Description:
A part of the 1993 MAPS program, Chesapeake Energy Arena broke ground in 1999, and opened in 2002. Originally built without a major league tennant, the arena was built to the specifications of the NBA and NHL in case Oklahoma City were to acquire a major league team in the future, which they did beginning with the 2008-2009 NBA season. The cost of the arena was $89,000,000. It is 586,000 square feet in size and has a capacity of over 18,000. The arena was called the Ford Center from 2002 to 2010, and Oklahoma City Arena in 2011 before becoming Chesapeake Energy Arena. The arena hosts concerts and various sporting events among other things, and was home of the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets from 2005 to 2007. It has been the home of Oklahoma City Thunder since 2008. The arena is owned by the city of Oklahoma City.