Latest news with #DavidHolt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Emotionally overwhelming': Architect of new OKC arena shares inspiration, addresses feedback
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – News 4 caught up with the owner of the architectural company chosen by Oklahoma City to design a new, nearly $1 billion arena; and the future home of the Oklahoma City Thunder. A first look at the designs was shown off in front of a sold-out crowd during Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt's State of the City address on Wednesday. OKC Mayor David Holt unveils new arena renderings during his State of the City address The Oklahoma City City Council hired MANICA Architecture for the project in October 2024. The Kansas City-based company specializes in sports and entertainment videos. It's designed with the NBA and NFL, including the Chase Center, Allegiant Stadium, and the new Nissan Stadium. News 4 interviewed David Manica, owner of the company, after Wednesday's announcement to share more about the project. Q: Talk about this day finally coming to fruition? David Manica: Emotionally overwhelming. Absolutely. I'd seen that video 100 times over many months as it came together, and for me, I never got tired of watching it. I always, you know, it always stirred something in me, but to watch it in that room with 1,500 people who were seeing it for the first time was absolutely overwhelming. So, I had to get back up on stage and try not to tear up at the end. Q: What does Oklahoma City's story mean to you, and how important was that to craft into the design? David Manica: Well, it means everything to me, and it's what I built…my team and I built the whole concept of the project around is this sense of community, unity, and togetherness. I was asked in a few other interviews, you know, what sets, what makes this project Oklahoma City, what makes it Oklahoma, and for me it's all about the people.' Q: You mentioned during your presentation you got feedback locally before you even came up with initial designs. How important and difficult was it to step back and not rush into something preliminarily? David Manica: It took a lot of patience and it took a lot of courage to come here and not have anything to try to sell and instead just sell our ability to listen…I think it made all the difference in the world. I would never have come up with this idea in a vacuum. Q: Do you have a good idea of how many iterations you came up with for this specific project? David Manica: You know, we had four or five different versions of the same idea, and we began to refine it over time…We started with the circle, and then we began to think about concourses with 360-degree views, and that led us to the glass. Q: What would you say stands out as the most striking characteristics of this project that set it apart from the Paycom Center? David Manica: I think it's the glass façade and the idea that you look through the building. So that has to do with the idea of authenticity and integrity and all these things that I think are represented in the people and the spirit in the community of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma people. Q: Did the Oklahoma City Thunder's championship win raise the stakes and pressure to get the design right? David Manica: No, it didn't. I was, of course, hugely relieved and very happy, selfishly, that I'd walked into this unveiling with the Champions…This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me to get to unveil a project in this way to a community like this, for someone that just won a championship. Q: Some Oklahomans have expressed concerns about the glass, given our weather patterns. What would you say to alleviate those? David Manica: The glass façade's actually a really smart way to protect against all of those things and all the weather here in Oklahoma. I'll go through them one by one. So, first of all, the glass will have bird protection on it. So, the little dots that make sure the birds don't run into the building. So, we'll have that. We'll also have fritting and tinting to make sure that the glass is protecting the inside of the building from the hot sun in the summer times. And then it is both insulated and laminated, which will further from insulation and the heat of the summer and the cold in the winter, as well as the weather. Q: There's a lot of woodwork in this design, can you speak to that? David Manica: No one else has asked me that question. So this idea that, you look through the façade and you look to what's inside, we call that wood, all that the wood bowl, it kind of looks like a wood bowl. It is the vessel. It's the vessel for everything that happens inside of it, and so that vessel is intentionally designed out of a wood product. Q: What's being done to ensure these designs are cost-efficient? David Manica: I mean, that was a, that was an absolute hard line in the beginning. We have been careful to manage the size of the project and the decisions that we make each step of the way with the details. The glass façade is a great example. It actually saved us a lot of money to do a building that way. The best and most helpful thing that we're doing is, we have the contractors involved with this right now. So, as we make decisions, we're working with them in lockstep to make sure that we're making decisions that are in the best interests of the project, both from a fan experience and a results standpoint, but also from a cost standpoint. The arena is expected to be completed in 2028. Paycom and the Oklahoma City Thunder mutually announced Monday that Paycom will not pursue naming rights of the new arena. Designs shared on Wednesday, Manica said, are conceptual and do not include the final plans. A frequently asked questions page has been set up on a new website dedicated to the project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
New OKC Thunder arena to downsize in capacity from Paycom Center
