Oklahoma City, September 14, 2025
News Summary
Plans for a 50-acre sports-driven entertainment district in southeast Oklahoma City and a separate downtown arena have moved from planning to contractor selection, pushing both projects toward construction. The district, led by Echo Investment Capital with Populous as master architect, will center on a new stadium and link nearby attractions for professional soccer, concerts and community events. A Flintco–Mortenson joint team secured the downtown arena contract. JR Jensen added experienced project manager Heath Pickens to its team. City leaders cite renewed downtown access and sustained reinvestment as drivers for advancing both builds.
Major sports and arena construction moves set to reshape downtown Oklahoma City
Updated September 14, 2025 @ 4:58 am
Top lines
A new 50-acre sports-driven entertainment district has been announced for southeast Oklahoma City and a separate downtown project has reached contractor selection, moving both developments from planning toward construction. Groundbreaking for the stadium and for a new downtown arena are scheduled to begin in February 2026, with both projects targeting completion in June 2028. In personnel news, Heath Pickens has joined JR Jensen as a project manager, bringing more than 15 years of commercial construction leadership to the local market.
What was announced
Echo Investment Capital unveiled plans for a 50-acre mixed-use district just south of the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown. The site will include a new stadium and a walkable entertainment area intended to link existing attractions across downtown. The master architect for the district is Populous, which described the plan as filling a long-noted gap in the urban fabric by connecting Riversport, the convention center, the Thunder arena and Bricktown.
The development is being positioned to add professional soccer to the city’s major sports offerings and to host a wide range of events, including high school sports and large concerts when the field is used at full capacity.
Leadership and creative direction
The entertainment district team named a high-profile creative director who is tied to the city through a long sports career. Project leaders emphasize that the creative director will contribute to art, design and style decisions and will help promote the project beyond the local market.
Downtown arena procurement complete
City officials have finished hiring construction partners for a new downtown arena. A joint team led by Flintco and Mortenson secured the arena contract after voters approved plans in 2023. City program managers described the contract approval as the next major step and noted that the arena team will soon move from conceptual design toward cost estimating and infrastructure assessment, which are key milestones before breaking ground.
Project schedules and design priorities
Both the stadium in the southeast district and the downtown arena list February 2026 as the construction start date and June 2028 as the target completion date. Arena design statements indicate a focus on fan and visitor comfort, with plans for slightly larger, more comfortable seating, more leg room, better circulation paths and improved restroom locations. The construction teams cited sustainability, state-of-the-art systems and a blend of modern and historic design nods as design goals.
New hire: Heath Pickens at JR Jensen
Heath Pickens joins JR Jensen as a project manager. Pickens has worked in commercial construction for over 15 years, starting as a field engineer in Texas and advancing into project management and scheduling. His resume includes owner’s representative roles for higher education and large congregations, oversight of multiple multimillion-dollar builds and leadership on large projects such as a $350 million airport expansion and a $50 million military barracks build. Pickens brings experience with estimating, scheduling, design-build delivery, contract negotiations and project execution, and he emphasizes client and subcontractor relationships, integrity, craftsmanship and community involvement.
Community and context
The downtown area has officially reopened after three years of street construction, restoring full access as both projects move forward. Local leaders and contractors have highlighted ongoing reinvestment and renewed energy in the urban core as a driving factor behind timing for the new builds.
Public notes and site messages
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- Weather at the time of update: mostly cloudy with areas of fog, high near 63°F and low near 58°F. Winds from the ENE at 10 to 20 mph during the day and 10 to 15 mph overnight.
Next steps and timing
For the arena, the immediate next step is translating conceptual design information into a formal cost estimate over the coming weeks. For the stadium and district, site work, detailed design and permitting are expected to advance through late 2025 into early 2026 ahead of the planned February 2026 construction start. Both projects are scheduled to reach completion in June 2028, barring schedule changes.
FAQ
When will construction start on the stadium and the arena?
Both projects are slated to begin construction in February 2026.
When are the projects expected to be completed?
Both the stadium-driven entertainment district and the downtown arena are targeted for completion in June 2028.
What will the 50-acre district include?
The district will include a new stadium, an entertainment district designed for walkability, and spaces intended to connect nearby sports and cultural destinations.
Who is the project’s architect?
Populous is serving as the master architect for the 50-acre district.
Who will build the downtown arena?
The city selected a joint team led by Flintco and Mortenson to construct the new downtown arena.
Who is Heath Pickens and what will he do?
Heath Pickens is a project manager recently hired by JR Jensen with over 15 years of commercial construction experience. He will manage complex projects, drawing on experience in estimating, scheduling, design-build delivery and contract negotiations.
Is professional soccer part of the plan?
Yes, adding professional soccer is a stated goal for the new stadium and district, with the venue intended to host both men’s and women’s teams as well as other events.
Key project features
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| District area | 50 acres, southeast Oklahoma City, south of Harkins Theatre in Bricktown |
| Primary uses | Professional soccer, concerts, high school sports, entertainment and public space |
| Master architect | Populous |
| Creative director (district) | High-profile local sports figure serving as creative director |
| Arena contractors | Flintco and Mortenson joint team |
| Construction start | February 2026 (stadium and arena) |
| Target completion | June 2028 (stadium and arena) |
| Recent local milestone | Downtown reopened after three years of street construction |
| New local hire | Heath Pickens joined JR Jensen as project manager; 15+ years industry experience |
| Weather note | Mostly cloudy, areas of fog, high 63°F, low 58°F, ENE winds 10–20 mph |
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Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- KOCO: Sports‑entertainment district, soccer plans for OKC
- Wikipedia: Oklahoma City sports district
- ArcGIS StoryMaps: OKC development / district map
- Google Search: OKC sports district map
- KOCO: New downtown arena construction and design details
- Google Scholar: Flintco Mortenson arena construction
- Free Press OKC: MAPS 4 innovation district connectivity projects
- Encyclopedia Britannica: MAPS 4 Oklahoma City
- The Journal Record: Achievers Under 40 (2025)
- Google News: Heath Pickens JR Jensen Oklahoma City
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