OKLAHOMA CITY –

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt outlined progress on the city’s new soccer stadium and praised not only ongoing downtown redevelopment but also the Thunder’s historic start to the NBA season.

News 9 spoke to Holt on Thursday to learn more on his outlook for the community.

New USL Soccer Stadium in OKC Moving Forward

Mayor Holt said Oklahoma City is building long-overdue soccer infrastructure after voters approved multiple funding sources, including MAPS 4, TIF funds, and a recent bond issue. The project now carries a $120 million budget, which Holt said aligns with typical USL stadiums.

Renderings of the stadium were released this week, showing the venue positioned within the city skyline. Groundbreaking is expected in early 2026, with plans to open in time for the 2028 USL season.

“I’m very pleased with what Populous and our city team and you know, Echo [Investment Capital] has been involved in this as well,” Holt said. “The owners of the team have been able to do with that $120 million. I think that’s a really attractive stadium. It is certainly right in line with what you see at that level of soccer.

Demand for soccer is already high, Holt said, noting more than 2,000 fans joined the season-ticket waitlist within a week.

OKC Thunder Making History

Holt reacted to a Wall Street Journal report ranking the Oklahoma City Thunder among the potential “best teams in NBA history.” The team recently tied the best 25-game start in league history at 24–1, with winning margins outpacing the 2015–16 Warriors.

Holt encouraged fans to “savor every moment,” saying Oklahoma City may be witnessing a once-in-a-generation sports milestone.

Downtown Demo Work on Schedule

The mayor also confirmed that demolition work near the arena is progressing as planned. The former Cox Center is now “about half gone,” Holt said, with crews reaching the arena’s exterior walls. The old Myriad building will follow next.

Visit to Toronto for U.S. Conference of Mayors

Holt recently traveled to Toronto to speak at an international gathering as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He noted Toronto’s size as North America’s fourth-largest city and mentioned its unexpected sports ties to Oklahoma City.

Toronto native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Holt said, has become “the greatest hero of sports we’ll ever have in Oklahoma City,” while Oklahoma City native Joe Carter remains a celebrated icon in Toronto for his World Series–winning home run.

Holt said meeting international leaders underscores the shared challenges and purpose of mayors worldwide.