Oklahoma City, September 14, 2025
News Summary
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.
Construction Roundup: New Project Manager Joins JR Jensen; 50‑Acre Sports District Announced; City Picks Arena Builders
Updated September 14, 2025 @ 4:58 am
Top lines
Three major items shape downtown development news today: Heath Pickens has been hired as project manager at JR Jensen; Echo Investment Capital has announced a 50‑acre sports‑driven entertainment district in southeast Oklahoma City with professional soccer and a new stadium; and the city has chosen Flintco and Mortenson to build a new downtown arena. All projects point to a significant construction push set to begin in February 2026 and aiming toward completion in June 2028.
Heath Pickens joins JR Jensen
JR Jensen has added a seasoned industry manager to its ranks. Pickens brings more than 15 years of commercial construction experience, having advanced from a field engineer role in Texas into project management and scheduling. His background includes serving as an owner’s representative on multimillion‑dollar builds for an Oklahoma university and a large church, and leading large projects such as a $350 million airport expansion and a $50 million military barracks project. Pickens’ skills span estimating, project scheduling, design‑build delivery, contract negotiations and on‑site project execution.
Raised on a farm in Oklahoma, Pickens holds a degree in construction management technology from Oklahoma State University. His stated priorities include integrity, craftsmanship, strong client and subcontractor relationships, family time and community service. He has participated in mission build work, including help building homes in Juarez, Mexico.
Echo announces 50‑acre sports‑driven entertainment district
Echo Investment Capital revealed plans for a 50‑acre development in southeast Oklahoma City, located just south of the Harkins Theatre in Bricktown. The master architect on the project is Populous, which described the development as a missing connection among Riversport, the Convention Center, the existing NBA arena and Bricktown. The plan centers on a walkable, mixed entertainment district anchored by a stadium that will host professional soccer and be adaptable for women’s and men’s play, high school sports and large concerts if configured with people on the field.
The announcees say the stadium and district are intended to expand OKC’s sports offerings and create a new entertainment hub. A former professional basketball player has been named creative director for the district and will work with the design team and local stakeholders to influence art, style and promotion. Construction for the stadium and district is scheduled to begin in February 2026 with a planned completion in June 2028.
City selects builders for new downtown arena
City Council has completed hiring of construction firms for the new multimillion‑dollar downtown arena approved by voters in 2023. The contract was awarded to a joint team of Flintco and Mortenson. City program leadership called the selection the next major milestone and said hiring the builders allows the project to move past planning and toward active construction.
Company leaders described the forthcoming arena as state‑of‑the‑art, sustainable and designed to prioritize fan and visitor comfort. Design priorities include larger, more comfortable seating with extra legroom, improved pathways and better restroom locations. One of the next steps is for the construction team to convert conceptual design materials into a formal estimate over the coming weeks; that estimate will inform final go/no‑go decisions and uncover infrastructure work needed to support the build. The arena’s construction start and completion targets match the district schedule, with work slated to begin in February 2026 and wrap by June 2028.
Downtown status, weather and user interface notes
The downtown area has reopened after three years of street construction, and activity is expected to pick up as major projects move into construction phases. Current weather as reported is mostly cloudy with areas of fog, a high near 63°F and breezy conditions with east‑northeast winds from 10 to 20 mph. Nighttime lows are around 58°F with sustained east‑northeast winds of 10 to 15 mph.
During recent public announcements and online postings, users observed a success message indicating that a confirmation email had been sent to an empty recipient field for list signup, as well as an error message that showed a request processing failure. A prompt appeared asking whether readers would like to sign up for a thrice‑weekly e‑newsletter. A browser security warning was also displayed, indicating the browser in use may be out of date and vulnerable, and recommending switching to a modern browser, although no browser options were listed in the excerpt shown.
Schedule and next steps
With contracts in place and development plans released, key near‑term activities include finalizing cost estimates from conceptual designs, conducting infrastructure assessments, securing permits and early site preparation. The overlapping February 2026 start date for both the entertainment district and the downtown arena means crews, materials and local traffic will need coordinated management. Both major projects target completion in June 2028.
What this means for the city
Together, the planned stadium, entertainment district and new arena represent a major investment that could reshape downtown activity, increase visitor options and add new uses for sports, entertainment and community events. The projects also will require careful sequencing to limit disruption while maximizing the economic and cultural benefits the city aims to achieve.
FAQ
When does construction start and finish for the new stadium and arena?
Construction is scheduled to start in February 2026 and target completion in June 2028 for both the sports‑driven entertainment district stadium and the downtown arena.
Where will the 50‑acre entertainment district be located?
The district is planned for southeast Oklahoma City, just south of the Harkins Theatre in the Bricktown area.
Who is leading design and construction?
Populous is the master architect for the entertainment district. Flintco and Mortenson are contracted to build the new downtown arena. Project managers and construction teams will coordinate estimates, infrastructure assessments and schedules prior to major work.
What uses will the new stadium support?
The stadium is planned to host professional soccer for men and women, local high school events, and larger concerts when configured with field seating.
Who is the new project manager at JR Jensen and what is his background?
Heath Pickens joined JR Jensen as project manager. He has more than 15 years in commercial construction, experience as an owner’s representative, and has led projects including airport expansion and military barracks. He holds a construction management technology degree and emphasizes integrity, craftsmanship and strong working relationships.
Key Features at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New JR Jensen Project Manager | Heath Pickens — 15+ years experience; airport expansion and military projects; degree from Oklahoma State University; focus on client/subcontractor relationships |
| 50‑Acre Entertainment District | Echo Investment Capital project in southeast OKC, south of Harkins Theatre in Bricktown; Populous master architect; includes stadium for professional soccer and events |
| Creative Direction | Former professional basketball player named creative director to guide art, design and promotion |
| Arena Construction | Flintco and Mortenson selected as builders; voter‑approved arena; design to emphasize comfort and sustainability |
| Schedule | Construction start: February 2026; Target completion: June 2028 |
| Site Status | Downtown streets reopened after three years of construction; coordination needed for upcoming projects |
Note: This report is informational and summarizes project announcements, hires and timelines as provided by project stakeholders and public records.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- KOCO: Sports‑entertainment district, soccer plans for OKC
- Wikipedia: Oklahoma City sports district
- ArcGIS StoryMaps: OKC development / district map
- Google Search: OKC sports district map
- KOCO: New downtown arena construction and design details
- Google Scholar: Flintco Mortenson arena construction
- Free Press OKC: MAPS 4 innovation district connectivity projects
- Encyclopedia Britannica: MAPS 4 Oklahoma City
- The Journal Record: Achievers Under 40 (2025)
- Google News: Heath Pickens JR Jensen Oklahoma City
Author: Construction TX News
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