TAKE ITS PLACE. YEAH. EVAN AND JESS. THIS BUILDING ACTUALLY COVERS FOUR BLOCKS HERE IN DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY. AND CITY LEADERS SAY IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST FIVE MONTHS TO DEMOLISH. BUT ALL OF THAT WITH A MAJOR GOAL IN MIND. OF COURSE, BUILDING THE NEW HOME FOR THE OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER. THAT BUILDING HAS SEEN A LOT OF EVENTS. YOU KNOW, IT’S GOT A GREAT HISTORY WITH OKLAHOMA CITY. APRIL MARKS A NEW BEGINNING FOR DOWNTOWN OKC AS PRAIRIE SURF STUDIOS, FORMERLY COX CONVENTION CENTER, WILL BE DEMOLISHED ALL TO MAKE ROOM FOR A NEW STATE OF THE ART ARENA. CITY COUNCIL DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS THE BEST SITE FOR THIS. WE PUT TOGETHER PLANS. WE’VE WE’VE BID THOSE PLANS AND TODAY CITY COUNCIL APPROVED THE CONTRACT TO DO THE DEMOLITION. THAT $11 MILLION CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO MIDWEST WRECKING. DAVID TODD WITH THE CITY SAYS DEMOLITION WILL TAKE UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER. AND LOGISTICALLY, ISN’T EASY. IT’S FOUR SQUARE BLOCKS OF OF BUILDING AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S ALL COVERED IN CONCRETE. IT’S GOT AN ARENA THAT’S IN THERE, AND THERE COULD BE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH IT, LIKE LIMITED SIDEWALK AND STREET ACCESS. THERE WILL BE SOME SHORT DURATIONS OF OF DISRUPTION WITH THE STREETCAR BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THE DEMOLITION, LIKE THE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN. BUT HE SAYS THEY’RE CONFIDENT IT CAN BE DONE WITH LITTLE DISRUPTION TO OTHER BUSINESSES AND ON TIME TO KEEP THE PROJECT TIMELINE ROLLING. WE’VE NEVER HAD A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE. THIS IS THIS IS QUITE A BIG BUILDING. THE CONVENTION CENTER AT THE TIME WAS THE BIGGEST BUILDING WE DID, AND WE DID FINISH THAT ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET. SO WE ANTICIPATE THAT WE CAN DO THE SAME. SO THUNDER FANS THAT ARE HERE WALKING DOWNTOWN NEXT TO THE PAYCOM CENTER FOR THE NBA PLAYOFFS HERE IN A FEW WEEKS, MIGHT NOTICE A BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND, BUT THE CITY SAYS THAT IT’S AN EXCITING STEP. IT’S THE FIRST ACTIVE STEP FOR BUILDING THAT NEW ARENA. THEY SAY THAT CONSTRUCTION IS SET TO START EARLY 2026, AND IS EXPECTED TO WRA Advertisement Oklahoma City awards contract to demolish Prairie Surf Studios for new Thunder arena Oklahoma City has awarded an $11 million contract to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new arena for the OKC Thunder. Updated: 5:22 PM CDT Mar 25, 2025 Oklahoma City has awarded an $11 million contract to Midwest Wrecking to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly known as the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena for the OKC Thunder."This building has seen a lot of events. It's got a great history with Oklahoma City," said David Todd, MAPS program manager for the city of OKC.April marks a new beginning for downtown OKC as the demolition of Prairie Surf Studios will commence, taking at least five months to complete. The city council has determined this site as the best location for the new arena."City council decided this is the best site for this. We put together plans, we've bid those plans and today city council approved the contract to do the demolition," Todd said.>> Video Below: New tariffs on steel and aluminum to impact OKC arena construction costsThe demolition, which will continue until the end of September, presents logistical challenges due to the building's size and concrete structure."It's four square blocks of building, all covered in concrete. It's got an arena that's in there," Todd said.There may be some disruptions, such as limited sidewalk and street access, and short durations of streetcar service interruptions due to the demolition of the pedestrian bridge. Despite these challenges, Todd said he is confident that the project will be completed with minimal disruption to other businesses and on time.>> Video Below: Construction company hired to build new OKC arena details some design priorities"We've never had a project of this size. This is quite a big building. The convention center, at the time, was the biggest building we did, and we did finish that on time and under budget so we anticipate we can do the same," Todd said.Thunder fans walking downtown for playoffs might see a hole in the ground next to Paycom Center, but the city says it’s an exciting first step for the new arena. The city says construction on the arena will start early 2026 and be wrapped up by 2028. Top Headlines TIMELINE: Storms with hail, strong wind risk expected early Wednesday morning One year later: A look back at the timeline of the Key Bridge collapse Arson investigation underway after fire sparks at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Oklahoma bill would allow mountain lion hunting through lottery system 2 arrested after man hit in the head with chair at southwest Oklahoma City event center dies OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City has awarded an $11 million contract to Midwest Wrecking to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly known as the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena for the OKC Thunder. Advertisement "This building has seen a lot of events. It's got a great history with Oklahoma City," said David Todd, MAPS program manager for the city of OKC.April marks a new beginning for downtown OKC as the demolition of Prairie Surf Studios will commence, taking at least five months to complete. The city council has determined this site as the best location for the new arena."City council decided this is the best site for this. We put together plans, we've bid those plans and today city council approved the contract to do the demolition," Todd said.>> Video Below: New tariffs on steel and aluminum to impact OKC arena construction costs The demolition, which will continue until the end of September, presents logistical challenges due to the building's size and concrete structure."It's four square blocks of building, all covered in concrete. It's got an arena that's in there," Todd said.There may be some disruptions, such as limited sidewalk and street access, and short durations of streetcar service interruptions due to the demolition of the pedestrian bridge. Despite these challenges, Todd said he is confident that the project will be completed with minimal disruption to other businesses and on time.>> Video Below: Construction company hired to build new OKC arena details some design priorities "We've never had a project of this size. This is quite a big building. The convention center, at the time, was the biggest building we did, and we did finish that on time and under budget so we anticipate we can do the same," Todd said.Thunder fans walking downtown for playoffs might see a hole in the ground next to Paycom Center, but the city says it’s an exciting first step for the new arena. The city says construction on the arena will start early 2026 and be wrapped up by 2028. Top Headlines

