Oklahoma City and Thunder break ground on Continental Coliseum

Published on March 26, 2026

Link to groundbreaking photos and video

Oklahoma City leaders and Oklahoma City Thunder representatives broke ground today on the city's new NBA arena, Continental Coliseum, an iconic venue that will anchor the Thunder's presence in Oklahoma City through at least 2053.

Mayor David Holt, Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett, Continental Resources Founder & Chairman Emeritus Harold Hamm, Thunder Executive Vice President & General Manager Sam Presti and lead design architect David Manica delivered remarks at the ceremony. The newly cleared site in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City served as the groundbreaking's backdrop.

“This moment speaks to our aspirations as a city,” Mayor David Holt said. “Not only are we making the statement that we wish to remain a big league city, the scale and beauty of this project also makes an aesthetic statement that will resonate for generations. This is the city’s most ambitious public project in our history.”

Continental Coliseum is being built on the site of the former arena and convention center that stood from 1972 to 2026 on the block bounded by Reno, Ron Norick, Sheridan and E.K. Gaylord. It will replace the Thunder's current home, Paycom Center, which will be 26 years old when it opens in 2028.

"In 2026, we’re building a modern American downtown. What an incredible opportunity and special gift,” Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett said. "This belongs to every citizen who voted yes to make this possible. This is your day. This is your building, and we are forever grateful."

The Thunder and Continental Resources announced the 15-year naming rights of the Continental Coliseum on March 24, two days before the groundbreaking.

The Thunder will continue to play at Paycom Center until the new facility opens. The project is targeting a late summer 2028 completion date, with a contractual obligation to open no later than June 2029. Once the team moves into the new facility, the Thunder's 25-year commitment to remain in Oklahoma City begins.

Continental Coliseum will serve as a catalyst for the city's ongoing economic and cultural renaissance.

About Continental Coliseum’s Design

The venue was designed by the architectural team of MANICA Architecture as the design architect and TVS as the architect of record.

The conceptual design introduces a modern, transparent and highly functional new landmark for downtown Oklahoma City.

The exterior features a 360-degree glass curtain wall, offering panoramic views from all interior concourses, emphasizing transparency and connection.
The west-facing main entrance, aligned with the adjacent Myriad Botanical Gardens and reflecting Oklahoma sunsets, features Thunder Alley—a vibrant fan activation zone at street level designed within the building's footprint.
An elevated main entrance, situated on a grand podium, creates an inspiring sense of arrival and opens to the main concourse, fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
The interior concept prioritizes basketball, with optimized sight lines and a seating design that fosters an energetic, loud and intimate experience.

Renderings and information are available at continentalcoliseum.com.

About the architects and construction teams

MANICA Architecture is the design architect, and TVS is the architect of record.

"Guided by the unifying, championship mentality that drives this organization, we're honored to have shaped a world-class arena worthy of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the community that powers it," said David Manica, owner and president, MANICA. "This one-of-one design will elevate the fan experience and position Oklahoma City among the NBA’s premier arenas and destination cities. Unlike anything built to date, it establishes a new global standard for the arenas of tomorrow."

MANICA combines extensive large-scale project experience with the creativity and personal engagement of a boutique international design studio. Founded in 2007 by David Manica, the firm has established itself as a leader in the sports and entertainment industry through its distinctive blend of specialized expertise and inventive design thinking. The MANICA team approaches each project through open collaboration with clients, delivering innovative and economically responsible solutions grounded in exceptional attention to detail. MANICA's mission is to develop design solutions that balance revenue generation, operational efficiency and the ultimate fan experience while integrating the most current trends in stadium and venue design. From pioneering new seating experiences to creating adaptable, multi-purpose environments, MANICA delivers projects that enhance both performance and long-term value. For more information, visit www.manica.global.

"It is a privilege to work alongside the City of Oklahoma City and the Thunder, while building on our successful history of collaboration with design architect MANICA, to realize an arena that is rooted in place and purpose," said Rob O'Keefe, senior principal, TVS. "Continental Coliseum represents a long-term investment in the region's future, and one that will deepen civic pride, elevate the visitor experience and generate lasting economic benefit."

TVS is an award-winning architecture, master planning, and interior design firm with offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Tampa, Florida. As a 100% employee-owned company, TVS delivers high-impact environments, bringing thoughtful perspectives to civic, mixed-use, convention center, sports, office and workplace, cultural, hospitality, retail, education and healthcare projects of every scale. This multi-disciplinary, multi-market diversity enables TVS to support its clients' most complex aspirations. For more information, visit tvsdesign.com or follow @tvsdesign.

