Editor’s Note: When I received an invite to the annual Thunder dining preview from Feeder Landis Tindell, I was heartbroken not to be able to attend myself. This year’s team enters the season not only with a shiny new trophy and the banners and rings that come with it, but a brand-new chef in charge of the dining needs of we the people. While I wasn’t able to attend this year’s dining preview, Jared was and based on what he’s written I can’t wait to dig in when I arrive on opening night!
Just in time for today’s first preseason game, here’s Jared’s preview of the delicious season ahead. Thunder Up, y’all!
June 12, 2012. My final year as a graduate student at the University of Central Oklahoma. I sat inside Chesapeake Energy Arena—now known as Paycom Arena—as the Thunder hosted the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. I can still feel it—electricity coursing through the stands, a collective current of belief. Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, and James Harden led the Thunder to a 105–94 win in Game One of the NBA Finals against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. The city wasn’t just alive—it was incandescent. For a moment, Oklahoma City was the blazing heart of the sports world.
But moments, no matter how bright, fade. In 2012, that night was a promise that ultimately left a city broken. Achievement didn’t arrive until June 22, 2025, when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams carried Oklahoma City across the threshold, delivering the franchise’s first professional championship in a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Finally, the promise of 2012 was realized. Finally, Oklahoma City stood at the summit.
Now a new season tips off on October 21st. Kevin Durant returns to Paycom Arena, this time in a Houston Rockets jersey, as the Thunder begin what feels like the first steps of a dynasty. But the spectacle is no longer confined to the hardwood—Paycom’s food has been reimagined for the moment.
Arena food isn’t about white linens or Michelin stars—it’s about enhancing the roar of the crowd, the pulse of the game, the communal joy of being there. Done right, it doesn’t just feed you; it heightens the experience.
This year, Thunder unveiled an expanded roster of concessions: Full Court Philly with chicken, brisket, and steak sandwiches; Pizza Hut with pizzas and cookies; Eddie’s Wings with wings, queso, and Cajun chicken pasta; The Perfect Pretzel with hand-rolled twists; HTeaO with its balanced teas; Boomarang Diner with burgers and shakes; Freddy’s Frozen Custard with cookies and tots; Baseline with loaded funnel fries; Blue Pit with peach crisp; and Cookie Collections with sweet treats, joined by arena staples like the Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Club, Schwab’s, and the MIO Cart. With that depth, Paycom Arena is now fielding as complete a food lineup as it is a basketball one.
Chef Syed Khan is the driving force behind most of the new creations. While Pizza Hut, Eddie’s Wings, Boomarang Diner, The Perfect Pretzel, and HTeaO brought in their own concepts, Khan and his team crafted the Buffalo Chicken Dog, Street Tacos, Philly sandwiches, Funnel Cake Fries, Peach Crisp, Whiskey-Glazed Ribs, wraps, and cookies. His vision blends familiar fan-friendly comfort food with enough creativity to give arena dining its own identity.
Of course, not every offering was a slam dunk, but several rose above the rest. Here are the Top 5 Thunder Game Night Bites from the preview event.
Not food, but essential. Crisp, refreshing teas with balanced fruit-to-sweetness ratios make HTeaO the ultimate utility player, pairing well with almost any dish.
Yes, pretzels are familiar, but these are done right—plump, soft, and theatrically rolled by hand inside the arena. They bring comfort and a little halftime showmanship.
A hot dog made bold. Juicy, generously sized, with buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and a touch of funk to break out of the ordinary. Messy? Absolutely. Worth it? Absolutely.
Chef Khan’s sleeper hit. Crisp funnel cake fries dipped in tangy strawberry sauce and drizzled with cheesecake cream. It’s playful, salty-sweet, interactive, and oddly elegant for arena food.
By far the best bite of the Game Night Preview Event. Perfectly fried wings—crisp without being greasy—balanced with a bracing pickle tang that elevates each bite. Eddie’s Cajun pasta and queso were solid, but these wings stood head and shoulders above everything else. They weren’t just good for arena food—they were just plain good.
Final Whistle
Oklahoma City once dreamed of championships, and now it eats as a champion. Paycom Arena’s concessions don’t just feed the fans; they reflect the Thunder’s rise—playful, bold, and balanced with moments of brilliance. And just like the team, the food lineup has its stars. Some bites score, some miss, but Eddie’s wings? Those are the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of arena food—carrying the night, carrying the crowd, carrying the moment.