The former MVP winner reportedly invested in Oklahoma City's new soccer stadium project.

Even beyond his playing days with the Thunder, Russell Westbrooks continues to invest in the future of Oklahoma City.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Westbrook's company — Russell Westbrook Enterprises — invested a total of $10 million into the "OKC for Soccer" group, which is aiming to boost the professional soccer notoriety in the city. His investment will go towards Echo's Sports & Entertainment platform.

The goal is to to build a world-class stadium and entertainment center that will increase film and television production in Oklahoma City, The project is only now in a design phase, but construction is expected to get underway in 2025.

"My time with the OKC Thunder shaped so much of who I am, so becoming Christian’s partner and investing in the city’s continued growth is not only exciting personally, but Echo’s Sports and Entertainment vertical is unlike anything else I’ve seen in the space," Westbrook said in a news release. "The opportunity to collaborate on a shared vision — combining the long-term, purpose-driven work I’m developing at RWE with what Christian is building at Echo and Connective Capital — is something I’m incredibly proud to bring to my entire platform."

Since Westbrook's departure from the Thunder before the 2019-2020 season, he has maintained that he wanted to continue to be an active participant in Oklahoma City. That's remained true since, but especially now with such a commitment to a massive development project.

The founder of Echo — Christian Kanady — recognized how important the investment was.

"Having Russ and his brand involved with Echo in OKC is truly a game-changer. Russell Westbrook is not only a future Hall of Famer, but also a global icon — dominating the court, walking the runways in Paris, and making a meaningful impact through his Why Not? Foundation," Kanady said. "We have a strong conviction in a differentiated investment opportunity in sports, and I’m excited to continue building something extraordinary with Russ, Donnell, and the entire Westbrook team."

It's obvious the 11-year veteran of the Thunder would be an easy jersey retirement recipient, but his continued care for Oklahoma City has more than kept that status true. He may be a Denver Nugget now, but no team will ever replace his true NBA home.

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Published Nov 27, 2024

When it comes to day trips or weekend getaways, many people tend to focus on the Sooner State's larger cities. The abundance of people in a place like Oklahoma City or Tulsa means that there are so many great attractions, whether you're interested in museums, parks, restaurants, or shops. Many small towns in Oklahoma are pretty famously spectacular too... you really can't beat the rural charm of a little farm town, can you? However, one great alternative is to check out mid-sized cities, as it really seems like they have the best of both worlds. You don't have to worry about the stifling number of people in a big city, but still get to enjoy a sense of that small-town charm. Mid-sized cities are so underrated as travel destinations, and that's just what you'll find if you pay a visit to Altus, Oklahoma, a Jackson County city with a population of around 18,000 people.

Altus is tucked away in southwest Oklahoma and like many towns in the area, was once a cow town along the Great Western Cattle Trail. Today, it's best known as the home of Altus Air Force Base and Western Oklahoma State College. It's so much more than just a military or college town though, especially if you love nature. This is a gorgeous region of the state and there are some great opportunities for outdoor recreation here.

Lake Altus-Lugert lies just north of Altus proper, and it's a pretty fascinating place that is home to an underwater ghost town. In times of drought, you can actually see remnants of the buildings that once stood in the town of Lugert. The reservoir is a popular place to enjoy the outdoors. Fishing, boating, and swimming are all popular activities here, especially in the warm months.

Another must-visit destination for nature lovers in Altus is Great Plains State Park. This sprawling preserve contains nearly 500 developed acres, with an additional 700 acres made up of wilderness. It's a great place for camping and hiking, and you'll find a wonderfully diverse landscape here, including the Tom Sneed Reservoir. You can learn more about Great Plains State Park's trail system from our friends at AllTrails.

If you're feeling a bit peckish after your outdoor adventures, don't miss a visit to Friendship Inn Restaurant. This family-owned hotel buffet serves up all-you-can-eat goodness with a side of friendly service.

Altus is such a delightful spot for a day or two away, particularly if you love the outdoors!

Rising country music hitmaker Jelly Roll kept his word to the late Toby Keith's family in his recent visit to the Oklahoma superstar's home-state charity.

The Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter toured the Toby Keith Foundation's OK Kids Korral recently in Oklahoma City ahead of the OKC stop on his "Beautifully Broken Tour."

The OK Kids Korral is a cost-free home-away-from-home for children with cancer seeking treatment in Oklahoma City.

"At the 'Toby Keith: American Icon' tribute, Jelly Roll told Toby's family he would like to visit OK Kids Korral when he was in town for his concert. True to his word, he and his team stopped by to sign autographs, take photos and make us all laugh," Juliet Nees-Bright, executive director of the Toby Keith Foundation, told The Oklahoman in an email.

"It has been a difficult year, but his visit truly lifted our spirits. We wrote a social media post and called him 'the real deal,' and we wholeheartedly mean it."

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What is the Toby Keith Foundation's OK Kids Korral?

