New OKC Thunder arena to have different name as Paycom will retire naming rights

When the doors open for the new arena, it'll have a first-time name attached to it, too. Paycom will retire its naming rights when the new downtown OKC arena opens. It will be the Oklahoma City Thunder's future long-term home. It will cost roughly $1 billion to build as construction has begun.

Paycom Center will remain the Thunder's NBA arena for three seasons. The 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons will likely be the arena's last years. The new OKC arena is scheduled to open by June 2028. When that happens, it'll also have a new name.

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 previously the Chesapeake Energy Arena before being rebranded as Paycom Center in 2021.

Once the new OKC arena opens, the Thunder will sign a lease that will keep the NBA franchise there through 2050. 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. When the new OKC arena opens, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren will still be under contract.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: New OKC Thunder arena to have different name instead of Paycom