As the multi-year project took another step in the right direction, more details were discovered about the Oklahoma City Thunder's future home. The 2025 State of the City address was headlined by the unveiling of renderings of OKC's new downtown arena. OKC Mayor David Holt and Architect David Manica presented the first look of OKC's new arena. It's set to open in 2028 with a construction cost of $900 million. Several photos and videos demonstrated the interior and exterior of the building. Afterward, Holt revealed a ballpark estimate of the new arena's capacity. He said it will likely be in the 17,000 range, a downgrade from Paycom Center's 18,203 number. The arena will be larger, though, by around 200,000 square feet. It will be one of the smaller capacity sizes among NBA arenas. Only the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks have capacity rates of less than 18,000 seats. It's a strategic move as it will give the Thunder's new homecourt a more intimate feel with seats closer to the floor. While the reaction to the lower capacity was mixed, the rest of the presentation was universally beloved by Thunder fans. The photos and videos excited the fanbase as OKC gets a more state-of-the-art arena with the intention of it being built for an NBA team. Paycom Center will remain the Thunder's NBA arena for three seasons. The 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons will be the arena's last years. The new OKC arena will have a different name as Paycom will retire its naming rights once the current arena is shut down. The Thunder have played at Paycom Center since their relocation from Seattle in 2008. The arena opened in 2002 and is one of the smaller NBA homes. It was formerly known as the Chesapeake Energy Arena before being rebranded as Paycom Center in 2021. Once the new OKC arena opens, the Thunder will sign a 25-year lease that will keep the NBA franchise there through at least 2053. A new home is the type of long-term security needed to ensure the Thunder remain in Oklahoma City. Fresh off an NBA championship, the Thunder should remain a title contender throughout Paycom Center's final years and when the new home opens. When the new OKC arena opens, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will still be under contract.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mayor Holt tackles bond vote, homelessness in annual State of the City address
Oklahoma City has climbed mountains in the last three decades, but still has more to climb, Mayor David Holt said in his annual State of the City address. Speaking to a sold-out crowd of about 1,475 people including elected officials, city employees, developers, business owners and others lucky enough to get a seat, Holt said the state of the city is 'assured.' The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber hosted the event at the Oklahoma City Convention Center on Wednesday, July 16. While the capstone of the event was the unveiling of renderings for the city's new NBA arena, Holt had much more to discuss. He reflected on the last three decades and pointed out the investments that Oklahoma City has made in itself that have paid off many times over. Those include efforts such as MAPS, bond initiatives and single-issue sales taxes, among others. He said the city stands at the metaphorical peak of a mountain and the city's rise is complete, though he joked that geographically, OKC is bereft of actual elevation. More: A 360-degree skyline view: Arena designs reveal a glass encased downtown jewel 'Now we stand upon the peak of that mountain that we were climbing for 33 years, and you know what you see when you stand upon the peak of a mountain? New mountains to climb,' he said. The arena's unveiling and Holt's address received a positive reaction. Krystal Yoseph, owner of Konjo Concepts, said the video of the arena brought tears to her eyes. 'I know we're all here because we love the city, and so that was awesome punctuation to the summer that we've had, and it'll be an exciting timeline leading up to that opening,' she said. Ward 7 Councilmember Camal Pennington said the arena design represents the city's vision for unity and standing together. 'I think it's going to look so unique and be a centerpiece for downtown Oklahoma City,' he said. 'You'll be able to be a part of everything that's going on in the community when you're inside the arena. And just the fact that it's going to be designed for basketball, it's going to make the experience inside watching the game even better.' City officials, chamber leaders anticipating October bond vote One of the first topics Holt discussed during his address was the Oct. 14 vote on a list of proposed bond projects, which encompass a whopping $2.718 billion worth of infrastructure, city maintenance, parks and recreation, drainage, libraries and learning centers, and economic development. The bond would be the largest in the city's history. Holt previously told The Oklahoman the bond issue is timed to follow the payoff of prior bonds and will not result in an increase in property taxes. About 56% of the funds are allocated to maintaining and upgrading city streets with a total of 433 potential projects if the bond is passed. The city has nearly 9,000 lane miles of roads to maintain, but the city's Pavement Condition Index, which ranks street conditions on a scale of 0 to 100 has increased in recent years. In 2010, the score was 60, but after investment in streets in bond issues for 2007 and 2017, the citywide average score is 70, which is considered satisfactory, Holt said. '... This is not sexy stuff. These are the city's fundamental needs. But if we want to maintain our ability to dream big, to have the luxury of pursuing more ambitious improvements in quality of life, we have to take care of the basics first,' he said. 'We've routinely done that in the modern history of our city, and this is the next chapter of that story.' Pennington said the bond issue will allow the city an opportunity to invest in affordable housing initiatives that will help increase the supply of affordable housing. 