The Sooner State is proving it’s built to host the biggest moments in sports 

By Jason Paha 

Oklahoma sports are having a moment, which may be an understatement. 

From the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder winning its first championship this season to the Oklahoma Sooners NCAA softball team dominating play with four consecutive titles in recent years, the Sooner State has been capturing headlines. 

And the best appears yet to come. 

Oklahoma Steps onto the Olympic Stage 

Earlier this year, Oklahoma City made headlines with its announcement it will partner with LA28 to serve as a host site for Canoe Slalom, Kayak Cross and Softball for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.  

The city proved it can handle big events when it recently hosted the 2024 Olympic Team Trials for Canoe/Kayak Slalom at RIVERSPORT OKC. RIVERSPORT is a $45.2 million whitewater center that opened in May 2016 in the city’s downtown Boathouse District and will host Olympic events in 2028. RIVERSPORT’s whitewater center includes a racecourse which has hosted U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Canoe Slalom (2016 and 2024) and Kayak Cross (2024) as well as numerous national competitions.  

Olympic softball figures to take place in 13,000-seat Devon Park in Oklahoma City, which hosts the annual NCAA Women’s College World Series. OKC has hosted the NCAA Women’s College World Series since 1990 (except for one year in 1996), and the event draws more than 110,000 fans annually. This past year, OKC hosted both the NBA Finals and the NCAA Women’s College World Series at the same time. This is no small feat. 

These events, coupled with the upcoming Olympics puts Oklahoma on a global stage, solidifying its reputation as a destination capable of handling the logistics, energy and excitement of the world’s biggest sporting event.  

Facility Investment 

That Olympic partnership is just the beginning. Oklahoma City and the state have doubled down on sports infrastructure, pouring resources into new, high-caliber venues designed to attract both national and international events. 

The new OG&E Coliseum has already elevated the city’s profile and is the crown jewel of OKC Fair Park. This multipurpose facility is built to accommodate everything from basketball tournaments to volleyball, cheer and gymnastics competitions. Its modern design and flexibility make it a prime candidate for planners looking for a fresh venue in the heart of the country.  

Another big project on the horizon is Oklahoma City’s $900 million downtown arena, which is expected to open in summer of 2028. More than just a home for the NBA’s Thunder, this arena will become one of the most significant sports and entertainment venues in the nation, drawing marquee events and serving as a hub for both locals and visitors.  

OKC is also set to break ground later this year on a $71 million downtown multipurpose (primarily soccer) stadium with completion scheduled for March 2027. The stadium will be the centerpiece of a 60-acre development referred to as the OKC Entertainment District. When it opens, the stadium will accommodate more than 12,000 fans and connect with several major venues, including the city’s new convention center, which opened in 2021. 

Action across the state 

In Norman, it’s all things Sooners as perennial title contenders, the University of Oklahoma football team, is back in action with upgraded fan experiences, from pregame festivities to merchandise and concessions enhancements. Plus, the Lloyd Noble Center is home to the NCAA women’s gymnastics champions as Oklahoma defeated UCLA to capture the title. It was Oklahoma’s third women’s gymnastics championship in four years. The Sooners also won titles in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019, proving themselves to be a dynasty. The men’s gymnasts haven’t been shabby either in recent years, winning four straight NCAA titles from 2015-2018. 

In Enid, the David Allen Memorial Ballpark continues to shine, hosting the NJCAA Division II World Series every May, along with college tournaments and high-level youth baseball throughout the summer.  

Down in Stillwater, it’s always a full season—Oklahoma State football in the fall, basketball in winter and spring brings baseball and softball action. And with 34 NCAA championships (a record), the Oklahoma State wrestling team is always a threat to take home the title. 

Meanwhile in Edmond, athletic energy pulses every weekend. The Edmond Open, an ITF women’s pro tennis event, is turning heads on the hard courts, while facilities across the city are hosting swim meets, soccer tournaments and everything in between.