First day of Cox Convention Center demolition marks major change to downtown OKC
The north wall and the pedestrian skybridge are currently scheduled for removal during the week of June 9-13, leading to lane closures on Sheridan Avenue.
The demolition process is expected to last through the rest of the year. There haven't been any delays because the work has been all interior so far, said Kristen Torkelson, arena communications liaison.
The work is being done as the city prepares to present renderings for the new NBA arena that will be built in the footprint of the old convention center. The renderings are expected to be shown during Mayor David Holt's State of the City address on June 16, Torkelson said.
More: Exclusive: OKCThunder Films pays homage to OKC icon in new film premiering at deadCenter
Sheridan Avenue, from Robinson Avenue to E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, is closed. The Century Center parking garage can be accessed by the southbound lane on N. Broadway Avenue, and one westbound lane on Sheridan Avenue is open.
People staying at the Wyndham Grand Hotel can access it by making a U-turn at the end of N. Broadway Avenue.
The OKC Streetcar is temporarily shut down, but Embark will operate a dedicated shuttle bus along a modified downtown loop. Riders should allow for extra travel time as real-time tracking won't be available.
The city said in a news release most of the sidewalk around the center remains open, with some portions closed, but accessible ramps are open at all four corners.
More: Cox Convention Center demolition to start by April; memories to be preserved
As the process keeps going, Midwest Wrecking, the demolition company contracted by the city, is working to remove debris from inside the building and tearing down steel from the walls to recycle it, Torkelson said.
After the north wall and the sky bridge is down, work will start on dismantling the east and west walls and then work toward the center of the building.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Cox Convention Center demolition begins with sky bridge
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Skechers Confirms OG Anunoby Joins Its Roster
New York Knicks Forward Competing in Skechers Basketball Shoes LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Confirming the fan speculation surrounding his headline-grabbing slam dunk in SKX REIGN™ shoes during the 2025 NBA playoffs in May, Skechers officially announces that New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has joined Team Skechers. In addition to competing in Skechers Basketball footwear, the NBA Champion and defensive powerhouse will appear in the brand's global marketing campaigns. The news drops ahead of Anunoby representing the brand on a European basketball tour with fellow Skechers athlete Terance Mann of the Brooklyn Nets. The tour kicks off July 26 in Belgrade, with additional stops to follow in Berlin, Frankfurt and Zadar. "Skechers has helped me continue to play basketball at an elite level and I love these shoes," said OG Anunoby, who wears a range of Skechers Basketball styles including the SKX NEXUS™ and SKX REIGN™. "I play quick and low to the court. I jump and move a lot. Skechers has the shoe to keep me comfortable, keep me protected and keep me playing my best every day." "As we grow and continue to innovate our Skechers Basketball shoes, more elite players want to join our team and bring the Comfort That Performs to their games," said David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers. "Known for his viral dunks and defensive strength on the court, OG is a fantastic and inspiring addition to our global roster. We look forward to bringing OG and Terance Mann on tour to meet fans and the media at events with our European retail partners in the coming week." Born in London, UK, Ogugua "OG" Anunoby grew up in Missouri from age four and excelled as a basketball phenom in high school. He was selected as a pre-season All-American by The Sporting News ahead of his freshman year at Indiana University. In 2017, he declared for the NBA draft, where he was selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, the Raptors won the NBA championship, making Anunoby the first British-born basketball player to ever earn the title. He was traded to the New York Knicks in 2024 and has had great success since with a career-high 18-point-per-game average last season, including reaching his career-high 40-point game versus Denver. The two high-performance Skechers Basketball shoes worn by Anunoby reflect his dynamic playing style—strong, versatile, and always in control. The SKX NEXUS™ is a low-top court shoe designed for speed, stability and support, offering exceptional comfort and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the SKX REIGN™ focuses on promoting elevation and intense traction, helping Anunoby stay quick and locked in on both ends of the court. Anunoby joins a Skechers roster that includes his Raptors championship teammate Norman Powell, European tour partner Terance Mann, as well as NBA players Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Jabari Walker, and Josh Green, along with WNBA athletes Rickea Jackson, Jackie Young and Kiki Iriafen. Beyond basketball, Skechers also offers performance footwear for elite and casual athletes in running, soccer, golf, pickleball/padel and cricket. Skechers Basketball footwear is available at and select Skechers retail stores. Basketball fans can get behind-the-scenes access to Skechers Basketball product launches and more by following @skechersbasketball on Instagram and TikTok. About SKECHERS U.S.A., Inc. Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company's collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers' future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "could," "may," "might," or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation, tariffs and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2025. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: Jennifer ClaySKECHERS U.S.A., Marvin HeinzSKECHERS U.S.A. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Suns' owner Mat Ishbia breaks silence on Bradley Beal buyout
