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As if the OKC Thunder hadn’t given us enough this year, the team is leaving fans with a final gift in the form of a highly anticipated game against the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day. Christmas Day games do something rare: they concentrate national attention on a single city during one of the most competitive consumer spending periods of the year. A nationally televised game showcases OKC as energetic, modern, and big-league, which matters for attracting young professionals, remote workers, and companies considering relocation.
Of course OKC residents already know about last season’s championship, but many are likely unaware of how far the ripple effects of these games can go. Since the pandemic, economic researchers have noted a sustained surge in demand for live entertainment, with sports as particularly popular attractions. According to the Bank of America Institute, consumers are showing a trend toward preferential spending on experiences over goods.
Of course, fan spending doesn’t end with a ticket. Events stimulate diverse economic impacts. Hotels near the Paycom Center, restaurants and bars downtown, rideshare drivers, parking operators, arena staff, and seasonal workers all reap the benefits of major end-of-year events. The ripple effects impact real people and businesses during this critical revenue window.
We know end-of-year spending is crucial for many organizations, small businesses in particular, so a major attraction in these final days of the year offers a lot of potential. Looking even further into the future, the reputational advantage of a major televised event is an important part of fostering opportunities as well.
The 2028 Olympics, hosted in Los Angeles, will hold two sporting events in Oklahoma City. This is a huge opportunity for OKC to be featured on the global stage, and this could not have happened without the time, attention and investment it took to foster a great reputation for our city. As we learned through the lengthy selection process, the Olympics do not select satellite cities casually. They look for proven capacity to host major events. NBA games help build that track record.
Ultimately, moments like a Christmas Day game are about more than basketball—they reflect how far Oklahoma City has come and how strategic investments in culture, sports, and community continue to pay dividends. All the more reason to enjoy the game this week. Thunder Up, OKC!
Kenton Tsoodle is the president of the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.
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