A mix of more than 300 Thunder fans, civic leaders, architects and contractors “gathered Thursday to celebrate the start of construction” of the team’s new $1B arena in downtown Oklahoma City. Thunder/YouTube
A mix of more than 300 Thunder fans, civic leaders, architects and contractors “gathered Thursday to celebrate the start of construction” of the team’s new $1B arena in downtown Oklahoma City. The groundbreaking took place just 48 hours after a naming rights agreement with Continental Resources to open the venue as Continental Coliseum. The arena is “under a tight deadline,” with “expectations it will open in time for the 2028-2029 NBA season.” Both Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and Thunder Chair Clay Bennett “praised the arena design.” Bennett also “thanked partners in the team’s ownership group” and “praised residents for supporting the team and construction of the arena.” Bennett: “This is your day” (OKLAHOMAN, 3/26).