Oklahoma City voters elect to keep the Thunder in Bricktown through 2050

The Oklahoma City Thunder organization moved to OKC back in 2008, and ever since, they have played in the same spot in Downtown Oklahoma City.

Then called the Ford Center, opened in 2002 and housed the Thunder through multiple basketball eras and naming rights sponsors, but the building hardly changed. Renovations here and there, the biggest coming this season with a new giant video screen and different seating arrangements, the Paycom Center is still one of the smallest arenas in the NBA by square foot.

For the past few years, whispers of a new arena being a necessity have crept into the subconscious of Thunder fans before they boiled into heated debates this past year with an actual bill proposal from Mayor David Holt.

OKC Voters speak out, overwhelmingly approving the new arena proposal, securing the Thunder's future in Oklahoma City through 2050.

Oklahoma City votes on Tuesday elected to pass a bill that will allow the City to build a 900 million dollar arena, with just 50 million dollars being pledged by the team, The voters agreed to extend the one-cent tax in order to afford the new state-of-the-art arena.

With 71 percent of the vote, the new arena has overwhelmingly passed. This will mark the second building the Thunder will play in and secure them in Oklahoma City at least through 2050. At that time, the Thunder will have played in Oklahoma City longer than the Sonics played in Seattle.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released the following statement about the voters' decision in the new arena special election.

"A signature of the Oklahoma City Thunder, beyond the team's success on the floor, has been their deep connection to their fans and their community. This vote for a new arena is another example of that bond." Silver said.

This team means a lot to the state and the city, since moving here in 2008, it has been a life blood for a booming community that will now continue to grow.

In a statement released following the arena vote passing, Oklahoma City Thunder chairman Clay Bennett added, "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."

Having seen what the initial move did to revolutionize Oklahoma City, it is impossible not to be excited about the endless possibilities