'Maybe with some changes in policy, we can better make the investments to just increase our housing supply to make more people be able to have a great place to live all across our city,' he said. Holt recognized the eight city council members, City Manager Craig Freeman, who is now the third- longest serving city manager, and city employees for the work they do. The mayor thanked and acknowledged city employees for their efforts during times of celebration, such as the Thunder victory parade, but also in times of crisis, such as the aftermath of tornadoes that ripped through parts of the city last November. Holt also said the city broke a record with the longest streak of unemployment below 4% since the city started keeping track in 1990. Two months ago, the city had the lowest unemployment rate in the country, he said. 'Our economy is still strong, and is actually on a run that might qualify it as the most stable economy we've had in modern OKC history,' Holt said. 'I think we're just at the beginning of the OKC economic boom.' Holt: OKC making progress in public safety, homelessness Holt highlighted the creation of the Mobile Integrated Health unit, managed under a fire department program developed through the city's Public Safety Partnership — that is meant to divert mental health emergency calls away from police and toward trained behavioral health professionals who can better address the caller's needs. He talked about public safety and said crime rates against persons and property have declined by more than a third over the last decade. Holt spent time talking about homelessness and affordable housing, noting that a smaller percentage of people are experiencing homelessness today than they were two decades ago. 'One person experiencing homelessness is too many and that's always the attitude we'll take,' he said. The average annual population of people in OKC experiencing homelessness in the three years from 2005 to 2007 was 1,656. The most recent three-year average of people experiencing homelessness is not much larger than it was in 2007, Holt said. Holt acknowledged there was an increase in the number of unsheltered homeless people in 2020, but the number has decreased over the last four years. 'Our population growth is not slowing down, so this issue isn't going away,' he said. 'Homelessness numbers fairly predictably correlate to overall population, and so as our city continues to grow, we will have to work harder to maintain these numbers or even reduce them, and our population growth will also put pressure on housing prices, which will contribute to the challenge.' OKC looking forward to 2028 Olympic events Along with the excitement of the new Thunder arena, OKC is anticipating another high-profile event: the 2028 Olympic games. The city gets the honor of hosting the first and only competition on 'Day Zero,' the day of the opening ceremony on July 14, 2028, as canoe slalom commences at 9 a.m. at Riversport. Canoe slalom and softball events will be held back to back, which means 16 straight days of Olympic sports in the city. 'The magnitude of this opportunity is still really beyond comprehension. No other city outside of southern California is slated to host the entirety of any sport in 2028, much less two, as we are,' Holt said. 'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our city, our state and this entire region of the country.' This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC's recent achievements highlighted in Mayor Holt's annual address Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma City mayor reveals new Thunder arena
A rendering of the exterior of the new Oklahoma City arena. (Photo Courtesy of Manica Architecture) OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma City's mayor on Wednesday gave the public a first look at the future Oklahoma City Thunder arena. Speaking to an estimated 1,500 people at the city's convention center, Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt unveiled artist renderings of the slightly under $1 billion project, which is expected to be completed in time for the NBA team's 2028-29 season. The arena will be at least 750,000 square feet, Holt said. Although seating has yet to be determined, it will be similar to the Paycom Center with a smaller capacity. The structure will be a 360-degree arena with glass window walls. The design of the arena aims to bring people together with closer seating, Holt said. 'It is a statement piece for our city, and I really think it will be one of the most beautiful arenas of its kind, not just in the United States, but in the world,' Holt said. In his State of the City address, Holt said the square footage of the current arena is too small and lacks the amenities of a modern arena. He believes that the new arena will address those issues. The bulk funding will come from voter-approved sales taxes with the Thunder ownership contributing $50 million. David Manica, the architect, said he did not know when construction would begin. The new arena will be built on the site where the Myriad Convention Center currently stands. Demolition is currently underway on that structure to make room for the new arena. 'I think we've started something that's really special for this place and for this city and for these people,' Manica said. 'There's more to come.' Editor's note: The story was updated at 6:15 p.m. to clarify the funding sources. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
OKC reveals design for its $1 billion new NBA arena: Here's how social media reacted
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, along with the architect behind designing the city's new $1 billion arena, unveiled conceptual images depicting a glass-encased future home for the OKC Thunder. The design of the new arena was revealed Wednesday, July 16, by architect David Manica during the 2025 State of the City address. The sold-out event was held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, just two blocks from the site where the arena will be built. The renderings shown at the State of the City show the arena's west-facing main entrance, aligned with the Myriad Gardens, will also include a long-envisioned Thunder Alley that will provide a fan activation zone designed within the arena's footprint. See the design for the new Oklahoma City NBA arena How social media reacted to OKC's new arena designs Contributing: Steve Lackmeyer This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC reveals $1 billion arena design: How social media is reacting
