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When will construction begin and when will the new arena open?

Continental Coliseum is scheduled to open by late summer 2028, in time for the 2028-29 Thunder season. A groundbreaking ceremony for the new arena is scheduled for March 26, 2026, with construction to begin shortly after.

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Who designed the arena?

In 2024, the City of Oklahoma City selected MANICA Architecture as the design architect on the project, with TVS  as the architect of record. Kansas City-based MANICA specializes in sport and entertainment venues. Some of their NBA and NFL designs include Chase Center in San Francisco, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the proposed Chicago Bears stadium in Chicago, and the new Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which is currently under construction.

Atlanta-based TVS is the architect of record. Some of their projects include Jio World Center in Mumbai, India; Longgang International Arts Center in Shenzhen, China; Duke Energy Plaza in Charlotte, NC; Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.; and the MOTE Science Education Center in Sarasota, Fla.

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What will the arena look like?

The design for the new arena celebrates the universal human connection fostered through sports and live entertainment, creating a shared experience that galvanizes and unites the community. Architecturally, the venue features a 360-degree glass curtain wall, offering panoramic views from all interior concourses and emphasizing transparency and connection.

The preliminary seating for Continental Coliseum design prioritizes basketball in an exceptional environment, with optimized sight lines, creating an energetic, loud, and intimate experience.

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Won’t all that glass make it very hot inside the building and pose a problem for birds or during Oklahoma’s severe weather?

Lead design architect David Manica addressed the glass issue during a recent interview on WWLS radio in Oklahoma City.

Lead design architect David Manica addressed the glass issue during a recent interview on WWLS radio in Oklahoma City.

"First of all, if you look around downtown Oklahoma City, you see a lot of all-glass buildings. So, this is not an exceptionally new idea. It happens all the time here.

From a heat standpoint, it will be both laminated and insulated glass. So, it's actually like three panes of glass together, one pane held off with an air gap. It helps insulate it and keep it cooler inside, plus low-E films and other technologies that we can apply to the glass to bounce UV and radiation light back out and off the glass before it goes into the building.

That laminated layer also really protects us from the weather. In a bad storm, that glass is actually going to resist and protect the building in a way that other materials couldn't.

It will also be bird-safe glass with a pattern that’s applied that birds can see. So, it keeps them from flying into it."

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What will the new arena be called?

The Thunder has entered into a 15-year naming rights partnership with Oklahoma-founded company Continental Resources to call the arena Continental Coliseum. That will be the name of the new building when it opens in 2028. The Thunder's current arena will continue to be called Paycom Center. Under terms of the Thunder's arena agreement with the City of Oklahoma City, the team has the ability to negotiate a naming rights agreement. 

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Who will build it and how can my company bid on construction work?

In 2025, the City of Oklahoma City hired the construction team for the new arena. Oklahoma-based Flintco, which previously built Paycom Center and other notable Oklahoma projects like Devon Tower and the OKC Convention Center, will partner with Mortenson, nationally recognized leader in sports and entertainment construction. Mortenson’s portfolio includes projects such as Chase Center, Allegiant Stadium, Climate Pledge Arena and many more. Click here to submit your bid list and prequalification request.

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How can I apply for a job with the arena?

Employment opportunities in the new arena will be managed by Legends Global, who currently manage Paycom Center, and affiliated third-parties. Many Paycom Center positions will transition to the new arena at its opening. Current and future arena employment opportunities will be regularly posted on the Paycom Center website.

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How much does this arena cost and who is paying for it?

The new arena is being funded by a 72-month, one-cent Oklahoma City sales tax starting when the MAPS 4 tax ends and will not increase the city’s sales tax rate. In addition to $900 million in sales tax funds, the arena will also be paid for with $78 million in MAPS 4 funding and $50 million from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group.

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How many people will it seat and will the seats be wider?

The seating capacity and seating design are still being developed for both Thunder games and concerts. From the outset of discussion regarding a new arena, the focus was on increasing the total size of the facility, not the seating capacity. The conceptual design has the arena growing nearly 30%, from 580,000 square feet to 750,000. This will allow for larger concourses, more entertainment space, and potentially wider seats with more leg room.

For basketball, the goal is to provide a comfortable, intimate, and exciting seating environment to enhance the reputation of Loud City.

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Will there be more and better parking?

Parking opportunities, particularly for Thunder Season Ticket Members, is a high priority. Exact plans are still to be determined.

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What will happen to the current arena?

Paycom Center will remain fully active and host the Thunder and other events until the new arena opens in 2028. The Paycom Center site is a city-owned property. City Council has approved allowing the Thunder the option to purchase that land at fair market value for potential future development. 

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Will the arena host more than just Thunder games?

Yes, Continental Coliseum will be a state-of-the-art full service facility to host a variety of events beyond basketball. From top touring artists to family shows to additional sporting events, the arena will be a top destination in the region for live experiences. 

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How will Thunder Season Ticket Members be assigned seats in the new arena?

Thunder Full- and Half-Season Ticket Members have been earning Thunder Priority Points since the inaugural season in 2008. Priority points are based on accumulation of points allocated to season ticket accounts and their continuous tenure. This is the same system that has been used annually to assign appointment times for the Thunder Relocation and Upgrade Event (TRUE), and the same system that will be used to determine each account’s priority in OKC’s new arena. Priority points for Quarter-Season Ticket Members will launch for the first time during the 2025-26 season.

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When will Season Ticket Members be able to choose their seating in the new arena?

Starting at a to-be-determined time in 2026, each Thunder full- and half-season account will be invited to an exclusive appointment at the New Arena Preview Center based on their Thunder Priority Points. Once the appointment process begins, it is expected that the seat relocation process for the new arena will last approximately 18 months

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If I am not a current Thunder Season Ticket Member, how can I buy season tickets for the current and/or new arena?

Currently, full- and half-season ticket memberships, which include the right to buy playoff tickets, are sold out for the 2025-26 season. If you would like to learn more about quarter-season tickets which do not include guaranteed playoff access, but include 10 games spread throughout the 2025-26, click here.