The Univ. of Oklahoma, the city of Norman and Cleveland County officials on Tuesday broke ground on the Rock Creek Entertainment District, a more than $1B planned development in North Norman that “includes a new arena for OU men’s and women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics,” according to Mason Young of the TULSA WORLD. Besides an arena, the district is “expected to include retail, restaurant and office space, a new hotel, housing options and public gathering spaces and outdoor plazas.” Rainier Development Company “plans to officially start work” next Tuesday. Rainier CEO Danny Lovell said that his goal is “for the arena to be complete and operational at some point during the 2028-29 OU men’s and women’s basketball seasons.” Young noted having a new arena is a “major part” of OU AD Roger Denny’s vision for “reinvigorating OU men’s basketball and advancing OU women’s basketball.” The new arena will replace OU’s current arena, the 50-year-old Lloyd Noble Center. The school said that the new arena “will seat approximately 8,000 fans for OU events.” Young noted OU “struggled in recent years to fill Lloyd Noble Center,” which still seats more than 10,000. OU is also thinking that “having the new arena closer to Oklahoma City will help pull more people to games.” However, there is some thought that building the new arena roughly five miles north of campus “will hurt student attendance.” OU has also discussed the “possibility of providing student transportation to and from games” (TULSA WORLD, 5/12).
FOR THE FUTURE: In Oklahoma City, Colton Sulley noted OU views the project as “transformational not only for Norman, but for the future of its athletic department -- particularly basketball.” Denny “understands what a modern basketball environment can do for a program.” He arrived from the Univ. of Illinois, which made the Final Four this past season, and said that the “details matter -- from atmosphere to amenities to giving players and coaches a place that truly feels like home.” Sulley noted the arena “still doesn’t have a name,” and OU will “pursue sponsorship opportunities as construction progresses.” It is also “not the only major facility project looming over the athletic department.” Renovations to OU’s football stadium are “expected to begin after the 2027 season,” including the “addition of roughly 4,000 club seats.” OU officials believe that these renovations will become a “critical revenue driver in the revenue-sharing era” (OKLAHOMAN, 5/12).
