The Oklahoma City Thunder and the city of Oklahoma City marked a major milestone today, Thursday (March 26), as officials broke ground on Continental Coliseum — the franchise’s future home set to open in late summer 2028.

The ceremony comes just days after the Thunder and Continental Resources jointly announced a 15-year naming rights partnership for the new downtown arena. Demolition of the site is nearing completion, and the construction team is expected to begin mobilizing shortly.

Clayton I. Bennett, chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership in a statement tied to the naming rights announcement. “We’re grateful to expand our partnership with Continental Resources and for their belief in our organization and in the future of Oklahoma City,” Bennett said. “We really wanted an Oklahoma partner for this transitional moment in the history of our city.”

A New Era for Downtown OKC

Continental Coliseum will replace Paycom Center as the Thunder’s home court when it opens in time for the 2028-29 NBA season. The current arena will remain fully operational and continue hosting the Thunder and other events until the new venue opens.

Designed by MANICA Architecture — with Atlanta-based TVS serving as architect of record — the arena will feature a striking 360-degree glass curtain wall offering panoramic views from all interior concourses. Lead design architect David Manica addressed concerns about the all-glass exterior in a recent interview on WWLS radio in Oklahoma City, explaining that the glass will be laminated, insulated, and treated with low-E films to manage heat and UV radiation. “That laminated layer also really protects us from the weather,” Manica said. “In a bad storm, that glass is actually going to resist and protect the building in a way that other materials couldn’t.”

He added that the glass will also be bird-safe, featuring a pattern that birds can detect to prevent collisions.

Bigger, Bolder, and Built for Fans

The new arena will grow nearly 30% in size compared to Paycom Center — expanding from 580,000 square feet to 750,000 square feet. That added space is designed to create larger concourses, more entertainment areas, and potentially wider seats with extra leg room. Seating capacity details are still being finalized.

Oklahoma-based Flintco, which built Paycom Center, Devon Tower, and the OKC Convention Center, will partner with Mortenson — a nationally recognized sports and entertainment construction firm whose portfolio includes Chase Center and Allegiant Stadium — to lead construction.

How It’s Being Paid For

The arena will be funded through a 72-month, one-cent Oklahoma City sales tax that will begin when the Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) 4 tax ends, meaning it will not increase the city’s current sales tax rate. In addition to $900 million in sales tax funds, the project will draw on $78 million in MAPS 4 funding and a $50 million contribution from the Thunder’s ownership group.

What’s Next

Season ticket holders will be invited to an exclusive New Arena Preview Center appointment based on their Thunder Priority Points, with the seat relocation process expected to begin at some point in 2026 and last approximately 18 months. The Thunder continue to play at Paycom Center in the meantime, with the franchise targeting a grand opening for Continental Coliseum in late summer 2028.