Ford Center Goes Generic

The home of the NBA’s Thunder will be known, at least temporarily, as the Oklahoma City Arena now that its naming rights deal with Oklahoma Ford Dealers has run out.

The arena was known as the Ford Center until Oct. 22 when the name officially changed.

The Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics until the franchise moved in 2008, is reportedly in discussions with other potential namers, but the generic arena name will stand until a deal is done.

Oklahoma Ford Dealers originally agreed to pony up $1.8 million over 15 years when the venue opened in 2001. But the deal included a clause allowing any NBA tenant to terminate the naming rights deal.

Oklahoma City’s council agreed to let the Thunder profit from any new naming rights deal, but will continue to collect the $409,000 it got under the Ford deal. The team can keep any amount it can get above that amount.