New name for new Oklahoma Thunder arena

Article posted by Coliseum, July 24^th, 2025

Image: Paycom Center, Kerwin Moore, CC BY-SA 4.0

Oklahoma City Thunder’s future $1 billion NBA arena will open with a new name after a deal with Paycom is set to be terminated early.

The Oklahoman said Paycom and owners of the Thunder have agreed to end a naming rights contract that started in 2021 and was to last 15 years.

Paycom Center is scheduled to remain the name of the current building until it closes, which would include three more Thunder seasons.

Jason Bodin, executive vice president of marketing and communications at Paycom, said, “With the citizens of Oklahoma City and the Thunder making significant investments in the new arena, Paycom is committed to allowing the team to seek a new long-term naming rights partner for the new arena.

“We have been a major corporate partner of the Thunder since 2018. We will continue to explore new avenues to support the team and our community as we enter this new chapter of growth.”

Paycom, headquartered in Oklahoma City, employs more than 7,00 people and is one of the city’s leading employers.

Oklahoma City Thunder is an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City (US). The Thunder competes in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference. The team currently plays its home games at the Paycom Center.

The 18,203-capacity Paycom Center is an arena located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It opened in 2002 and since 2008 has served as the home venue for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA’s) Oklahoma City Thunder.

The new $1 billion, 750,000-square-foot arena is scheduled to open by late summer 2028 and is expected to be a catalyst for continued downtown revitalization. Oklahoma City voters approved the project in December 2023 with a 71% majority.

The announcement of the naming rights change coincides with a scheduled unveiling of conceptual designs for the new arena by Mayor David Holt at the July 16 State of the City address.

Will Syring, vice president of corporate partnerships for the Oklahoma City Thunder, said,
“Paycom is a leader not just in Oklahoma but globally, and we are grateful for their decision in 2021 to become the naming rights partner for our current arena.

“Their support, especially during the pandemic, showcased their dedication to our team and the community.”

The upcoming name change is unlike the previous one, in which Chesapeake Energy was going through financial turbulence and bankruptcy when it ended its naming rights agreement.

Syring said, “We sincerely appreciate Paycom’s unwavering support for the Thunder and our entire community. We look forward to continuing our relationship as they support the Thunder and Oklahoma City.”

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