Legendary Oklahoma Sportswriter Voices Opinion on Proposed Arena

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt announced plans to build a new arena on Tuesday, a breath of relief for Thunder fans as the franchise’s future in the city was not yet set in stone. While still pending passage, the new arena would lock in the franchise beyond 2050, and would be the Thunder’s new home by 2029-30.

OKC Mayor David Holt knows Thunder basketball: pic.twitter.com/pnFtStYSow
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“I think it’d be great for the city,” longtime Oklahoman columnist, now with a new startup called Sellout Crowd, Berry Tramel told Inside the Thunder.

The arena alone will cost a minimum of $900 million, as ownership will be responsible for just $50 million. There’s been some discourse surrounding the lack of financial assistance from ownership to construct the arena, as it covers a mere 5.5% of the entire cost.

“That’s a ton of money. But the way I would look at it is, the one we’ve got [Paycom Center] cost $90 million to build and $90 million to renovate. So, what we’re really doing is getting two arenas for $1.18 [billion],” Tramel said.

Comparatively, the Milwaukee Bucks’ fairly new arena, the Fiserv Forum, was propped up by a 33% ownership contribution. And the Sacramento Kings’ ownership contributed 51% to its new arena, the Golden 1 Center.

“The new, nice arenas, it’s just no comparison. I think the last time we built an arena, we did it on the cheap. I think it’s time we did something really cool for the city,” he added.

The impact the Thunder franchise has had on Oklahoma City is hard to be overstated. One study has pinned the franchise’s economic impact at $600 million along with 3,000 jobs, according to the city government. And since the Thunder’s initial arrival in 2008, Oklahoma City’s GDP has increased by 62 percent.

Tramel would go on to state how the ownership’s $50 million contribution doesn’t necessarily bother him, but he voiced his concern for what future ownership might look like.

“We [have] four primary owners. One of them is dead, and his estate’s in probate — Aubrey McClendon. If they want me to vote for that, which I don’t get to vote, I live in Norman, I [have] to know what is the future of McClendon’s stake in the team.

“Clay Bennett, he’s my age, but he’s faced death. He’s doing a lot better now, but he’s had severe cancer. What’s the succession plan for his share? The key is, are we going to maintain Oklahoma ownership?”

Tramel’s concerns are valid, and should be at the forefront of Oklahoma City voter’s minds along with the positives it could offer to the city. Oklahoma City residents will have their opportunity to vote for the new arena on Dec. 12.

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