On Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Council approved a contract with two construction companies, Flintco and Mortenson, who will partner to build the OKC new arena, which will be home to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Hiring a construction management team is a major milestone for the new arena project and will allow the City, operators, and architects to work collaboratively with the contractors during design,” David Todd, arena program manager, said. “The Flintco Mortenson team will be an excellent addition to this project, bringing together local and national experience building some of the most iconic venues in sports.”
The City will own and be responsible for maintaining and operating the new arena.
“As a century-old company founded in Oklahoma, we are deeply honored to build the new NBA arena with Mortenson. The Thunder is Flintco’s hometown team!” Dave Kollmann, Flintco central region president, said. “Having built the current arena over 20 years ago, we understand the significance of this project for our city and its future, knowing hundreds of construction jobs will be created to boost our economy. Our employees live, work and play here – and we take great pride in bringing our expertise to a facility that will inspire generations of fans, athletes, and Oklahomans.”
The building will be a first-class, state-of-the-art NBA arena and entertainment venue that meets and/or exceeds NBA specifications and requirements. The area’s budget is at least $900 million and will be at least 750,000 square feet.
“Mortenson, in partnership with Flintco, is thrilled and honored to be selected by Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City Thunder as the construction management team for their new state-of-the-art multi-purpose arena,” Kevin Dalager, vice president of operations for Mortenson’s Sports + Entertainment team, said. “This project is a tremendous opportunity to create a landmark venue that will serve as a hub for community engagement and sporting excellence for generations to come.”
Next Steps
The arena will be built on the City-owned site where Prairie Surf Studios, formerly the Cox Convention Center, is located. The existing building will be demolished in spring 2025. Design is underway and construction will start in 2026, with completion scheduled for 2028.
Arena 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 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 that will start when the MAPS 4 tax ends and will not increase the sales tax rate. The arena will also be paid for with $70 million in MAPS 4 funding and $50 million from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group.
The $900 million arena will be at least 750,000 square feet and be built to:
- Benefit the residents of Oklahoma City
- Meet NBA specifications and requirements
- Maximize team revenues, ensuring the sustainability of major league professional sports in Oklahoma City
The Thunder will continue to play home games at Paycom Center until the new arena opens, with a target completion date of June 2028 and a contractual obligation to open the new arena by June 2030. The Thunder’s 25-year commitment to remain in Oklahoma City begins when they move into the new arena.
About Flintco
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.
About Mortenson
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.
