Thunder but by any objective measure, and by any eye test, they are very, very good. In fact historically good in some respects.

[Urbanized]

Boop is trolling.

[Celebrator]

Thunder is not really impressive since Thunder lost to a terrible Spurs team fully healthy

What the hell are you talking about? You're obviously not watching.

[kukblue1]

After Thursday night I can say I'm not afraid of any team. The Thunder are loaded this year, and great teams win regardless of the opponent. I think injury is the only thing that can stop us this year.

Agree. My list was more of teams I don't want to lose a few games too in the playoffs. I would hate a series 2-2 vs Dallas than I would start to worry a bit and pressure would be on us this year. I felt we were playing with house money last year.

[Laramie]

Impressed with our Thunder despite injuries to key players. Sure we should be concerned about any team we open up against in the WCP; Mavericks were without key players
Doncic & Lively II. Thunder were without SGA, Hartenstein, Holmgren and Mitchell. The Mavs were at home in front of 20,311 fans and you're playing your closest out-of-state rival.

BTW our last 5 away crowds were Dallas (20,311), Philadelphia (19,771), Washington DC (15,711), New York (19,812) and Cleveland (19,432). My point, let's build an arena that will
serve our city as an NBA and U. S. cities competitive arena with square footage and capacity. We have the option to curtain off seats we don't need. Big national NBA matches should
allow our city to draw 20,000 fans.

[Paseofreak]

We've hired a very qualified group of professionals with years of experience and loads of similar projects under their belts to design our arena for us and we're paying them a lot of money to do it. How about we listen to them?

[Dob Hooligan]

Agree. My list was more of teams I don't want to lose a few games too in the playoffs. I would hate a series 2-2 vs Dallas than I would start to worry a bit and pressure would be on us this year. I felt we were playing with house money last year.

No doubt. I wouldn’t enjoy being 2-2 with Memphis, Houston or Dallas.

[Laramie]

We've hired a very qualified group of professionals with years of experience and loads of similar projects under their belts to design our arena for us and we're paying them a lot of money to do it. How about we listen to them?

Our MAPS projects have all had specifications including the last big MAPS development like our convention center and convention center hotel. IIRC the Omni specs were for a 500-600 room luxury hotel. Some studies suggested a 700-800 room hotel.

We know on any night the Thunder are capable of drawing 19,000 fans. Our original plans were to build a 19,559 seat arena when we built the downtown arena (Paycom).

No doubt we're going to listen to them--however did we give them some specs other than a $900 million budget and 750,000 square feet for exhibition and concessions concourse.

Would like for OKC to be in a position to bid for a variety of events against competition like Louisville (similar in size). Louisville's arena seat 22,000.

[amocore]

Laramie,
It seems you are one of the very few who want more seats in the new arena.
The tendency for newer arenas is a lower number of seats, from 16,500 to 18,000. In the case of okc, I think we don’t need bigger. We have had one of the best nba teams and some time it is hard to fill the paycom which seating capacity is average.
I would prefer a smaller arena but basketball centric with baseline stands closer and steeper to the action like the Iniut dome instead of the “too low to see anything” flat baseline stands we have now.
It would work great for shows and concerts too, absolutely not for Hockey but who cares at this point.

[Laramie]

Laramie,
It seems you are one of the very few who want more seats in the new arena.
The tendency for newer arenas is a lower number of seats, from 16,500 to 18,000. In the case of okc, I think we don’t need bigger. We have had one of the best nba teams and some time it is hard to fill the paycom which seating capacity is average.
I would prefer a smaller arena but basketball centric with baseline stands closer and steeper to the action like the Iniut dome instead of the “too low to see anything” flat baseline stands we have now.
It would work great for shows and concerts too, absolutely not for Hockey but who cares at this point.

I don't recall any NBA arena seating 16,500 since we built Paycom Center in 20002.

Agree with everything you mentioned; however these tend to trend back and forth. Remember Civic Center Music Hall (Old 6,500-seat Municipal Auditorium) it's been renovated twice. The last renovation uncovered two hidden balconies from the original renovation:



Just saying, IMO it would allow us more flexibility with the new arena to build beyond present 18,203 seat capacity and use some kind of partition if we don't need
a 19,559 seat arena like what was originally planned for downtown in 1990. We currently use a partition when the Oklahoma City Blue play in the Paycom Center.

Remember, our ownership only committed $50 million toward the new arena, city will fund 95%. Our City needs to dictate something that will satisfy the NBA and allow
OKC to bid on future events.

[Laramie]

Cam Johnson may not play tonight*.

