Rumors

Mack was first hired as security at Paycom Center, then called the Ford Center, to work the 2003 NCAA men’s basketball tournament first- and second-round games. The connection for the job came through a friend who was familiar with his resume as a girls’ high school basketball coach and former college basketball player. Initially, he was given a choice between working security on the basketball floor sitting with his back away from the action, or outside the visiting locker room. The first name tag he was given said “Marvin” – to his disappointment. He asked that it be changed to “Coach Mack” to pay tribute to his coaching and playing background. “It had Marvin on it. I said, ‘What the heck is this? That is me, but it’s not me,’ ” Mack said. “They said, ‘What do you want to do?’ I said, ‘Put Coach Mack on there, thank you very much.’ And we’ve been riding with Coach Mack for many, many moons. And we will continue to ride with Coach Mack.”

Andscape

Chesapeake Energy Arena will be the new name of Oklahoma City's downtown arena formerly known as the Ford Center under a new naming rights agreement jointly announced Thursday by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chesapeake Energy Corp. Under the 12-year naming rights agreement, Chesapeake will pay the Thunder $3 million the first year, with a 3 percent annual escalation clause for each year, thereafter. The agreement includes Chesapeake branding throughout the building including on the basketball court, prominent premium placement on the high-definition scoreboard and new state-of-the-art interior and exterior digital signage.

Oklahoman

"I don't buy into any of it," he said about 90 minutes before Thursday's tipoff at the Ford Center. "What haunts me are guys like Kevin Durant. So, I would say this building is haunted because of guys like him, as are most of the buildings in the NBA. I haven't run into a haunted hotel, just haunted arenas."

Orlando Sentinel

Where do the Oklahoma City Thunder play their home games? If you said the Ford Center, you are wrong. As of Thursday, the arena's name has changed to Oklahoma City Arena. The naming rights deal with Oklahoma Ford Dealers has run out. The Thunder is in discussions with others who might like an NBA arena named for them. Until a new deal is done, the arena will carry the rather generic temporary title.

Oklahoman

I asked several players what they thought the Ford Center should be named. Thabo Sefolosha wasted no time in declaring it should be renamed the “Sefolosha Center.” Aldrich’s vote was “Thunder Nation.”

Oklahoman

Part of the Ford Center's ongoing renovation project will soon include a name change. The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Thursday it has begun negotiating naming rights to its home arena with new potential partners. During the negotiation period, the facility will continue to be called the Ford Center and signage throughout the building will remain intact. The original naming rights agreement came in 2001, when the Oklahoma Ford Dealers agreed to pay $8.1 million over 15 years.

Oklahoman

The Oklahoma City Thunder says it has begun the process of negotiating with potential new naming rights partners for the Ford Center arena. Officials said in a statement Thursday the original naming rights contract allowed the team to terminate the existing agreement should an NBA franchise come to Oklahoma City.

USA Today Sports