Oklahoma City's transportation network is adjusting to the tide of change as the historic former Myriad Convention Center makes way for the future. EMBARK announced that OKC Streetcar services will be on a temporary hiatus from May 27 to 30 to facilitate OG&E's power disconnection from the erstwhile convention center site, detailed in an update provided by the City of Oklahoma City.
During the service pause, EMBARK will roll out bus shuttles traversing the downtown streetcar loop from 6 a.m. to midnight, bridging the gap for commuters every 25 minutes. Patrons would need to bear streetcar fares to hop on these shuttles, which they can embark at any standing streetcar platform, albeit with the Century Center stop on Sheridan being the exception. EMBARK reminds users, "Bus head signs will read 'OKC Streetcar Service – Downtown Loop,'" and to note that real-time tracking will not be on hand, so allowing extra travel time is advised, according to the City of Oklahoma City.
People who find themselves scratching their heads over the shuttle routes can reach out to EMBARK's customer service for a guiding hand at 405-235-RIDE, operational from Monday to Friday, between the span of 7:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. And for those set on cheering the Thunder during the game day on May 28, EMBARK has indicated that its Thunder Game Day Shuttles would keep to their streak two hours before the game and will extend its service for an hour following the game's conclusion,as reported by the City of Oklahoma City.
Moreover, lane closures will weave through the city's streetscape from May 27–30, with Reno and Sheridan Avenue seeing one of their east or westbound channels sealed off intermittently from sunup till sundown. Residents and visitors eager to keep a pulse on the arena's construction can do so by signing up for updates from the City of Oklahoma City, staying abreast of the ongoing transformations. With exterior demolition earmarked for a start in June, the former convention center witnesses its last chapter, poised for completion by the waning of 2025.
The referendum of December 2023 echoes still, where Oklahoma City residents lent a resounding 71% support in favor of a new, public-owned coliseum—dubbed the new Paycom Center—an endeavor Oklahoma City Council sanctioned in May 2024 through a development pact with PBC Sports and Entertainment, LLC. This $900 million juggernaut, aiming for at least 750,000 square feet, promises to meet the exacting standards of the NBA and foster the longevity of the city's flourishing sports culture. The dial is set for the opening of the new arena by June 2028, with the Thunder vowing their continued presence in the City of Oklahoma City for a span of 25 years upon transitioning into their new home.