Flintco|Mortenson is the construction team on the project.

"Breaking ground on this arena is a proud moment for Oklahoma City," said Dave Kollmann, central region president at Flintco. "As a company founded in Oklahoma, it’s especially meaningful to help build a world-class home for the Thunder that reflects the energy, pride, and passion of this community."

Founded in 1908 with headquarters in Tulsa, Flintco maintains eight full-service offices across five states, including Oklahoma City. Flintco provides a full range of construction services, including preconstruction, construction management, design-build and project and program management, with the capability to self-perform. Known for their unwavering commitment to safety and quality, Flintco recently received the prestigious 2024 Pinnacle National Safety Excellence Award from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for the second consecutive year. Ingrained in the fabric of Oklahoma for more than a century, notable projects Flintco has completed include the Devon Tower, Oklahoma City Convention Center, BOK Center, The University of Tulsa's Donald W. Reynolds Center, Paycom Center Arena and OG&E Coliseum at the OKC Fairgrounds. Flintco takes great pride in contributing to the growth and development of Oklahoma, enriching the local landscape and amenities where our team works and resides. For more information about Flintco, please visit www.flintco.com.

"Continental Coliseum represents an extraordinary investment in Oklahoma City's future," said Logan Gerken, vice president and general manager, Mortenson Sports + Entertainment. "We are proud to be building Oklahoma City's new landmark arena that will be a world-class gathering space and the most energetic game day in the NBA. Our team will steward the city and team's investment to ensure the most value for the community."

Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top 25 developer, builder and engineering services provider serving the commercial, institutional and energy sectors. Mortenson's expanding portfolio of integrated services helps its customers move their strategies forward, ensuring their investments become high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers. Mortenson is a leader in sports and entertainment projects with other recent completed projects including Chase Center (Golden State Warriors), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders), Energizer Park (St. Louis CITY SC), Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle Kraken), US Bank Stadium (Minnesota Vikings), Fiserv Forum (Milwaukee Bucks) and Truist Park (Atlanta Braves). For additional information, visit www.mortenson.com.

CAA ICON and ADG Blatt are providing professional management services for the project.

"Being a part of the team delivering this landmark project in Oklahoma City is truly rewarding," said Dan Vaillant, president of development for CAA ICON, the project management firm for the new arena. "We recognize the Thunder's impact on the city and region, and we are so proud to bring this project to life with local partner, ADG Blatt, for the future of Loud City fandom."

A division of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), CAA ICON is the industry’s-leading owner's representative and strategic management consulting firm for public and private sports and entertainment facility owners/operators, professional franchises and leagues. With more than 100 sports and entertainment projects and over 2,500 consulting engagements, CAA ICON has managed the development of many of the most successful venues around the world with experience spanning 11 professional sports leagues and over $45 billion over the last 21 years in business. For more information about CAA ICON, visit www.caaicon.com.

"As the local partner with CAA ICON, we're honored to serve on the team bringing this once-in-a-generation project to our hometown," President of ADG Blatt Jason Cotton said. "Today marks a major milestone for the City and its residents. This historic project builds on the success of past public investments and reflects the promise of a bright future for Oklahoma City."

The ADG Blatt Program Management group is comprised of dedicated team members with backgrounds in project management, architecture, engineering and construction. Over the past 30 years, ADG Blatt has successfully served several municipalities, public school districts, as well as other institutions and agencies. ADG Blatt provides robust project management support, allowing clients to focus on their key missions, delivering quality services, rather than designing and constructing facilities. Learn more at adgblatt.com.

Continental Coliseum background

In December 2023, Oklahoma City voters overwhelmingly (71%) approved a penny sales tax to build a new, publicly owned arena. In May 2024, the Oklahoma City Council approved a development agreement(PDF, 689KB) for the City's new arena between the City and PBC Sports and Entertainment, LLC (PBCS&E), owners of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Oklahoma City Blue.

The new arena will be funded by a 72-month, one-cent sales tax starting when the MAPS 4 tax ends. The sales tax rate will not increase. The arena will also be paid for with $78 million in MAPS 4 funding and $50 million from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group. Continental Coliseum will be managed by Legends Global.

The $900 million arena will be at least 750,000 square feet and be built to:

Benefit the residents of Oklahoma City.
Meet/and or exceed NBA specifications and requirements.
Maximize team revenues, ensuring the sustainability of major league professional sports in Oklahoma City.

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Media Contacts:

Kristy Yager, (405) 863-2831, kristy.yager@okc.gov

Gayle Maxwell, (405) 550-3313, gmaxwell@okcthunder.com