After years of mediocrity for OKC Thunder fans, post Durant-Westbrook era, it looks like good times are right around the corner for long-suffering Thunder fans. With a team, led by franchise star Shai Gilgeous Alexander, that can compete for a berth in the playoffs. And a brand new State-of-the-Art arena, which is scheduled to open by 2029, if everything goes to plan. The OKC fans are looking at the future with optimism.
Currently, the OKC Thunders play their home games at the Paycom Center. The arena opened in 2002 and was in need of major renovations to make the facilities up to modern standards.
New $900,000,000 State-of-the-Art Facility
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OKC Thunder will have a new arena with a budget of $900,000,000 as officials have finalized the proposal. The owners of Oklahoma City Thunder will also personally contribute almost $50 million dollars towards the project. It will be the first time that an ownership group has made such a contribution towards a publicly financed arena.
Oklahoma City has finalized plans to construct a new downtown arena that will keep the Thunder in OKC beyond 2050.
The project, pending final approval, will cost at least $900 million and open by 2029. pic.twitter.com/KXC66d9Mzy
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 12, 2023
If all goes to plan and the new $900 million dollar stadium is built, then the Thunder fans can breathe a sigh of relief. This is because this project will keep the franchise in Oklahoma City beyond 2050. The city has finalized the plan to construct the new State-of-the-Art Arena in the downtown area of Oklahoma.
OKC Thunders on an Upwards Trajectory
The announcement for the new arena comes just months after the Thunders surprised the basketball world after finishing 10th last season. And qualifying for the play-in tournament, where they won against the Pelicans, eventually losing to the Timberwolves. But it was a far better showing than the previous season when they finished 14th in the regular season.
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All the teams in the league would envy the Thunders because of their talented youngsters and a bevy of draft picks the Thunder hold. Shai, who has become a superstar in his own right leads the team. Along with a supporting cast of youngsters such as Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Sam Presti, GM of the Thunders has patiently built a team that would complement the sublime abilities of Shai Gilgeous Alexander. And the new arena would go a long way in convincing Shai to stick around and win the coveted Larry O’Brien Trophy. That the Oklahoma fans have been dreaming of since the Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant era.
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