HINTON ON DIFFERENT CHARGES. THE FINAL FALL OF AN OKLAHOMA CITY STAPLE. CREWS ARE KNOCKING DOWN WHAT’S LEFT OF THE FORMER COX CONVENTION CENTER TO MAKE SPACE FOR A BRAND-NEW ARENA, WHERE THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER WILL TIP OFF THEIR HOME GAMES. KOCO OLIVIA HICKEY WAS THERE FOR THIS FINAL DEMOLITION. SHE JOINS US LIVE FROM DOWNTOWN OKC. OLIVIA. A LATE START TO TODAY’S DEMOLITION GUYS. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY DID GET THE JOB DONE. BUT IT ONLY BUILT ANTICIPATION FOR THAT FINAL FAREWELL TO A SPACE THAT’S MADE MEMORY MANY, MANY MEMORIES FOR OKLAHOMANS OVER THE YEARS. AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE FORMER COX CONVENTION CENTER AND HOME TO PRAIRIE SURF STUDIOS, IS GONE FROM THE DOWNTOWN OKC SKYLINE. WE’RE GLAD TO BE TO THIS POINT. DAVID TODD WITH THE CITY SAYS THE EAST WALL WAS THE LAST VERTICAL PIECE TO COME DOWN. AND WHILE HE AND OTHERS ARE NOSTALGIC FOR THE SPACE, THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR A BRAND NEW ARENA FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER TO DEFEND. SO HERE REAL SOON ALL THAT WILL BE CLEANED UP. WE PLAN ON STARTING CONSTRUCTION IN APRIL, SO IT’S COMING. EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDING IS GONE, A LOT OF IT COULD LIVE ON IN OTHER PROJECTS. MOST OF THE BEAMS, THE BIG PIECES OF METAL ARE BEING RECYCLED, REUSED OR RECYCLED. SOME OF THE REBAR THAT THEY CAN GET OUT OF THERE IS BEING RECYCLED. AGAIN. THEY EXPECT TO BREAK GROUND IN APRIL, WITH AN OPENING DATE SCHEDULE
Oklahoma City streetcar service suspended for arena construction
Updated: 12:55 PM CST Feb 17, 2026
Oklahoma City streetcar service will be temporarily suspended starting Wednesday due to construction related to the new downtown arena. | RELATED VIDEO ABOVE | OKC bids farewell to Cox Convention Center, clearing way for new Thunder arenaThe streetcar will be closed for four days and will be replaced with a bus shuttle that runs every 25 minutes. Riders can board the bus shuttle at any of the streetcar platforms along the route. One eastbound lane on Sheridan Avenue from Ron Norick Boulevard to South EK Gaylord Boulevard will be closed, along with a westbound lane on Reno from South EK Gaylord to Robinson. >> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning NewsletterThunder game day bus shuttles will run as scheduled, two hours before and one hour after home games. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets and then again on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The streetcar service is expected to be closed for four days, reopening on Sunday, Feb. 22. Rides on the streetcar are free through July 5, and no ticket will be required. Top Headlines IKEA announces it will open its first Oklahoma store later this year The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after King, has died at 84 Several officers respond to multi-vehicle crash at southeast Oklahoma City intersection Jesse Jackson discussed his origins and his race for president in this 1988 interview Person found dead inside OKC home after police shoot suspect outside Gov. Stitt says it’s ‘disappointing’ Oklahoma energy companies are moving headquarters to Houston
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Oklahoma City streetcar service will be temporarily suspended starting Wednesday due to construction related to the new downtown arena.
The streetcar will be closed for four days and will be replaced with a bus shuttle that runs every 25 minutes. Riders can board the bus shuttle at any of the streetcar platforms along the route.
One eastbound lane on Sheridan Avenue from Ron Norick Boulevard to South EK Gaylord Boulevard will be closed, along with a westbound lane on Reno from South EK Gaylord to Robinson.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel | Sign up for KOCO 5’s Morning Newsletter
Thunder game day bus shuttles will run as scheduled, two hours before and one hour after home games. The Oklahoma City Thunder are at home on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets and then again on Sunday against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The streetcar service is expected to be closed for four days, reopening on Sunday, Feb. 22. Rides on the streetcar are free through July 5, and no ticket will be required.
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