The post Suns' owner Mat Ishbia breaks silence on Bradley Beal buyout appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Phoenix Suns owner, Mat Ishbia, has addressed the organization's decision to part ways with three-time All-Star Bradley Beal. On July 16, 2025, the Suns officially waived Beal following a buyout agreement that terminated the remaining two years of his $251 million contract. Beal, 32, signed a two-year, $11 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers on July 18, 2025, including a player option for the 2026–27 season. During his brief run with the Suns, Beal averaged 17.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Despite that, Beal didn't factor into Phoenix's long-term plans, which is why the team moved on from him, according to Ishbia. 'He's a great guy,' Mat Ishbia said, according to Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. 'Just not a fit with the Phoenix Suns going forward. We told him that. We made that decision. We let them know we wanted to move forward without him. It doesn't mean he's a bad guy. It doesn't mean he's a bad player … He's a great player, but for Phoenix and what we're doing, it wasn't a fit and we had to move on and make those decisions.' Beal's acquisition was part of a high-stakes strategy initiated by Ishbia after purchasing the Suns and Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA for a record $4 billion. The franchise traded Chris Paul and five second-round picks to acquire Beal from the Washington Wizards in June 2023, following a previous blockbuster deal that sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and multiple first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant. The aggressive approach failed, though, as the Suns won just four playoff games in Beal's two seasons, missing the postseason entirely last year. The buyout enables the Suns to stretch roughly $97 million over five years, helping the franchise fall below the NBA's first and second tax aprons. With Beal gone, Ishbia has begun reconstructing the roster around Devin Booker, who signed a two-year, $145 million contract extension. The Suns also traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets, so after moving on from Beal, it's clear this team will look quite different come next season. Related: Suns' Mat Ishbia breaks silence on Bradley Beal buyout Related: Phoenix Suns' biggest mistake in 2025 NBA free agency
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
The $210 million impact of Bradley Beal buyout
The post The $210 million impact of Bradley Beal buyout appeared first on ClutchPoints. After last season's failure, the Phoenix Suns underwent major roster reconstruction and organizational changes. They have a new general manager and head coach, and they made a massive trade to get rid of Kevin Durant and send him to the Houston Rockets. They also made the big move of buying out Bradley Beal, so that this roster will be completely different next season. The Suns tried negotiating a trade with Beal, but his no-trade clause complicated it. The Suns waived and stretched Beal's contract to absorb the $99 million owed to him over the next five years, which means that money will sit on their salary cap, at $20 million a season, until the end of the decade. ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst recently wrote a massive piece about what happened with Beal and the Suns behind the scenes and why they made this decision. The short answer, Windhorst said, is money. Windhorst elaborated more: 'Over the past two seasons, Suns owner Mat Ishbia had spent $620 million in salary and luxury taxes, and the team didn't win a single playoff game. Being expensive is one thing. Being costly and losing is quite another, regardless of how deep-pocketed the owner might be.' According to Windhorst, money was the reason behind all this because they desperately needed flexibility. He said, 'Waiving Beal saves the Suns a whopping $175 million this season just in luxury tax, a figure so enormous that it alone could justify spreading the cap pain out over the next five years. Combined with the salary savings just this season, the maneuver took more than $210 million off the team's balance sheet.' The biggest news about buying out Beal's contract is that Phoenix will get out of both the first and second aprons, salary-wise. The aprons were heavily penalizing the Suns for how much money they were spending on their roster, and now they have much more flexibility than before. The Phoenix Suns are still dealing with issues due to trading away so many draft picks, but they can now sign talented players to fill their roster or make trades if needed. They were stuck before, and now have much more leeway to build a competitive roster. Devin Booker was signed to a massive contract extension, cementing his untouchability. They also still have talented players, like Jalen Green, who came over in the Kevin Durant trade. The frontcourt has also undergone a massive upgrade thanks to Khaman Maluach and Mark Williams. The roster still feels unfinished, but it is much more flexible than before, and that matters, especially in trying to help Devin Booker win. Related: Bradley Beal's plans for 2026 free agency after signing with Clippers Related: NBA players hilariously react to Bradley Beal's 1-emoji farewell to Suns
