Oklahoma City, OK · Capacity: 18,200
Paycom Center is a major arena in Oklahoma City, USA, with regular global sports and entertainment events.
Paycom Center is the home of the Thunder, whose “Loud City” crowd has made downtown Oklahoma City one of the toughest tickets in the NBA — a whole city that rallied around its only major pro team and turned the volume up.
It sits in downtown OKC by the Bricktown entertainment district and its canal.
Below are the Oklahoma City stays, restaurants and bars fans use around Paycom Center.
Hotels, bars, restaurants and things to do near Paycom Center in Oklahoma City — every pick web-researched and source-cited, closest to the arena first.
The Ambassador Hotel is a beautifully restored Art Deco property in Midtown OKC that serves as a sophisticated home base for visiting Thunder fans. The hotel's stylish bar and restaurant become animated gathering spots on NBA game nights throughout the season. Its central location makes reaching both Bricktown and Paycom Center a quick and easy trip.
Boutique art hotel in a converted downtown building with rotating contemporary art exhibitions and a celebrated restaurant. Walking distance to Paycom Center, making it the most stylish option for Thunder fans and visiting NBA teams.
Charming art deco boutique hotel in OKC's vibrant Midtown district, housed in a beautifully restored 1928 building. A short drive from Paycom Center, The Ambassador blends vintage elegance with modern amenities and is a favorite of visiting musicians and NBA media personalities.
Boutique hotel in a beautifully restored 1910 skyscraper in downtown OKC, one of the city's first high-rises. Walkable to Paycom Center and Bricktown, it is a stylish and historic base camp for Thunder game weekends.
The Colcord Hotel is housed in Oklahoma City's first skyscraper (1910), now a boutique property with elegant rooms and a prime downtown location. Thunder fans walk to Paycom Center from the lobby, making it the most convenient and characterful stay for OKC basketball weekends.
Oklahoma City's Belgian-inspired craft brewery with a welcoming taproom in the city's up-and-coming eastside. Thunder fans appreciate the quality ales and laid-back vibe, often gathering here to toast OKC victories with the brewery's flagship Golden One blonde ale.
Situated in the heart of OKC's entertainment district, Bricktown Brewery is a Thunder fan staple on game nights just blocks from Paycom Center. The locally brewed ales and lagers are solid, and the bar's massive screens and welcoming staff keep fans energized. The sprawling patio along the canal is perfect for post-game celebrations after a Thunder win.
Sprawling industrial-chic restaurant, bar, and live music venue in the Film Row district with soaring ceilings and a massive patio. The Jones Assembly hosts national touring acts and is a favorite gathering spot for Thunder fans, with craft cocktails and a vibrant atmosphere near Paycom Center.
Ponyboy is a retro-cool cocktail bar in Oklahoma City's Plaza District serving vintage-inspired drinks in a space that channels 1960s Palm Springs glamour. Thunder fans and rodeo visitors discover this hip neighborhood gem for craft cocktails beyond the Bricktown strip.
Award-winning craft brewery in OKC's Film Row district with a spacious industrial taproom and outstanding hazy IPAs. A postgame destination for Thunder fans celebrating NBA victories over locally brewed beers.
Oklahoma City's original craft beer bar in Bricktown with over 200 beers and a lively game-day atmosphere. Steps from Paycom Center, it is the go-to pregame gathering spot for Thunder fans with its massive tap wall and pub fare.
Fuzzy's near the Bricktown district is a favorite Thunder fans stop for tacos, margaritas, and game-day energy before heading to Paycom Center. The lively patio and casual vibe make it a natural pregame gathering spot throughout the NBA season. Blue-clad Thunder fans fill the bar on playoff nights to watch road games on the big screens.
Oklahoma City's oldest continuously operating restaurant since 1910, serving massive steaks in the historic Stockyards City district. A rite of passage for Thunder fans and visiting NBA players experiencing authentic Oklahoma Western dining.
Tiny counter-service diner consistently ranked among the best burger joints in America. With only a handful of stools, this hole-in-the-wall is a must-visit for fans making a Thunder game-day trip to Oklahoma City.
James Beard Award-nominated tasting menu restaurant putting Oklahoma City on the national culinary map with hyper-local, seasonal ingredients. An intimate 22-seat experience that has drawn Thunder players and visiting celebrities seeking OKC's most elevated dining experience near Paycom Center.
Farm-to-table restaurant in OKC's vibrant Paseo Arts District serving seasonal American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. A favorite dining spot for Thunder fans who appreciate the city's growing culinary scene beyond gameday food.
A Film Row burger joint housed in a converted auto garage serving creative burgers like the Brisket Burger and El Camino. Thunder fans stop in before or after games at nearby Paycom Center, drawn by the inventive menu and no-frills industrial atmosphere.
OKC's revitalized Bricktown district along the canal is the go-to pregame and postgame destination for Thunder fans, with sports bars, restaurants, and live music venues filling the historic warehouse buildings. Water taxi rides on the canal and the walkable access to Paycom Center make Bricktown the heart of Oklahoma City's sports-fan culture.
OKC's revitalized warehouse district along the canal is Thunder fan central — packed with restaurants, bars, and the energy of NBA gamenight crowds.
Built on the Oklahoma River, Riversport OKC is one of the country's premier outdoor adventure parks featuring a whitewater rafting channel, zip lines, and Olympic-level kayaking and rowing facilities used by national team athletes. Active sports fans visiting for a Thunder game love spending a morning here for a dose of adrenaline before tip-off.
One of America's great museums, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum sits just northeast of downtown OKC and houses the world's finest collection of Western art, rodeo history, and frontier culture. Sports fans with a day before or after a Thunder game consistently rate it among the best non-sports attractions they discover on a road trip.
Just 20 miles south of OKC, the University of Oklahoma in Norman transforms on football Saturdays as 86,000 fans pack Memorial Stadium for Sooners games in one of college football's most tradition-rich programs. Visiting OKC on a Sooners home game weekend allows fans to easily combine an NBA Thunder game with a college football experience.
Home of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paycom Center hosts one of the NBA's most loyal and intense fan bases in a compact arena that generates incredible crowd noise. OKC fans are famously devoted and the arena atmosphere during playoff runs has been ranked among the best in the entire league.
Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is tracked across 2 events and seats 18,200 fans. Here's how fans build a trip around it:
Structured facts on this page (capacity, opening year, architect, ownership) are compiled from public reference databases and verified against venue coordinates.
Bill Hader have been spotted at Paycom Center.
Paycom Center has a capacity of 18,200 people.
Paycom Center opened in 2002. It was designed by Leidos.
Oklahoma City Thunder, National Basketball Association, New Orleans Pelicans play home games at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City.
2026 NBA Western Conference Finals, NBA Finals 2025 — Thunder def. Pacers are among the events held at Paycom Center.