Thunder Injury report:

Jalen Williams - Day-to-day
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - Day-to-day
Chet Holmgren - Out - evaluated in 3 weeks
Isaiah Hartenstein - Out - re-evaluated in one week.
Ajay Mitchell - underwent a procedure on his turf toe sprain on his right foot and will be re-evaluated in 10 to 12 weeks.

Nets Injury Report:

Bojan Bogdanovic - Out - (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Thunder.
Trendon Watford - Out
*Cameron Johnson - (ankle) GTD is questionable for Sunday's game against the Thunder.
Cam Thomas - Out - Return January 21, 2025
Maxwell Lewis - The Nets announced Friday that Lewis has suffered a fractured left tibia and his return timetable is to be determined.

,

[PhiAlpha]

Impressed with our Thunder despite injuries to key players. Sure we should be concerned about any team we open up against in the WCP; Mavericks were without key players
Doncic & Lively II. Thunder were without SGA, Hartenstein, Holmgren and Mitchell. The Mavs were at home in front of 20,311 fans and you're playing your closest out-of-state rival.

BTW our last 5 away crowds were Dallas (20,311), Philadelphia (19,771), Washington DC (15,711), New York (19,812) and Cleveland (19,432). My point, let's build an arena that will
serve our city as an NBA and U. S. cities competitive arena with square footage and capacity. We have the option to curtain off seats we don't need. Big national NBA matches should
allow our city to draw 20,000 fans.

What are the populations of those metros vs OKC?

[Laramie]

What are the populations of those metros vs OKC?

At least 1 million or better, I get your point. Still, we should be more in line with Louisville (aspiring NBA city) what you would consider to be more of a peer city. Now I will admit that
Salt Lake City, more in our category has downsized their arena from 19,911 to 18,306.

Anxious to see some specs and drawings.

Amocore: did find where New Orleans Smoothie King Center seats 16,867, they manage to cram 18,600 with standing room in their arena.

[Laramie]

Brooklyn Nets 101 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 127

Box score https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401705161

Attendance: 18,203

[Laramie]

Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Utah Jazz 10-30 @ Oklahoma City Thunder 35-7
Paycom Center, OKC
TV: FanDuel Oklahoma - 7:00 PM

We're a game over half the season. 42 of 82 games with an impressive 35-7; Thunder will probably win somewhere
between 64-66 games.

[kukblue1]

We have the best team in the NBA. We have the league MVP and tickets are still under $15 on resale market during the week for the not so good teams. Even the big Cleveland game had empties cause it was on a Thursday night What happens in 2029 is a hard call. Yes the city will be bigger but will more people just stay home and watch the games on tv? I think you build it smaller with a option to add more seats down the road if need too. Have like a small open section with food tables in the upper level that if demand is there add seats maybe?

[Bellaboo]

We have the best team in the NBA. We have the league MVP and tickets are still under $15 on resale market during the week for the not so good teams. Even the big Cleveland game had empties cause it was on a Thursday night What happens in 2029 is a hard call. Yes the city will be bigger but will more people just stay home and watch the games on tv? I think you build it smaller with a option to add more seats down the road if need too. Have like a small open section with food tables in the upper level that if demand is there add seats maybe?

Too damn cold to leave the house.

[kukblue1]

Too damn cold to leave the house.

Cavs game was 65 outside but yes that is another thing to consider. They almost have to make the arena a tad smaller. They get money when ticket sales are high in demand. It will also make it easier for season tickets holders to sale some games and at least break even and not lose money.

[Anonymous.]

I was at the Cleveland game and it was extremely full. I have been to a lot of games this season and Cleveland, Dallas, and Boston were all noticeably more packed out.

I bought tickets to the Cleveland game back before Thanksgiving for less than $20 a ticket. The day of the game, the tickets around us were selling for $70 each. The big/statement games are true sellouts with premium pricing.

If we run into Dallas in the playoffs, I promise you won't be able to get in for less than $100 - and that will be near the rafters.

[kukblue1]

I was at the Cleveland game and it was extremely full. I have been to a lot of games this season and Cleveland, Dallas, and Boston were all noticeably more packed out.

I bought tickets to the Cleveland game back before Thanksgiving for less than $20 a ticket. The day of the game, the tickets around us were selling for $70 each. The big/statement games are true sellouts with premium pricing.

If we run into Dallas in the playoffs, I promise you won't be able to get in for less than $100 - and that will be near the rafters.

What happens though if you build an arena that holds 19,500 and the team is no good. Than what? Sure now there are some games that are going to be in high demand. Playoffs will always be high demand whoever they play. Too me right now there should be a good demand for all games when you have the best team in the league and the best player in the league but other than a few games there isn't so why add seating?

I hear what your saying I'm just bringing in the other side of the argument on why add more seating in the new arena.