This season, the Oklahoma City Thunder has been enhancing its relationship with the community with City Nights, a special series that blends basketball, culture and art. Part of the team’s 2024-25 Nike NBA City Edition lineup, this initiative turned Sunday home games into a celebration of OKC’s growth, creativity and energy.
A Uniform That Tells a Story
On Nov. 12, 2024, the Thunder unveiled their 2024-25 Nike NBA City Edition Uniform, which incorporated a distinctive design that reflects Oklahoma City’s growth and cultural renaissance. The uniform prominently features “OKLAHOMA” across the chest, marking only the second time a Thunder jersey has centered the state’s name.
During Sunday home games, branded as “City Nights,” fans saw both the City Edition uniforms and a matching court design. The “City Nights” theme is a nod to Oklahoma City’s vibrant nightlife and cultural scene, which symbolizes the city’s energy and creativity.
“The City Edition Uniform exemplifies Oklahoma City’s evolving landscape that we see in every neighborhood in all quadrants of the city,” said Thunder’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Brian Byrnes.
City Nights and the Fresh Take Poster Series
The Thunder’s City Nights games offered fans an exclusive artistic experience. Each game featured a limited-edition Fresh Take Poster Series, presented by Michelob ULTRA in collaboration with the Thunder Artist Group (TAG). Posters are created by local artists and highlight a diverse range of cultural elements such as art, fashion, music, culinary arts and fitness. The series showcases the diversity and vibrancy of Oklahoma City’s artistic community, with each poster telling a story about the city’s culture and heritage.
Artists for the Fresh Take Poster Series included Barrett Tarr (a.k.a. Kid Lennon) — Palms of Progress, Zachery Junker (a.k.a. StepbackZach), Yovany Avendano (a.k.a. VNICE) from Tulsa, Savannah Tallbear from Oklahoma City and Jenee’ Staicer from Tulsa.
Extending Beyond the Court
In addition to the Fresh Take Poster Series, the Thunder introduced exclusive in-arena retail collaborations with Round21, a sports and art platform founded by Oklahoma native Jasmine Maietta. These limited-edition items support the importance of local creativity and craftsmanship.
A mobile art exhibition, the City Bus, will also bring original artwork and interactive experiences to metro events like the Festival of the Arts in April. This initiative is designed to take art out of traditional gallery spaces and into the heart of the community. By doing so, the City Edition celebration extends beyond the Paycom Center and allows more residents to engage with Oklahoma City’s artistic community.
A Platform for Community Engagement
The OKC Thunder’s City Nights are a tribute to the city’s rich artistic culture and its people. By integrating local artists into the game-day experience, the Thunder creates a relationship between sports and creativity, offering fans an experience beyond basketball. As the season progresses, City Nights will continue to serve as a platform for storytelling, unity and artistic expression, reinforcing the Thunder’s connection to Oklahoma City’s past, present and future.
