NIGHT OF CELEBRATION DOWN THERE. IT HAS BEEN A BIG NIGHT OF CELEBRATION HERE. IT’S CLEARED OUT QUITE A BIT. BUT LET ME TELL YOU, ABOUT AN HOUR AGO, THIS ROOM WAS ROARING AS MAYOR DAVID HOLT TOOK THE STAGE TO DECLARE VICTORY IN THIS ELECTION. THAT WILL KEEP THE THUNDER IN OKLAHOMA CITY UNTIL 2050. NOW, WE WERE ABLE TO CATCH UP WITH HIM ONE ON ONE TO HEAR ABOUT TONIGHT’S HISTORIC VOTE. IT. ALL RIGHT. OBVIOUSLY, PRETTY HISTORIC NIGHT FOR OKLAHOMA CITY. RESULTS CLEARLY COMING IN EXACTLY HOW YOU WANTED IT. WHAT’S YOUR IMMEDIATE REACTION? JUST SEEING, YOU KNOW, THE MARGIN OF VICTORY IN THIS INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR OUR CITY. OBVIOUSLY A WIN WAS A WIN. BUT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS MARGIN, A HISTORIC MARGIN IN OUR CITY’S HISTORY, I MEAN, IT REALLY REPRESENTS A CONSENSUS. YOU KNOW, IT’S A MANDATE. IT’S VALIDATION THAT WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK. SO, YEAH, I’M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED FOR OUR CITY. JUST CAN’T BELIEVE ALMOST IT THAT WE REALLY GET TO HAVE THIS RENAISSANCE CONTINUE IN SOME WAYS FOR ANOTHER GENERATION AND WE CAN BUILD UPON THIS PLATFORM NOW KNOWING THAT WE’RE A BIG LEAGUE CITY. AND YOUR SPEECH EARLIER, YOU MENTIONED HOW HOW THE WORLD WAS WATCHING THIS ELECTION AND WHAT OKLAHOMA CITY VOTERS DECIDED KIND OF RECAP THAT AND JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS ON THE LEVEL OF WORLDWIDE, NOT JUST IMPORTANT HERE IN OKLAHOMA. WELL, I THINK FOR 15 YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE SEEN HAVE CONSIDERED US A CURIOSITY. YOU KNOW, WE’RE STILL KIND OF A SMALL MARKET. DO WE REALLY DESERVE A TEAM? CAN WE REALLY PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS? CAN WE DO WE HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE THE COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO MAKE TO PLAY AT THIS LEVEL AND NOT ONLY TO JUST PASS IT, BUT TO PASS IT LIKE THIS? I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND BACK AND SAY, OKAY, OKLAHOMA CITY IS HERE TO STAY. AND I LOVE THAT. OBVIOUSLY, I LOVE THIS CITY AND I LOVE THAT. I THINK WE MADE SUCH A STRONG STATEMENT TONIGHT THAT THIS IS A GLOBAL CITY AND WE’RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. NOW, THE MAJOR QUESTION LEFT IS WHERE WILL THE NEW ARENA GO? I WAS ABLE TO ASK MAYOR HOLT TONIGHT AND HE SAID THAT IS GOING TO BE THE QUESTION FOR 2024. THEY PLAN TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND PLANNING THAT. HE SAYS THAT THIS WILL CHANGE THE SKYLINE OF OKC AND REALLY MAKE A STATEMENT AND OF COURSE, BE EVEN BIGGER THAN THE CURRENT PAYCOM CENTER. HE SAYS. TO EXPECT ABOUT 750,000FT FOR THE NE
Proposition to fund new $900 million downtown Oklahoma City arena passes
The passage comes with an agreement from the Thunder to stay in Oklahoma City through 2050
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Updated: 10:26 PM CST Dec 12, 2023
Voters have approved a proposal to fund a new $900 million downtown arena that will keep the Thunder in Oklahoma City through 2050. With all precincts reporting, about 71% of voters were in favor of funding a new downtown Oklahoma City arena. More than 41,000 voters cast ballots to approve the proposition.The newly approved plan calls for the arena to be funded by extending the MAPS 4 one-cent sales tax for an additional six years, which would include $70 million from previous money already set aside for the Paycom Center. The one-cent sales tax won't start until 2028.Thunder ownership also agreed to contribute $50 million.| APP USERS | Click here for election results"Tonight, we told the nation, we told the world, that Oklahoma City is and shall remain a Big League City," Mayor David Holt said.During the monthslong campaign, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and supporters have said a new arena was needed to keep the Thunder in town and to attract better concerts and events. They also have said the arena will draw an economic boost of $513 million annually for 30 years, even though some economists said they didn't believe the economic impact is that grand. Details about where the new arena, where and when it will be built and the amenities that will come with it have not been confirmed."We are deeply grateful for the confidence and pride our citizens have expressed in the future of our city. We also appreciate Mayor David Holt for his leadership and relentless passion to elevate Oklahoma City at all levels," Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett said in a statement. "With this project we will be doing more than just building a world-class sports and entertainment complex, we will be propelling Oklahoma City toward the next generation. This new home for the Thunder will serve as an iconic centerpiece of our vibrant and modern downtown and continue to represent the values of our city and its people. "As we take the next step in this historic journey, I am particularly grateful and energized by what this means for our city’s young people and the Oklahoma City they will lead and enjoy over the coming decades."Those who opposed the new arena argued that Thunder ownership wasn't contributing enough and were footing taxpayers with too much of the burden. Top Headlines Police release identity of victim killed in I-35 shooting, crash 'I'm really glad we had the warning': Facebook post helps family save dog from coyotes Charges amended for caretakers in Athena Brownfield case Victims killed in Oklahoma City plane crash identified as husband and wife, organizations say
OKLAHOMA CITY — Voters have approved a proposal to fund a new $900 million downtown arena that will keep the Thunder in Oklahoma City through 2050.
With all precincts reporting, about 71% of voters were in favor of funding a new downtown Oklahoma City arena. More than 41,000 voters cast ballots to approve the proposition.
The newly approved plan calls for the arena to be funded by extending the MAPS 4 one-cent sales tax for an additional six years, which would include $70 million from previous money already set aside for the Paycom Center. The one-cent sales tax won't start until 2028.
Thunder ownership also agreed to contribute $50 million.
| APP USERS | Click here for election results
"Tonight, we told the nation, we told the world, that Oklahoma City is and shall remain a Big League City," Mayor David Holt said.
During the monthslong campaign, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt and supporters have said a new arena was needed to keep the Thunder in town and to attract better concerts and events. They also have said the arena will draw an economic boost of $513 million annually for 30 years, even though some economists said they didn't believe the economic impact is that grand.
Details about where the new arena, where and when it will be built and the amenities that will come with it have not been confirmed.
"We are deeply grateful for the confidence and pride our citizens have expressed in the future of our city. We also appreciate Mayor David Holt for his leadership and relentless passion to elevate Oklahoma City at all levels," Thunder Chairman Clay Bennett said in a statement. "With this project we will be doing more than just building a world-class sports and entertainment complex, we will be propelling Oklahoma City toward the next generation. This new home for the Thunder will serve as an iconic centerpiece of our vibrant and modern downtown and continue to represent the values of our city and its people.
"As we take the next step in this historic journey, I am particularly grateful and energized by what this means for our city’s young people and the Oklahoma City they will lead and enjoy over the coming decades."
Those who opposed the new arena argued that Thunder ownership wasn't contributing enough and were footing taxpayers with too much of the burden.
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