Oklahoma City awards contract to demolish Prairie Surf Studios for new Thunder arena

Oklahoma City has awarded an million contract to Midwest Wrecking to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly known as the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena for the OKC Thunder.”This building has seen a lot of events. It’s got a great history with Oklahoma City,” said David Todd, MAPS program manager […]

Oklahoma City has awarded an million contract to Midwest Wrecking to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly known as the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena for the OKC Thunder.”This building has seen a lot of events. It’s got a great history with Oklahoma City,” said David Todd, MAPS program manager for the city of OKC.April marks a new beginning for downtown OKC as the demolition of Prairie Surf Studios will commence, taking at least five months to complete. The city council has determined this site as the best location for the new arena.”City council decided this is the best site for this. We put together plans, we’ve bid those plans and today city council approved the contract to do the demolition,” Todd said.>> Video Below: New tariffs on steel and aluminum to impact OKC arena construction costsThe demolition, which will continue until the end of September, presents logistical challenges due to the building’s size and concrete structure.”It’s four square blocks of building, all covered in concrete. It’s got an arena that’s in there,” Todd said.There may be some disruptions, such as limited sidewalk and street access, and short durations of streetcar service interruptions due to the demolition of the pedestrian bridge. Despite these challenges, Todd said he is confident that the project will be completed with minimal disruption to other businesses and on time.>> Video Below: Construction company hired to build new OKC arena details some design priorities”We’ve never had a project of this size. This is quite a big building. The convention center, at the time, was the biggest building we did, and we did finish that on time and under budget so we anticipate we can do the same,” Todd said.Thunder fans walking downtown for playoffs might see a hole in the ground next to Paycom Center, but the city says it’s an exciting first step for the new arena. The city says construction on the arena will start early 2026 and be wrapped up by 2028. Top Headlines TIMELINE: Storms with hail, strong wind risk expected early Wednesday morning One year later: A look back at the timeline of the Key Bridge collapse Arson investigation underway after fire sparks at northwest Oklahoma City apartment complex Oklahoma bill would allow mountain lion hunting through lottery system 2 arrested after man hit in the head with chair at southwest Oklahoma City event center dies

Oklahoma City has awarded an million contract to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new arena for the OKC Thunder.>> Video Below: Construction company hired to build new OKC arena details some design priorities
“It’s four square blocks of building, all covered in concrete. It’s got an arena that’s in there,” Todd said.April marks a new beginning for downtown OKC as the demolition of Prairie Surf Studios will commence, taking at least five months to complete. The city council has determined this site as the best location for the new arena.

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Thunder fans walking downtown for playoffs might see a hole in the ground next to Paycom Center, but the city says it’s an exciting first step for the new arena. The city says construction on the arena will start early 2026 and be wrapped up by 2028.There may be some disruptions, such as limited sidewalk and street access, and short durations of streetcar service interruptions due to the demolition of the pedestrian bridge. Oklahoma City awards contract to demolish Prairie Surf Studios for new Thunder arenaThe demolition, which will continue until the end of September, presents logistical challenges due to the building’s size and concrete structure.
Oklahoma City has awarded an million contract to Midwest Wrecking to demolish Prairie Surf Studios, formerly known as the Cox Convention Center, to make way for a new state-of-the-art arena for the OKC Thunder.”This building has seen a lot of events. It’s got a great history with Oklahoma City,” said David Todd, MAPS program manager for the city of OKC.

“We’ve never had a project of this size. This is quite a big building. The convention center, at the time, was the biggest building we did, and we did finish that on time and under budget so we anticipate we can do the same,” Todd said.