AND WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER FANS ARE KNOWN FOR BEING LOUD. THE PACERS BROUGHT IT FOR GAME THREE, BUT WE THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY FAIR THAT WE VISIT AN ICONIC INDY RACEWAY KNOWN FOR BEING LOUD. AS THE THUNDER RACED TOWARDS AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP, WE TALK ABOUT LOUD CITY, BUT HERE AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY. THEY KNOW NOISE. LOUD HERE. BUT THAT’S HOW WE LIKE IT HERE IN INDY. KOCO FIVE STOPPED BY THE RACING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD AHEAD OF GAME FOUR OF THE NBA FINALS. THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY WELCOMED 350,000 PEOPLE THIS PAST MAY, WITH THE FINALS NOW IN TOWN, THE PACERS ARE RIDING THE WAVE AS THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER TRY AND GUN IT FOR THE WIN. OF COURSE, THE THUNDER IS NO SLOUCH, A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, AND SO IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT SERIES. IT ALREADY HAS BEEN SO FAR, BUT I THINK WE FEEL A LITTLE BIT OF A KINSHIP OR A BROTHERHOOD WITH OKLAHOMA CITY. I MEAN, IT’S A CITY MUCH LIKE INDIANAPOLIS WITH A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE WHO SORT OF VALUE THAT SPORTS CULTURE AND RALLYING AROUND EACH OTHER WHILE IT’S STILL A CLOSE RACE RIGHT NOW BETWEEN THE THUNDER AND THE PACERS, THE SPEEDWAY SAYS THERE’S ALWAYS A SEAT IN THE STANDS FOR OKLAHOMANS. WE’RE EXCITED FOR WHAT IT’S DOING FOR MIDDLE AMERICA HERE IN OUR CITIES, AND FRANKLY, WE HOPE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE INDY BOUND FROM OKLAHOMA CITY. WE’D LOVE TO TO HOST YOU ALL, BOTH FOR T
Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomes OKC Thunder fans
As the Oklahoma City Thunder compete in the NBA Finals, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway embraces fans, highlighting a shared sports culture between the two cities
Updated: 6:10 PM CDT Jun 12, 2025
As the Oklahoma City Thunder race toward the NBA Championship, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is embracing the excitement and welcoming fans from both cities. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel”It’s loud here, but that’s how we like it here in Indy,” said Michael Kaltenmark, senior director of marketing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.KOCO 5 stopped by the racing capital of the world ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomed 350,000 people this past May, and with the finals now in town, the Pacers are riding the wave as the Oklahoma City Thunder try to gun it for the win.”Of course, the Thunder is no slouch. They’re a formidable opponent. So, it’s going to be a great series. It already has been so far, but I think we feel a little bit of a kinship or brotherhood with Oklahoma City. I mean, it’s a city much like Indianapolis with people who value that sports culture and rally around each other,” Kaltenmark said.While it’s still a close race right between the Thunder and the Pacers, the Speedway says there’s always a seat in the stands for Oklahomans.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.”We’re excited for what it’s doing for middle America here in our cities, and frankly, we hope a lot of people are Indy-bound from Oklahoma City. We’d love to host you all, both for the NBA Finals and the Indy 500,” Kaltenmark said.More Thunder HeadlinesNBA Finals Guide: Tickets, schedule and everything you need to know as the Thunder play for a titleTracking Thunder ticket prices for NBA FinalsSee when you can watch the Thunder play in the NBA FinalsOklahoma City Thunder return to NBA Finals after 13 years
INDIANAPOLIS —
As the Oklahoma City Thunder race toward the NBA Championship, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is embracing the excitement and welcoming fans from both cities.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
“It’s loud here, but that’s how we like it here in Indy,” said Michael Kaltenmark, senior director of marketing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
KOCO 5 stopped by the racing capital of the world ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway welcomed 350,000 people this past May, and with the finals now in town, the Pacers are riding the wave as the Oklahoma City Thunder try to gun it for the win.
“Of course, the Thunder is no slouch. They’re a formidable opponent. So, it’s going to be a great series. It already has been so far, but I think we feel a little bit of a kinship or brotherhood with Oklahoma City. I mean, it’s a city much like Indianapolis with people who value that sports culture and rally around each other,” Kaltenmark said.
While it’s still a close race right between the Thunder and the Pacers, the Speedway says there’s always a seat in the stands for Oklahomans.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
“We’re excited for what it’s doing for middle America here in our cities, and frankly, we hope a lot of people are Indy-bound from Oklahoma City. We’d love to host you all, both for the NBA Finals and the Indy 500,” Kaltenmark said.
More Thunder Headlines