Paycom Center

arena in downtown Oklahoma City, USA

Paycom Center, formerly known as Ford Center, briefly as Oklahoma City Arena, and Chesapeake Energy Arena, is a multipurpose indoor sports/concert arena in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It is the home of the National Basketball Association's Oklahoma City Thunder. The arena was also home to the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005 to 2007.

Paycom Center
"Loud City"
"The Thunderdome"
Map
Former namesFord Center (2002-2010)
Oklahoma City Arena (2010-2011)
Chesapeake Energy Arena (2011–2021)
Location100 W Reno Ave
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Coordinates35°27′48.44″N 97°30′53.79″W / 35.4634556°N 97.5149417°W / 35.4634556; -97.5149417
OwnerCity of Oklahoma City
OperatorSMG
CapacityBasketball: 19,599
Hockey: 18,036
Football: 17,868
Concerts: 20,817
Construction
Started1999
OpenedJune 8, 2002
Construction cost$89 million
ArchitectSink Combs Dethlefs
The Benham Companies
Tenants
Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)(2008-Present)
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (NBA) (2005-2007)
Oklahoma City Blazers (CHL) (2002-2009)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (af2) (2004-2009)

Naming history change

The arena was named the Ford Center from 2002 to 2010. The name did not come directly from the Ford Motor Company; it instead came from a contract with Oklahoma Ford Dealers, a group that represents marketing efforts of the state's Ford dealers.[1] After the city and Oklahoma Ford Dealers could not agree on a new naming rights contract, the arena became Oklahoma City Arena from 2010 to 2011.[2]

A new naming rights contract was signed with Chesapeake Energy in 2011, leading to the renaming as Chesapeake Energy Arena.[3] Chesapeake Energy entered into bankruptcy restructuring in 2020, and ended the naming contract the next year.[4] In July 2021, Paycom, an Oklahoma City-based payroll services company, signed a 15-year naming contract, leading to the current name of Paycom Center.[5]

References change

  1. Rohde, John (August 26, 2010). "Ford Center Name to Change". The Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  2. "Ford Center Is Now The Oklahoma City Arena". KOCO. Oklahoma City. Archived from the original on September 29, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  3. "OKC Arena to be Renamed Chesapeake Energy Arena". Oklahoma City Thunder. July 21, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  4. "Thunder Plans Transition to New Arena Naming Rights Partner". Oklahoma City Thunder. April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  5. "Thunder, Paycom Announce 15-Year Arena Naming Rights Agreement". OKCThunder.com (Press release). NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 27, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.

Other websites change