Is it time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to get a new arena?

Big League City. I am old enough to remember the celebration that broke out around the state of Oklahoma when the Thunder came to Oklahoma City. While we always ran with that “Big League City” slogan, this was a far greater win for the state than just one city. While the Thunder plays their games in OKC, everyone has seen positive outcomes from the relocation. In a state with so much pride, the reputation of this once fly-over sleepy state known for cows and college football has been revolutionized and turned into a global brand thanks to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The NBA has turned Oklahoma City into a destination, and no, I do not mean the random Drake appearances on the sidelines of games, the actual city has sprouted into a legitimate metropolitan area. Instead of Oklahomans from southwest Oklahoma fleeing to Dallas, or Northern Oklahoma making the hop, skip, and jump to Kansas City to have a good time, shop, spend money, and hang out in “civilization” like what happened when I was a kid, Oklahoma City is a place that fits all your needs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have played in their arena since 2008, an arena that opened up in 2002 and has seen several name changes from the Ford Center, to Chesapeake Energy Arena, and now the Paycom Center. Millions of dollars in renovation still leave Oklahoma City’s arena as one of the worst in the sport. Frankly, that is because, in 2002, we did not have the construction creativity we do now, much less the fact that this was never dreamed to be a premier home for the NBA. It was an attempt to lure the NHL to town, which the league decided against.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City have gotten away with playing in the Paycom Center for too long, it is time to begin the new arena process

Like any good Oklahoman, I know the value of a dollar and understand the phrase “You better get your money’s worth out of that” we are not the type for frivolous spending. When the statement “new arena” slaps you across the face, it is easy to think “Why? What is wrong with the old arena? Isn’t that good enough?”

While there might not be sewage falling from the ceiling like at the Oakland A’s ballpark, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City have gotten our money out of the Paycom Center. You have to keep in mind that a new arena can not spring up tomorrow, it will be another decade of basketball at the Paycom Center until we cut the ribbon on a new stadium. It is not as though after housing NBA basketball, the Paycom Center will just be bulldozed, it can still house musical acts, monster truck rallies, comedy shows, and conventions…just not NBA basketball.

Let’s wait to react to this plan once we… get the plan. But the bottom line is, whatever arrangement the Thunder organization and Oklahoma City government present to taxpayers it is important to remember all that NBA basketball has done for our state.

This is the price of doing business, and being a big-league city.