Thunder Alley is back in the new arena design. Here's what that actually means

After 14 years, Thunder Alley could return with the new arena designs. 

Outside the west entrance, overlooking the Myriad Gardens, patrons of the yet-to-be-named arena will enter the Thunder Alley festivities zone on Robinson Avenue. 

Seemingly since the alley ceased activity at the Paycom Center, fans have been awaiting the return of a similar gathering space to congregate in. 

Similar aspects of outdoor interaction have been used, like Thunder Up in the Park, but nothing has generated the same attention as Thunder Alley. 

Related:Meet the architect behind OKC's new arena design

Here’s why Thunder Alley's return is a big deal for Thunder fans and how the city may begin preparing for it. 

The Birth of Thunder Alley 

Thunder Alley originally started as an occasional pregame party with games, concessions and merchandise for fans. Thunder Alley was sponsored by Love's Travel Stops, a long-term partner for the Thunder, and a business fan's wish could become the new title sponsor.

During the 2008 October home game against the Houston Rockets, the standard for the gathering space was set: live music, face painting, BMX stunt riders, magicians, and NBA Commissioner David Stern welcoming Thunder fans to the future of the soon-to-be NBA champions. 

It happened periodically and would start three hours before tipoff and close an hour before the game began, roughly similar to Thunder Up in the Park. 

However, during the 2012 NBA Playoff run, fans were encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to watch the game on a 74-foot-tall screen near Reno Avenue and Thunder Drive. 

The fan watch party slowly grew to an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 people during the 2012 Western Conference Finals. 

However, the formalized watch party came to a close after a shooting left eight people shot and another injured from the panic. After the shooting, the television showing the live events went dark, police presence heightened, and while fans still gathered, it wasn’t the same size. 

Thunder Alley, for all intents and purposes, had closed. 

The Return of Thunder Alley 

The longing for something similar to Thunder Alley has been an ongoing wish for fans, residents and officials. 

In 2019, plans were submitted to create a Thunder Alley entertainment district, which would sprawl from Oklahoma City Boulevard to the arena. Plans called for a digital video board wrapping building that would be home to Thunder Alley Grill and a second restaurant with a nearby parking lot doubling as a space for live music and a pavilion. 

While plans were developing, it was announced at Mayor David Holt’s 2022 State of the City address that plans would be put on hold. Instead, the Thunder’s project will now be eclipsed by the MAPS 4 plans that would build both a new arena and Thunder Alley. 

Now in 2025, we have an idea of what Thunder Alley will look like. 

The illustrations shown at the July 16 State of the City event depict the arena’s west-facing main entrance, aligned with the Myriad Gardens, which will also feature a long-envisioned Thunder Alley. This activation zone, designed within the arena’s footprint, is intended to provide a fan experience.   

An elevated main entrance, situated on a grand podium, creates an inspiring sense of arrival and opens up to the main concourse, fostering a welcoming atmosphere. 

It’s unclear what events will happen at the new Thunder Alley during the arena’s inaugural season during the 2028-2029 NBA season. 

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is Thunder Alley returning? What we know from new OKC arena design