OKLAHOMA CITY | Legends Tower | 1,907 FT | 134 FLOORS | VISION

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by pianowizard

I was curious how this near-megatall would look next to the world's tallest skyscrapers, so I generated this comparison on the Diagrams page:

All those towers (minus Legends) were built with the help of government funding.

[Chicago103]

Does the Oklahoma Thunder NBA victory last night boost the odds for Legends Tower?

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by Chicago103

Does the Oklahoma Thunder NBA victory last night boost the odds for Legends Tower?

Sure, if they are able to come up with the billions of $ needed to finance the design & build as well as the maintenance costs for when it sits mostly empty since the uber rich that is needed to own the condos won't be living in Oklahoma City .

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Chicago103

Does the Oklahoma Thunder NBA victory last night boost the odds for Legends Tower?

Maybe slightly, but I doubt significantly. The Thunder are still a small market team with one of the lowest revenues in the league. It might go up slightly after this Finals run, maybe even more if they are able to continue winning, but I don't see them becoming big market anytime soon, both in terms of team valuation and merchandise sales. Ie they're not gonna bring in enough cash to fuel such a large capital investment.

[mhays]

Only if it incites a multi-billionaire to donate half his net worth in a coke-fueled frenzy.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

Sure, if they are able to come up with the billions of $ needed to finance the design & build as well as the maintenance costs for when it sits mostly empty since the uber rich that is needed to own the condos won't be living in Oklahoma City .

I believe the whole project, including the smaller towers costs 1.5 billion. Construction costs are way cheaper in OKC than other US cities.

[mhays]

Development costs can be in a 3:1 ratio for a project depending on what you include. I used to report costs for my own company's projects and it really came down to what the client wanted others to hear. Sometimes they wanted a big number and sometimes they wanted a small one. Sometimes it was reality and sometimes they pulled a number out of their hats.

For example you can include finance costs or not.

And land costs, including holding costs.

Tenant improvements are often omitted. Buildouts can cost as much as shell and core construction.

Plus maintenance and operations costs.

[NYguy]

• Video Link

[NYguy]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/okc-legends-tower-developer-says-104022380.html

OKC Legends Tower developer says 'there's more to come.' What we know about the project

Jana Hayes
July 18, 2025

The four-tower development, the Boardwalk at Bricktown, was briefly mentioned in Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Chair Teresa Rose's opening remarks at the State of the City, as she touted what a future in Oklahoma City could look like. Construction on the first phase — consisting of two apartment towers sitting atop a parking and retail podium, and a 22-story Hyatt Dream Hotel — could begin later this year, developer Scot Matteson told The Oklahoman.

However, it's the planned second phase that has attracted the excitement: Legends Tower, a 1,907-foot-tall skyscraper that would be the tallest building in the nation. There has been plenty of skepticism on whether or not the tower will actually be built, along with criticism from the Federal Aviation Administration, but Matteson said he is "working through the issues" to mitigate concerns about the building's height.

But, Matteson also said there has been talk about "doing more" and expanding the project.

"There's more to come, that's all I can say," Matteson told The Oklahoman Thursday.

Matteson told The Oklahoman he is "working through the issues" with the FAA and local and state authorities to mitigate concerns. With the tallest tower being part of phase 2, Matteson said "we have time to work through those issues."

As for the planned height of the tower, Matteson said "we haven't changed anything, not yet anyway."

[sorenvail17]

Originally Posted by NYguy

From the article…

California developer Scot Matteson plans a 134 story tower in Lower Bricktown, nearly as tall as One World Trade Center. He’s also expanding a Hyatt hotel. This follows approval of a new arena nearby. Senator Schumer says building offices means more jobs.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by sorenvail17

California developer Scot Matteson plans a 134 story tower in Lower Bricktown, nearly as tall as One World Trade Center.

I'm assuming this is outdated and there wasn't a height cut. Originally it was proposed around that height.

[Dale]

Nobody on OKCTalk believes this is a serious proposal.

[BnaBreaker]

Originally Posted by Dale

Nobody on OKCTalk believes this is a serious proposal.

Yeah, sounds to me like a struggling developer just trying to juice this for all the attention and press he can get out of it. Every article that comes out about it offers no new information, it's just this same Scot Mateson guy saying 'just you wait and see guys!'

[Zapatan]

^ Probably true but I don't really understand why he would want the attention if it'll never happen.


Better renderings would give it a sense of more legitimacy. I can't find much on the architects behind this other than that they're supposedly called AO.

So much crazy skyscraper development going on the world now, I really wish the USA can hop back on that train and learn to love tall buildings more. We have some good ones but could do better.

[Zapatan]

Supposedly the shorter buildings in the complex are prepping for construction, can any locals confirm this?

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Supposedly the shorter buildings in the complex are prepping for construction, can any locals confirm this?

I’ve seen nothing on OKCTalk to this effect. In fact, the latest post was 7/27 and the recurring complaint that news stations are just regurgitating earlier articles.

[pianowizard]

A small update from mid-August:

https://newatlas.com/architecture/legends-tower-2025-update/

According to the article, "Matteson revealed that the current plan is for construction of the first phase of the project to begin sometime this year. This first phase will be the construction of the three smaller towers. Once they're fully completed, the larger skyscraper will then start to rise...Matteson said that the project is now fully funded."

[M II A II R II K]

https://www.dezeen.com/2025/01/30/legends-tower-proposed-us-tallest-skyscraper-oklahoma-facts/

…..

- The proposed skyscraper will have a facade made up mostly of glass and will be surrounded at its base by a series of smaller towers. It will have a slight indent at its peak with a spire that will give it extra height, pushing it towards the mark that will make it the tallest skyscraper in the United States.

- The skyscraper is slated for construction in the post-industrial Bricktown neighbourhood of Oklahoma City, located between the city's downtown core and its riverfront area. Legends Tower is part of the Boardwalk at Bricktown development, which will expand the entertainment programme typical of the neighbourhood's ongoing redevelopment.

-

[Double L]

To use a spire is just plain catty.

[BnaBreaker]

It should tell you all you need to know about this proposal that all 'new news' that had come out about it since it was initially proposed is really just a rehashing of the things we've always known about it. They're just trying to leech as much cash out of this as they can before they have to admit it was dead from the very start.