QUESTIONS TO CITY LEADERS. WITH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FILLING INTO OKLAHOMA CITY NEXT WEEK FOR THE FINALS, CITY LEADERS SAY THE PREPARATIONS HAVE ALREADY STARTED. THEY SAY IT’S AN EXCITING TIME, BUT IT’S SOMETHING THEY CAN HANDLE. GO THUNDER. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED IN THE SOONER STATE AS THE OKC THUNDER OFFICIALLY PUNCHED THEIR TICKET TO THE NBA FINALS. AMAZING. GREAT FOR THE CITY. YOU JUST SEE AROUND NOW. EVERYONE’S A THUNDER FAN AND REALLY JUST BECOMING A TIGHT KNIT COMMUNITY BEHIND THE TEAM. AND IT’S NOT JUST THE CITY COMING TOGETHER, IT’S THE FANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THIS IS A GREAT PLACE AND WE WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT TOO. WITH THAT, WE KNOW HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND BUSINESSES WILL BE BOOMING. ONE OF THE CHALLENGES I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE AT THE FRONT END OF THIS IS WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT BIG EVENT HERE IN TOWN RIGHT NOW WITH THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES THAT TAKES UP A BULK OF THE. IT TAKES UP A BULK OF THE HOTEL ROOMS IN OKLAHOMA CITY. SO AT THE FRONT END, THERE’S GOING TO BE DEFINITELY VERY HIGH DEMAND FOR HOTELS. WILL ROGERS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TELLS ME. WHILE THEY AREN’T ADDING ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS, THEY ARE LOOKING AT THE PARKING SITUATION. FOR THOSE WHO COME TO THE AIRPORT TO WELCOME THE TEAM HOME. SO HOW WILL THE CITY ACCOMMODATE THE INFLUX OF PEOPLE? IT’S ALL A VERY COMPLICATED PUZZLE THAT YOU HAVE TO WORK THROUGH TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE. WE HAVE ROLES TO PLAY IN ALL PARTS OF THAT WORK. WE’RE ACTIVELY WORKING ON PROVIDING INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY FOR VISITING MEDIA, BUT THEY TELL ME IT’S SOMETHING THEY’VE BEEN PREPPING FOR FOR MONTHS AND SAY THEY ARE READY TO TAKE ON THE CHALLENGE. THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE FOR US TO
Oklahoma City prepares for visitors as Thunder advance to NBA Finals
Oklahoma City is readying itself for thousands of visitors as the Thunder head to the NBA Finals, with city leaders addressing accommodation and logistical challenges
Updated: 5:11 PM CDT May 29, 2025
Oklahoma City is gearing up for thousands of visitors as the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals, with city leaders preparing to tackle challenges in accommodation and logistics.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThunder fan Jude Schneider expressed his excitement, saying, “Go Thunder!” “Amazing, great for the city, you just see around now everyone’s a Thunder fan and becoming a tight-knit community behind the team,” said Albert Arredondo, a Thunder fan.”We all know this is a great place and we want other people to know that too,” said Cynthia Reid, with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.She acknowledged the booming business expected for hotels, restaurants, and other local establishments. “Definitely hotels. One of the challenges I think we’re gonna have at the front end of this, is we have another large event in town, the women’s college world series. That takes up a bulk of the hotel rooms in OKC, so at the front end there’s gonna be high demand for hotels,” Reid said.OKC Will Rogers International Airport is not adding additional flights, but is considering parking arrangements for those welcoming the team home. Reid described the situation as “a complicated puzzle that you have to work through, to try and make sure that we take care of everyone.” WATCH: Thunder heading to their second NBA Finals since franchise moved to OKC”We have roles to play in all parts of that work. We are actively working on providing information, particularly visiting media,” she said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Reid assured that preparations have been underway for months, stating, “This is a great chance for us to tell OKC’s story, and we’re not gonna let that go by.”More Thunder HeadlinesThunder Playoffs Guide: From tickets to schedule and more, everything you need to know about the Western Conference FinalsThunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA MVPShai Gilgeous-Alexander named to All-NBA First TeamThunder’s Luguentz Dort and Jalen Williams named to NBA All-Defensive teamsMerchandise available celebrating Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP
OKLAHOMA CITY —Oklahoma City is gearing up for thousands of visitors as the Thunder advance to the NBA Finals, with city leaders preparing to tackle challenges in accommodation and logistics.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
Thunder fan Jude Schneider expressed his excitement, saying, “Go Thunder!”
“Amazing, great for the city, you just see around now everyone’s a Thunder fan and becoming a tight-knit community behind the team,” said Albert Arredondo, a Thunder fan.
“We all know this is a great place and we want other people to know that too,” said Cynthia Reid, with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.
She acknowledged the booming business expected for hotels, restaurants, and other local establishments.
“Definitely hotels. One of the challenges I think we’re gonna have at the front end of this, is we have another large event in town, the women’s college world series. That takes up a bulk of the hotel rooms in OKC, so at the front end there’s gonna be high demand for hotels,” Reid said.
OKC Will Rogers International Airport is not adding additional flights, but is considering parking arrangements for those welcoming the team home. Reid described the situation as “a complicated puzzle that you have to work through, to try and make sure that we take care of everyone.”
WATCH: Thunder heading to their second NBA Finals since franchise moved to OKC
“We have roles to play in all parts of that work. We are actively working on providing information, particularly visiting media,” she said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Reid assured that preparations have been underway for months, stating, “This is a great chance for us to tell OKC’s story, and we’re not gonna let that go by.”
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