The contractor behind Oklahoma city’s new convention center, Devon Tower and the state Capitol dome is teaming up with a Minneapolis contractor that built two of the country’s three newest NBA arenas to construct a new $1 billion arena that will be home to the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team.
The new partnership, Flintco-Mortenson, was hired Tuesday to build the new Paycom Center, which is set to open by June 2028 on the block that was last home to Prairie Surf Studios and for almost 50 years served as the city’s convention center.
Flintco, founded in 1908, is headquartered in Tulsa and previously built Paycom Center, the city’s current arena. Mortenson Construction specializes in large arenas and stadiums and built two of the newest NBA arenas, Fiserv Forum (home of the Milwaukee Bucks) and Chase Center (home of the Golden State Warriors).
Dave Kollmann, president at Flintco, was part of the team that built Paycom Center, which was a bargain for the city when a miscalculation of subcontractors’ bids resulted in a surprisingly low construction cost of $65 million when other arenas were costing more than twice that amount.
The first arena was built bare bones and was almost put on hold when the city failed to attract an NHL expansion team. The new arena is being built as an NBA home and entertainment venue that is to meet or exceed the league’s specifications and requirements.
“It is a testimony to Oklahoma City and the reinvestment that’s going to come to downtown,” Kollmann said. “It is full circle from us being involved in the first arena 25 years ago and then being involved with this and keeping Oklahoma City big league.”
