Fresh New Ford Center

The Ford Center in Oklahoma City is in the midst of a top-dollar overhaul in anticipation of its newest tenant – the National Basketball Association’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Recent additions to the 19,711-capacity venue include retractable seats on the floor level, leather seats near courtside, luxury upgrades such as hardwood floors and stainless appliances in club suites, a renovated courtside club and a new scoreboard.

Construction is also under way on 48 new club-level terrace suites and additional bunker suites.

In order to entice the team to move from Seattle (where it played as the SuperSonics at that city’s Key Arena), voters in Oklahoma City approved a 1 cent sales tax in 2008 to raise funding for the $100 million project.

Renovations, which began in April, are expected to be completed by early October.

The first shows on the books at the spruced-up venue include Kings of Leon, Rob Thomas and Robin Williams. The Thunder will also take to the court for the team’s first pre-season game in October.