Concept aerial view of the proposed 50-acre sports district and stadium in southeast Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City, September 14, 2025
Plans for a 50-acre sports-driven entertainment district in southeast Oklahoma City and a separate downtown arena have moved from planning to contractor selection, pushing both projects toward construction. The district, led by Echo Investment Capital with Populous as master architect, will center on a new stadium and link nearby attractions for professional soccer, concerts and community events. A Flintco–Mortenson joint team secured the downtown arena contract. JR Jensen added experienced project manager Heath Pickens to its team. City leaders cite renewed downtown access and sustained reinvestment as drivers for advancing both builds.
In a single update, the region announced a key hire, a major new development and the selection of builders for a new arena that together signal a fast-moving period of construction and planning in Oklahoma City. JR Jensen has added a veteran project manager, Echo Investment Capital revealed plans for a 50-acre sports-driven entertainment district, and the city has finalized contracts with builders for a new downtown arena. Construction for the new stadium and the arena is scheduled to begin in February 2026 and to be completed by June 2028.
Heath Pickens joined JR Jensen as project manager, bringing more than 15 years of commercial construction experience. He earned a degree in construction management technology from Oklahoma State University and began his career as a field engineer in Texas. Over the years Pickens moved into project management and scheduling, served as an owner’s representative on major institutional and religious projects, and led multimillion-dollar builds.
Pickens has led large, complex jobs nationwide, including the $350 million Dallas Love Field Airport expansion and a $50 million Air Force barracks project, along with numerous church and hospitality builds. His skill set includes estimating, scheduling, design-build delivery, contract negotiations and project execution. He places emphasis on strong client and subcontractor relationships and on values such as integrity, craftsmanship and family time. Pickens has also taken part in mission work, including helping build homes in Juarez, Mexico with Amor Ministries.
Echo Investment Capital announced plans for a 50-acre development in southeast Oklahoma City, situated just south of the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown. The project centers on a new stadium and a walkable entertainment district intended to link existing attractions and strengthen the city’s sports and entertainment offerings.
Populous is serving as master architect on the project. The design team describes the development as a missing piece in the downtown experience that connects Riversport, the convention center, the existing Thunder arena and Bricktown. The vision emphasizes a vibrant, walkable district that includes both sports and mixed entertainment uses.
The project team is positioning professional soccer as a major new draw for the city. The stadium is being planned for use by both women’s and men’s soccer, will be able to host high school sports, and could become the state’s largest concert venue when the field is used for shows with up to 8,000 people on the field. A former professional basketball star will serve as creative director for the entertainment district, contributing to art, design and outreach to elevate the project’s profile beyond the region.
City leaders completed the hiring of construction partners for a new downtown arena, moving forward with a plan voters approved in 2023. The city approved a contract with a joint team led by Flintco and Mortenson to build the new multimillion-dollar facility. Local program managers and contractor leadership described the hiring as a key step toward starting construction, with an eye toward creating a modern, sustainable arena that also honors historical elements.
Early design priorities include improved comfort for fans, with larger and more comfortable seats, additional leg room and better circulation through improved pathways and restroom locations. The contractor team said one of the first technical steps will be an infrastructure assessment to determine what utilities and systems need to be retained or upgraded. Over the following two and a half weeks the team will translate conceptual design input into a formal estimate, a milestone needed before committing to major construction decisions.
Both the stadium/entertainment district and the new arena carry the same broad schedule: a construction start in February 2026 and targeted completion in June 2028. In the near term, teams will finalize estimates, perform infrastructure evaluations and refine design details that affect cost and schedule. The entertainment district team will continue coordination with the master architect and creative leadership to integrate public spaces, civic connections and performance venues into a cohesive, walkable layout.
The downtown area has reopened after three years of street construction, a reopening that could help support increased foot traffic to Bricktown and the new development zones. The convergence of arena planning, the new district and recently finished street work points to an active downtown construction phase in the coming years.
Content timestamp: Updated September 14, 2025 @ 4:58 am
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The city and private developers announced three main moves: a senior hire at JR Jensen, a 50-acre sports-driven entertainment district by Echo Investment Capital, and the selection of Flintco and Mortenson to build a new downtown arena.
The 50-acre site is in southeast Oklahoma City, just south of the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown.
Populous is the master architect. A prominent former professional athlete will serve as creative director for the entertainment district.
Both the stadium/entertainment district and the new arena are scheduled to begin construction in February 2026 and to be completed by June 2028.
Design priorities include fan comfort with larger seats and more leg room, improved circulation with better pathways, and more convenient restroom locations. An initial infrastructure assessment will determine existing systems that must be kept or upgraded.
Heath Pickens joined JR Jensen with over 15 years of commercial construction experience. He began as a field engineer in Texas, holds a degree in construction management technology from Oklahoma State University and has led large projects including airport and military builds, plus many institutional and hospitality projects.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New hire | Heath Pickens — JR Jensen project manager; 15+ years experience; OSU degree; airport and military projects led |
| Entertainment district | 50-acre sports-driven district in southeast OKC, south of Harkins Theatre in Bricktown; Populous master architect |
| Creative leadership | Former professional basketball player serving as creative director for the district |
| New stadium uses | Professional men’s and women’s soccer, high school sports, and large-capacity concerts with field seating |
| Arena builders | Flintco and Mortenson selected to build the new downtown arena |
| Schedule | Construction start February 2026; completion June 2028 |
| Design priorities | Fan comfort, larger seats, more leg room, better circulation, updated restroom locations, infrastructure assessment |
| Local context | Downtown streets reopened after three years of construction to support increased activity |
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