Last Updated on September 27, 2023, 4:29 PM | Published: September 27, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — The debate over a proposed new downtown arena – a multi-year project estimated at $900 million – is firing passions on either side. Supporters are touting the potential economic boom and detractors criticizing the hefty taxpayer cost and a perceived lack of transparency around the deal with the OKC Thunder.
Under the terms of the current deal, Thunder ownership would cover $50 million of the cost – roughly 5.5% of the total – with a citywide sales tax making up the remainder of the estimated $900 million price tag.
Opponents of the plan say that’s far too high a cost for city taxpayers, while those in support claim it’s a small price to pay compared to the economic benefit that the city sees from the Thunder’s presence.
It’s of special concern, as Thunder leadership has insinuated that they may move the franchise without city investment in a new, state-of-the-art arena.
Surprising support from Cooper
At a particularly heavily attended OKC City Council meeting on Tuesday, city residents spoke to either side of the debate ahead of a council vote to set a December 12th date for a public vote on the tax, augmented by a sweeping labor rights resolution developed by Ward 2 Councilperson James Cooper.
The staunchly progressive Councilor seems an unlikely supporter of the project but sees it as an opportunity to create a better-protected, more worker-friendly city, based primarily on a similar framework developed between the City of Milwaukee and its own NBA franchise, the Bucks.
“If we hadn’t been able to put this resolution together, and if Milwaukee hadn’t provided such a solid blueprint for quality job creation, you would have seen a much more forceful rebuke from me,” Cooper told Free Press after the meeting, confirming that, without the resolution, he would not support the arena project.
Cooper said he believes that the proposal is already likely to pass regardless of opposition, so he decided to take the opportunity to develop the kind of labor-first worker protection package for its construction that he’s always wanted to see in Oklahoma City.
“This is a moment I’ve waited on for four years,” he told us after the successful 8-1 City Council vote in favor of his resolution. “I never thought it would be a new arena that got us there, but here we are.”
Transparency Concerns
Cooper’s fellow City Council progressive, Ward 6’s JoBeth Hamon, had no such reason to support the arena project, however.
In addition to vocal considerations over more immediately pressing ways that $850 million in taxpayer funds could be spent, her chief concern of the day was what many have perceived as a lack of transparency around the deal between the City of OKC and the Thunder leadership.
“I’m insulted for my constituents with the framing of the city’s press release that this process included ‘public discussion and collaborative conversations with city leaders’ when I and other council members were never invited to any discussions about this deal,” she told Free Press. “If we are wanting to decide what we, as city leaders, want to propose to voters about an almost $1 billion tax package, we should be collaborating with our constituents, not just billionaire owners of a sports franchise.”
Mayor David Holt refuted claims that council members were excluded from negotiations with Thunder leadership, repeating that the deal was struck over a 14-month period.
Free Press has confirmed that the full City Council was only made aware of the details of the deal and the Thunder’s 5% pledge for the first time earlier this month.
Support
With more than 30 individuals signed up to speak ahead of the City Council’s vote on Tuesday, each person was only allotted a firm three minutes for comments.
Opinions seemed split nearly evenly between supporters and opponents throughout the meeting.
Chef Andrew Black, owner of Black Walnut, Gray Sweater, and Gilded Acorn, and Oklahoma’s first-ever James Beard Award-winning chef, echoed the feelings of many other Downtown business owners.
“I am strongly in support of the Thunder,” Chef Black told the council. “I think the restaurant community is also, and there is no doubt in my mind that we need to do this. The city has to grow. The state has to grow. And so, on behalf of the restaurants in Oklahoma City, we are behind this 100%.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many business owners across the Metro who believe that the growth of opportunity provided by a new arena, both as a long-term home for the Thunder and also as a draw for bigger entertainment acts, can only be a net gain for the city.
Even owners of the smallest small businesses agree.
“I feel it’s an overall positive for the entire state of Oklahoma,” local event photographer and self-professed Thunder “fanatic” Jesse Edgar told Free Press following the City Council vote on Tuesday. Edgar has some experience shooting the Thunder in action at the current arena, but his bigger passion is photographing live music.
“There will be more opportunities,” he said. “The photographer side of me is excited about a wider range of artists and events as they come through.”
There was a strong showing in the City Council chamber from labor leaders, who appeared to be in easy agreement in supporting Cooper’s worker-friendly resolution.
“We support the community benefits agreement,” Central Oklahoma Labor Federation President Tim O’Connor told the council. “We think it’s a great start for workers. I know there’s a little study we want to do on the ‘labor peace agreement’… and we’re gonna be at the table as long as people want to talk about that.”
The council heard from some city education leaders, many of whom spoke in favor of the proposal because of the Thunder’s educational efforts and youth outreach.
“Every single year, the Thunder has come and shown up for our kids,” said Margaret Creighton, President and CEO of Positive Tomorrows, OKC’s only school for children experiencing homelessness. “So I’m grateful for someone that will come into our schools and provide coats and shoes for our kiddos.”
One Oklahoma City resident who is heavily in favor of the arena proposal is Ward 8 City Councilman Mark Stonecipher, who issued a press statement following the Tuesday vote expressing his excitement for the plan to go forward and citing recent surveys showing city resident satisfaction.
Absent from that statement was any mention that Stonecipher was the only city councilor to vote against Cooper’s labor resolution.
Opposition
Those opposed range from residents who don’t believe tax dollars should fund a sports and entertainment venue at all to would-be supporters who believe the city is getting fleeced in the deal.
“Oklahoma City only getting 5% from the Thunder is, frankly, embarrassing,” local resident and high school government teacher Alex Shirley told the City Council. “When I heard that Oklahoma City was getting a new arena, I was thrilled. I love the Thunder. I was ecstatic for a new home to cheer them on. Until I saw the numbers.”
Others are unhappy with what they perceive as manipulative bargaining tactics from the Thunder organization.
“The owners are getting off incredibly light paying only 50 million,” local brewer and lifelong NBA fan Shaun Wright told Free Press. “I’m a big Thunder fan, but this seems forced on us by their threats of moving the team.”
But some activist-minded residents like David Hanon object to the use of public funds for a potential future economic boon when they could be used for what he sees as pressing city issues right now.
“What good is a new arena if Thunder fans are struggling to find affordable housing, or are struggling to afford basketball tickets because of looming healthcare expenses?” Hanon said to Free Press.
Brett Fieldcamp has been covering arts, entertainment, news, housing, and culture in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years, writing for several local and state publications. He’s also a musician and songwriter and holds a certification as Specialist of Spirits from The Society of Wine Educators.
