MAPS 4 reveals first look at new multipurpose stadium design

Oklahoma City leaders shared the first look at the $121 million MAPS 4 multipurpose stadium during Wednesday’s MAPS 4 Venues Subcommittee meeting. The stadium will anchor a future sports and entertainment district south of Bricktown. Construction is set to begin this spring, with an opening planned for January 2028.

Mayor David Holt said the project reflects how investments in sports venues have shaped OKC’s growth.

“Time and again, we have realized a major economic and community benefit from our investments in sports facilities,” Holt said. “From whitewater to softball, basketball to baseball, these investments in sports have changed our city. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, and we knew in 2019 when we developed MAPS 4 that we had to make a commitment to stay in the game. The original stadium budget was further supported by TIF funds, and then recently received a much-needed boost from the voters through October’s bond issue. Now, we finally have a budget that can help us realize our near-term soccer aspirations. This new design revealed today illustrates how far this improved budget will take us, and as a soccer fan and a cheerleader for our city, I am thrilled at this new vision. This stadium will be something we can be proud of and it’s a foundation we can build upon in the years to come. I look forward to working with Echo and the OKC for Soccer movement to ensure our multipurpose stadium realizes its full potential.”

A new district takes shape

The stadium sits on nine acres donated by Echo Investment Capital, a multi-strategy investment firm founded by Christian Kanady in 2010. Echo operates from the Ziggurat building downtown and invests across energy, life sciences, national security and sports and entertainment. The company also holds majority ownership of OKC’s professional soccer club and leads the OKC for Soccer | OKC es Fútbol effort. As the stadium operator, Echo plans to build the surrounding area into a sports-centered entertainment district with Robinson Park.

The stadium’s design reflects Oklahoma’s natural features while setting a modern direction for the district. The north side opens toward the downtown skyline. A light canopy roof and fabric façade frame the open sky, with programmable LED lighting to set the mood for events.

Populous designed the facility. The global firm has more than 40 years of experience and more than 3,500 completed projects worth $60 billion. Its teams work across architecture, interior design, event planning, urban design, graphics, aviation planning, hospitality and sustainability.

A multipurpose venue for soccer and more

The stadium will include a United States Soccer Federation–approved field and space for more than 10,000 fans, with most seating under a canopy. It will feature a club area, a supporters section, locker rooms and suites. Soccer will serve as the primary use, but the venue will also host football, youth sports, concerts and community events.

Populous Managing Director of the Americas Jonathan Mallie said the goal was to design a place that will draw people together for major events for decades.

“Together with Echo, the city and the OKC for Soccer movement, we are proud to have designed a multipurpose destination for Oklahoma City,” Mallie said. “The stadium will serve as a community anchor, an economic catalyst and a canvas for unforgettable events in downtown Oklahoma City for decades to come.”

As the majority owner of OKC’s professional soccer club, Echo is driving the OKC for Soccer | OKC es Fútbol movement and will operate the stadium, which will be the future home to both women’s and men’s teams.

Kanady said the stadium will anchor the new cultural district the company plans to build nearby. As the area develops, visitors will be able to walk from restaurants, retail and housing to attend games and concerts.

“This stadium will be a transformative anchor as we build a surrounding cultural district that stands alongside the best in the nation,” Kanady said. “This project will unite sports fans, creatives and community-minded investment to shape a destination that fuels pride and possibility in downtown Oklahoma City.”

OKC for Soccer President Court Jeske said the venue is being designed as a community gathering space.

“We truly believe we can set the bar for how downtown venues interact with their communities,” Jeske said. “This will be a home for women’s and men’s soccer, football of all levels, concerts and so much more. Don’t think of this as a stadium, but as a community center with a field in the middle.”

How MAPS 4 funds the project

The stadium is funded through MAPS 4, the 2025 OKC Bond, tax increment financing, private contributions and other economic development sources.

MAPS 4 is a debt-free public improvement program paid for by a temporary penny sales tax that is projected to raise $1.07 billion over eight years. More than 70 percent of MAPS 4 funding supports neighborhood and human needs, with the rest directed to quality-of-life and job-focused projects.