PAYCOM CENTER CONTINUES 25-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH LEGENDS/ASM GLOBAL

Legends/ASM Global, the world's leading premium live experiences company, has announced that it will continue its longstanding partnership with the City of Oklahoma City to manage Paycom Center, Oklahoma City’s preeminent sports and entertainment arena and home to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, and the much-anticipated, new Paycom Center, scheduled to open in 2028.

 

As part of the extended agreement, Legends/ASM Global will continue to manage the current Paycom Center for the next three years. The agreement also includes management of the new Paycom Center, which will be located on the former site of Prairie Surf Studios/Cox Convention Center, just north of the current arena, for five years after its scheduled 2028 opening.

 

The contract renewal officially continues the global live experience giant’s successful 25-year presence in the downtown Oklahoma City community.  Legends/ASM Global’s longstanding relationship started with the company’s management of the then Myriad Convention Center in 2000, as well as the opening of Paycom Center (then Ford Center) in 2002.

 

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt said, "Legends/ASM Global has done a fantastic job in recent years, especially with the challenges that are sometimes presented by our current venue or our market size.  I look forward to seeing what they can do with a new, cutting-edge venue. I’m glad our partnership will continue.”

 

Since opening its doors, Paycom Center has hosted nearly 2,000 events and welcomed over 15 million fans. Currently hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder and Oklahoma City Blue games, the Arena has also served as home to the Oklahoma City Blazers (Central Hockey League), Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (Arena Football League), and the New Orleans Hornets (during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 NBA seasons while displaced from Hurricane Katrina).

 

Attracting both regional and national events, the Arena is known for its world-class entertainment, hosting major concerts including sold-out performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Elton John, Luke Combs, and more, as well as sporting events like UFC and college basketball, along with family shows such as the Harlem Globetrotters and Monster Jam. Additionally, it hosts the Professional Bull Riders team, the Oklahoma Wildcatters.

 

2024 alone proved to be a milestone year as the venue hosted 41 concert events, breaking the previous record of 37 events in 2022. Four of these events, two Zach Bryan concerts and two Drake and J. Cole concerts, set gross ticket sales records for the venue.

 

Paycom Center also moved up in venue rankings, standing as 60^th in the world and 38^th in the United States based on Pollstar’s Top Arenas 2024 Year End List. The arena was named as a finalist for “Arena of The Year” at the 36^th Annual Pollstar Awards and finalist for “Venue of The Year” at the 2023 CMA Touring Awards.  

 

“For 25 years, we have made it our mission to provide a best-in-class experience to everyone that walks through our doors.  Whether visiting for a Thunder game, sold-out concert, or NCAA event, we strive to make every guest feel like a VIP and want to keep coming back for more,” said Chris Semrau, General Manager of Paycom Center for Legends/ASM Global. “This renewed agreement is just another testament to our commitment level to our guests, dedication to the community, and further proof to the strength of our relationship with the City of Oklahoma City.”

 

Legends/ASM Global’s renewal with the City of Oklahoma City is part of the company’s growing footprint across the globe, working with some of the most iconic and innovative sports and entertainment brands and managing some of the world’s most versatile and unique facilities of all sizes, from arenas, stadiums, theaters and convention centers to multi-purpose entertainment districts.

 

“It’s an incredibly exciting time in Oklahoma City. Leveraging Legends/ASM Global’s unmatched expertise and experience, Paycom Center and the new Paycom Center will continue to be the premier event destination in the region for years to come,” said Doug Thornton, President of North American Venues, Legends/ASM Global. “We deeply value our long-standing partnership with the city and the Thunder, and appreciate the trust and confidence placed in our team, led by Chris Semrau. Oklahoma City has always been a city that gets things done, and we’re honored to help drive its next chapter of growth.”