Oklahoma City General Information
Oklahoma City sprawls across 625 square miles of America's heartland. Its metro population numbers over a million, which is a third of the entire state's population. It is also a city in the midst of a revitalization, thanks to MAPS.

MAPS, which stands for Metropolitan Area Projects, is a public initiative designed to create or renovate nine educational, cultural and recreational facilities. Today, with nine projects completed, Oklahoma City has seen nearly a billion dollars in combined public and private investment. One notable byproduct of MAPS has been the development of Bricktown.

Bricktown Entertainment District
Bricktown lies just a block east of downtown Oklahoma City, and it has quickly emerged as the city's premier dining and entertainment district. Restaurants here offer a total capacity of more than 4,000 seats. In addition, the 110,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops and a 16-screen downtown theatre complex.

Bricktown is an integral part of MAPS. One of the initiatives, the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, has been proclaimed one of the nation's finest minor league facilities. Yet another, the Oklahoma Spirit trolley system, is ready to whisk you around Bricktown and downtown (for just a quarter!). In warmer weather, horse-drawn carriages and pedicabs can be seen ferrying customers to their destinations.

A third Bricktown MAPS initiative is the canal, a festive mile-long riverwalk that winds throughout the district, turns south at the ballpark and passes under a highway before leading pedestrians to waterfall-and-forested park areas. Water taxis cruise the canal waters, and there are many canal-side restaurants with more under construction.

Devon Unveils Plans for Historic Addition to Oklahoma City Skyline
Devon Energy Corporation unveiled plans and renderings August 20 for its new corporate headquarters, an iconic 54-story tower in downtown Oklahoma City that will dramatically change the skyline.

The 925-foot skyscraper will cost more than $750 million to construct and will give Devon 1.9 million-square-feet of office space. The new tower will also make room for 3,000 people in one central location.

The tower will have a three-sided footprint allowing it to be viewed in the round from all point in Oklahoma City. Reflecting pools at the
buildings base will make the tower appear as if it was floating on water. Work is scheduled to begin late this year and finish in 2012.

Oklahoma City Thunder
On October 29, 2008, the Oklahoma City Thunder debuted as the NBA’s newest franchise and Thunder fans responded in a big way. Oklahomans showed that this was more than a college sports state as the Thunder
ranked 11th in the NBA in attendance during their inaugural season. Featuring one of the league’s best, in Kevin Durant, a talented
nucleus of young players and one of the best home court advantages in basketball, the Thunder should be a team to watch in the years to come.

For more information about Oklahoma City, its people and its cultures, visit the Oklahoma City Visitors Bureau.