Oklahoma City Thunder and City Leaders Break Ground on New Arena.
Oklahoma City officially took a major step forward Thursday morning as city leaders and the Oklahoma City Thunder broke ground on the new Continental Coliseum, a state-of-the-art downtown arena set to open in the summer of 2028.
The groundbreaking ceremony makes the beginning of construction on the OKC Thunder’s future home and home to top selling concerts in the nation. The new coliseum will replace the current Paycom Center when it opens in time for the 2028-2029 NBA season.
The project is backed by a $900 million investment, funded primarily through a voter approved one cent sales tax along with MAPS 4 funding and a contribution from the Thunder ownership.
Designed by Manica Architecture, the arena will feature a modern, fan focused experience highlighted by a striking 360-degree glass exterior, expansive concourses, and enhanced entertainment spaces built for both basketball and major events.
The name, “Continental Coliseum” comes from a 15-year naming rights partnership with Oklahoma based Continental Resources and keeping Oklahoma ties to the local community.
During the groundbreaking ceremony city leaders, Manica architects, and Oklahoma City Thunder staff spoke about the history of the site and how the groundbreaking is representing more than just a construction milestone, but a statement about the city’s future.
View a few photos I shot during the event below and click on the button to view the entire gallery and license images from the event for use in publications.
