THE THUNDER. YEAH GUYS. THAT’S RIGHT. AS WE ALL KNOW, IT’S LONG BEEN RUMORED THAT THE OLD COX CONVENTION CENTER CURRENTLY WHERE PRAIRIE SURF STUDIOS IS, IS THE TOP PICK FOR THE NEW ARENA HERE IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY. WELL, NOW THAT A VOTE IS OFFICIALLY SET FOR CITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY, IT’S LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKELY THAT THAT WILL BE. A NEW HOME FOR THE THUNDER. A LOT CLOSER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK. THE CITY ANNOUNCING THE OLD COX CONVENTION CENTER, CURRENTLY PRAIRIE SURF MEDIA AS THE NEW SITE FOR AN NBA ARENA. THE LOCATION, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE CITY, HAS BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE LIST SINCE VOTERS APPROVED FUNDING LATE LAST YEAR. WE’VE COMMITTED THAT WE’RE GOING TO BE DOWNTOWN WITH THE NEW ARENA, THE ONE SITE THAT WE OWN RIGHT NOW IS PRAIRIE SURF SITE. WE’VE GOT TO KEEP THAT OPEN. CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO VOTE ON ENTERING AN AGREEMENT, DEAL WITH THE THUNDER OWNERS. THE CITY REITERATE THAT IT WILL OWN AND OPERATE THE NEW ARENA. THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO BUILD A 650 CAR PARKING GARAGE ON SITE. CONSTRUCTION WOULD ALSO RESERVE ABOUT AN ACRE AND A HALF ON THE SITE FOR A POSSIBLE TRANSIT HUB IN THE FUTURE, MAYOR HOLT LAYING OUT THE VISION DURING HIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS LAST SUMMER. THIS IS OUR GENERATION’S CHANCE TO LEAVE OUR LEGACY ON OKLAHOMA CITY’S RENAISSANCE STORY. TODAY, THE MAYOR SAID IN A BRIEF STATEMENT. I’VE BEEN PART OF THE PROCESS AND WILL SUPPORT APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT. A THUNDER TEAM SPOKESPERSON ALSO SAYING, QUOTE, WE FULLY SUPPORT THE SELECTION OF THAT SITE FOR THE NEW ARENA AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT’S AHEAD FOR DOWNTOWN OKC. THE CITY SAYING THAT THE NEW ARENA WILL COST A MINIMUM OF $900 MILLION, 78 MILLION WILL COME FROM MAPS FOR THE THUNDER HAVE AGREED TO PAY FOR 50 MILLION, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT WILL BE FUNDED BY A $0.01 SALES TAX, WHICH VOTERS APPROVED BACK IN DECEMBER. THE CITY HOPES TO HAVE CONSTRUCTION DONE BY 2029 AND RETURN. THE THUNDER AGREE TO STAY IN OKC FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS AFTER IT OPENS. AND IN CASE YOU’RE WONDERING, THE THUNDER WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY RIGHT HERE AT THE PAYCOM CENTER UNTIL THAT NEW ARENA IS COMPLETE. CITY COUNCIL IS SET TO VOTE ON THE LOCATION ACROSS THE STREET HERE AT PRAIRIE SURF. AT THEIR NEXT MEETING NEXT TUESDAY. IF APPROVED, WE WILL EVENTUALLY SEE A NE