Oklahoma City Arena Construction Reached New Milestone
The 750,000-square-foot facility project has progressed to the first of 18 concrete deck pours.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Construction
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Construction teams have poured the first of 18 concrete decks for the 750,000-square-foot Continental Coliseum in downtown Oklahoma City. The project, which replaces the city's former arena and convention center, is being financed through a combination of public and private funds.
Why it matters
The development represents a significant progression for a major local capital project that relies on a specific 72-month local sales tax approved by voters in 2023. This arena is expected to serve as the new home for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The project is funded by $89 million in MAPS 4 tax revenue and a $50 million contribution from the Oklahoma City Thunder ownership group. A one-cent sales tax, approved by voters in December 2023, will run for 72 months to support the arena's construction.
The players
Oklahoma City Thunder
An NBA professional basketball franchise that is the primary projected tenant of the Continental Coliseum.
The details
Crews have shifted focus from foundational work and underground structural support systems to vertical construction. The Continental Coliseum will eventually encompass 750,000 square feet on the footprint of the city's previous arena site. This phase marks the beginning of the primary structural assembly required for the facility's multi-level design.
Timeline
December 2023: Voters approved the one-cent sales tax for the arena.
October 12, 2026: Construction crews poured the first concrete deck.
Market Landscape
The Continental Coliseum project continues the city's strategy of utilizing sequential sales tax initiatives to fund large-scale civic infrastructure. It adheres to the established framework of the MAPS 4 tax program by coordinating the new tax's onset with the expiration of existing obligations.
Operators in the downtown area should anticipate continued heavy machinery traffic and potential street-level access changes as vertical construction accelerates. Budget for longer transit times and potential logistical disruptions during the 18-deck pouring phase of the build.
The takeaway
Large-scale civic projects require careful alignment between public tax cycles and construction milestones to ensure consistent funding. Monitor the pace of deck pours to gauge whether the prime contractor remains on track for their anticipated delivery schedule.
Further reading
For more on local development activity, visit the Construction section.
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