Mayor David Holt showcases OKC’s growth on national stage

Mayor David Holt appeared in recent national interviews with the New York Stock Exchange and Forbes to discuss the rapid growth of Oklahoma City and its current role on the national and international stage.

In both interviews, Holt was hosted live to speak on the city’s growing visibility through sports, population growth and infrastructure investment. He credited the OKC Thunder’s success and the NBA Finals spotlight as an opportunity to show how the city has changed since the team arrived in 2008.

“Sports are a prism through which we view a city’s overall success,” Holt told NYSE. “As the eyes of the world have turned to OKC over the last two weeks with the arrival of the Finals, the world is seeing a city with the lowest unemployment in the country and a place that just announced it will host seven events for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. There is growth and development across the city.”

Holt said OKC has seen strong population growth and steady economic development, pointing to the construction of a new $900 million downtown arena and the upcoming role as host for events in the 2028 Summer Olympics. He noted the arena will keep the Thunder in OKC for 30 more years, while the Olympics will bring global attention to the region.

In his conversation with Forbes, Holt also spoke about how OKC is building on momentum from sports to drive urban improvement. He discussed MAPS, a public initiative now in its fourth phase, which uses temporary sales tax measures to fund debt-free public projects. He said MAPS has helped build a modern downtown, parks and other facilities that have contributed to the city’s rise.

“Oklahoma City is a place where we’ve had consistent political leadership and consistent public trust,” Holt told Forbes. “We’ve had the same plan for 30 years.”

Holt also credited the people of OKC for passing each MAPS initiative with strong support. He said the city continues to grow in both population and influence, now ranked as the 20th largest city in the United States by population.

“You have to invest a little bit; you have to spend money to make money,” Holt said. “We have seen time and time again in Oklahoma City; all our investments have paid off. Our investments in ourselves have really been unique on the national level.”

The city will host Olympic softball and canoe slalom events in 2028, adding to its national presence alongside the NBA Finals.

“We would have never even dreamed we could have had Summer Olympic events hosted in Oklahoma City,” Holt said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Holt pointed out that both the softball stadium and the RIVERSPORT whitewater center are already built and in use, allowing the city to take part in the Olympics without new construction.

“We’re considered the softball capital of the world,” Holt added. “People may have just seen the Women’s College World Series, one of the great events in American sports, which is based right here in OKC. We have the largest softball stadium in the world and the only whitewater facility west of the Mississippi, which is why we were chosen.”

Both interviews showed Holt using national platforms to share OKC’s story at a time when millions are watching the Thunder and seeing the city on a larger stage. The appearances also reflected Holt’s ongoing role as one of the city’s most visible advocates, highlighting how civic leadership, public trust and long-term planning are shaping the future of OKC.