Step Inside: Paycom Center – Home of the Oklahoma City Thunder

Home of the Thunder

Located at 100 West Reno Avenue in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Paycom Center is the home arena of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

In addition to the Thunder, teams like the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League, arenafootball2’s Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League, and two iterations of the Professional Bull Riders — the Oklahoma Freedom and Oklahoma Wildcatters — have all called Paycom Center home throughout its history.

Paycom Center History

Paycom Center opened in June 2002 under its original name, the Ford Center. Owned by the City of Oklahoma City, the venue was originally constructed as the centerpiece of the city’s Capital Improvement Program, which was known under the acronym MAPS (Metropolitan Area Projects).

From 2005 to 2007, the New Orleans Hornets were temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, leasing the arena as their home court for two NBA seasons. The city’s support of the Hornets ultimately led to talks of the city having its own NBA franchise.

Beginning in 2007, the arena underwent renovations to retrofit the building with amenities including luxury seating and a high-definition scoreboard, and by the 2008 NBA season, the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to OKC, becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder.

With the new franchise calling it home, the Thunder played their first game at the renovated Ford Center on October 14, 2008 against the Los Angeles Clippers. In 2010, the venue was renamed Oklahoma City Arena as the team negotiated naming rights — eventually rechristening the space Chesapeake Energy Arena from 2011 to 2021.

Around this time, the OKC Thunder became a regular presence in the NBA Playoffs, with the arena hosting post-season playoff games in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016. The venue also hosted the NBA Finals for the first time in 2012, when Games 1 and 2 of the championship were played at Chesapeake Energy Arena against the Miami Heat — though the Thunder ultimately lost 4-1.

In March 2020, the arena became the site where COVID-19 would bring the NBA to a halt, after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive ahead of a game against the Thunder. Following the conclusion of that evening’s games, the rest of the season was suspended across the entire country.

In 2021, it was announced that local software company Paycom would take over the naming rights for the arena under a new 15-year agreement. However, in July 2025, the deal was shortened through 2028, when the Thunder are expected to relocate to a new arena.

Throughout its history, Paycom Center has also hosted other sporting events like WWE Monday Night Raw, Smackdown and Unforgiven 2005 as well as multiple UFC showdowns. In 2015, the arena was also one of two sold-out host sites of the United Pentecostal Church International’s North American Youth Congress.

Parking and Admission at Paycom Center

Parking at Paycom Center is available through City parking services. For information, call 405-235-PARK or visit www.parkinokc.com. Additional parking is available throughout downtown and Bricktown.

Bags must be smaller than 6 in. x 9 in. x 2 in. to be permitted inside the arena, including clear bags. All bags will be searched upon entry to the venue.

 

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Items prohibited inside Paycom Center include:

• Weapons of any kind (concealed or unconcealed), including knives, mace/pepper spray, blades, tasers/stun guns, bats, clubs, and/or tools
• Banners, flags, and signage larger than 11 in. x 17 in.
• Cameras with professional, interchangeable, or detachable lenses, or lenses greater than 3 in. in length
• Audio/visual recording devices (including GoPro, Google Glass, Spectacles, etc.)
• Poles, selfie sticks, tripods, monopods, and missile-like objects that can be thrown
• iPads, tablets, and laptops
• Outside food and beverage (unless for medical reasons)
• Chains of any kind, including wallet chains and pocket chains
• Wrapped gifts of any kind
• Laser pens/pointers or any similar devices
• Balloons, beach balls, and frisbees
• Fireworks
• Aerosol cans
• Whistles, foghorns, airhorns, plastic horns (such as vuvuzelas and didgeridoos), or noisemakers of any type
• Drones or any other model aircraft
• Hazardous materials
• Illegal substances of any kind
• Optical illusions intended to interfere with vision or depth perception, such as pinwheels or umbrellas (note: umbrellas are allowed on days with inclement weather as long as they remain unopened inside the arena)
• Hoverboards, Segways, or any other similar non-medically necessary mobility apparatus
• Hard-sided containers (e.g., insulated cups or mugs)
• Any other item deemed inappropriate by ASM Global and Paycom Center

Strollers are discouraged and will need to be checked in with guest services upon arrival.

For a complete list of prohibited items and additional details, visit the A-Z Guide on Paycom Center’s official website.

Paycom Center Capacity & Seating Options

Paycom Center has a total capacity of 18,302 for basketball games and 16,591 for concerts — split between two concourses, terrace suites, private suites and a handful of bunker suites. The best seats in the arena are based on the type of event and personal preference of each attendee.

The seating chart for Paycom Center can be viewed on Ticketmaster.

How much are Oklahoma City Thunder tickets?

Ticket prices for Oklahoma City Thunder games depend on a variety of factors, including date and time, city, matchup, seat location, and when the tickets are purchased. The average ticket for an Oklahoma City Thunder game can cost anywhere between $50-$150.

Food and Beverage Options at Paycom Center

Paycom Center offers a wide variety of concessions and beverage options throughout the venue, including:

• Schwabs
• Full Court Press
• FastBreak
• Candy Court
• Club Special
• Freddy’s
• Power Forward
• Block City
• Block City BBQ
• Wing N It
• Mazzios
• Empire
• Chop N’ Block
• Michelob Ultra Club
• Slam Burger
• The Zone
• Taco Mayo
• Thunder Drive Thru
• GastroPub
• OKIE DILLA
• The Baseline
• Twisted Table
• Blue Pit BBQ
• Loud City
• Pick N Roll Market
• Alley Coop
• Taco Camion
• Coop Craft Beer Cart
• Tip Off Teriyaki
• Hoops & Hops
• Kids Cart
• Old No. 7 Club
• Michelob Ultra Club
• The Commons
• Riverwind Casino Terrace Lounge
• The Pub
• Courtside Club

Please note that some locations may not be open during concerts and special events.

Hotels Near Paycom Center

• Courtyard by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown – 2 W Reno Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 71302
• Omni Oklahoma City Hotel – 100 Oklahoma City Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 71309
• Colcord Hotel Oklahoma City, Curio Collection by Hilton – 15 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 71302
• Wyndham Grand Oklahoma City Hotel – 10 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
• Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel – 1 N Broadway Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
• The National, Autograph Collection – 120 N Robinson Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
• Hampton Inn & Suites Oklahoma City-Bricktown – 300 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104
• Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown – Bricktown – 209 N Walnut Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104