An award-winning singer-songwriter, Jelly Roll also posted on social media about his trip to the OK Kids Korral.

"I've heard so much incredible stuff about this place. Really excited to go see the legacy that Toby Keith has left behind up here. Big part of his heart to give back," the “I Am Not Okay” hitmaker said in a video posted to his Instagram.

Keith, who died Feb. 5 at age 62 after a multiyear battle with stomach cancer, told The Oklahoman in 2019 that he considered the OK Kids Korral "probably my greatest accomplishment."

In 2006, he established the Toby Keith Foundation on a mission to build free, all-inclusive housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families. In late 2013, Keith, his family and supporters celebrated in Oklahoma City the grand opening of the $9 million OK Kids Korral, which houses Oklahoma children seeking cancer care at OU Medical Center.

The OK Kids Korral features high-end amenities like 12 overnight suites, four day rooms, a gourmet kitchen, spacious dining hall, theater room, indoor and outdoor playgrounds, a family resource center and more.

"I love how Oklahoma this whole thing is," Jelly Roll says in his Instagram video as he checks out the OK Kids Korral oil rig on the playground, along with the Route 66 indoor playroom.

Nominated for Entertainer of the Year at the Nov. 20 Country Music Association Awards, the Nashville, Tennessee, native, born Jason DeFord, toured the OK Kids Korral with Bright, along with Keith's daughter, Shelley Covel Rowland; son, Stelen Covel; and daughter-in-law, Haley Covel.

In an Instagram post, Stelen Covel expressed his appreciation for Jelly Roll taking time out of his busy tour schedule to visit the OK Kids Korral.

"This man is one of the hardest working people in the industry and is humble and caring enough to stop in and talk to the kids and families of the kids," Stelen Covel posted.

How has Jelly Roll been paying tribute to the late Toby Keith on his 2024 tour?

The Billboard’s 2023 Breakthrough Award winner, Jelly Roll was nominated for Best New Artist as well as Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Save Me," his hit duet with Lainey Wilson, at the 2024 Grammy Awards. Jelly Roll was one of three artists, alongside Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs, to score three Country Airplay No. 1 hits in 2023 and the first to do it with his first three singles.

“Save Me” — a confessional, vulnerable expression of self-doubt — set the stage for his new season of life and took him to new heights, including a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America on the heels of his 28-week reign at No. 1 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists chart. “Save Me” earned Jelly Roll his first Academy of Country Music win for Music Event of the Year, and he followed it up with the hits “Halfway To Hell,” “Need A Favor” and “Son of A Sinner.”

But Jelly Roll has made space in his tour set list for covers of hits by Shania Twain, Green Day and Oklahomans Garth Brooks and Keith, including the latter's breakout hit "Should've Been a Cowboy."

During his sold-out Nov. 14 concert at OKC's Paycom Center, Jelly Roll — who previously played a packed Paycom Center in September 2023 — invited his opening act Ernest back to the stage to belt out "Should've Been a Cowboy" and Keith's 2002 hit "Who's Your Daddy?"

"We have had the honor of honoring the late, great Toby Keith, the legend, every night on this tour. But it feels really different doing it in Oklahoma City," Jelly Roll can be seen and heard telling Ernest in a fan video from his most recent OKC concert.

During the sold-out NBC concert special "Toby Keith: American Icon," Jelly Roll provided a moving highlight with his cover of another of the Norman-based superstar's 2002 hits, "My List."

Jelly Roll's willingness to share his troubled past — he's served time in prison and has admitted to dealing drugs in his younger days — has allowed his redemption story to resonate with fans on a global scale. He has donated a recording studio at the juvenile detention center he served in as a teen and made visits to jails and rehab centers, along with nonprofit organizations like the Toby Keith Foundation's OKC Kids Korral, across the country.

"I'm hoping, especially in Toby's absence, the country music community will do this every time one of us plays here," Jelly Roll says in his Instagram video at the OK Kids Korral.

"Go up, do what he did, be as big as he was: That's the kind of legacy you really want to leave in life."

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The architectural marvel of Oklahoma Contemporary’s Folding Light facility is highlighted in a new Smithsonian documentary episode, and the downtown Oklahoma City art center hosted a special screening of the segment on Wednesday night.

To celebrate the release of the featured episode in the “How Did They Build That?” series, guests also toasted Oklahoma Contemporary founder Christian Keesee and the building’s architect Rand Elliott with a glass of champagne.

The show explores the architectural achievements behind some of the world’s iconic buildings and gets into their design, engineering and construction. The episode that features Oklahoma Contemporary is nestled in Season 3’s episode titled “Jungles and Bricks” and is available on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video (for purchase).

“Folding light is a symbol of what is possible when we invest in culture and creativity. It reflects the effort the spirit of Oklahoma City, a city full of resilience, innovation and collaboration,” said Executive Director Trent Riley as he welcomed people to the screening, praised Keesee for his vision in starting the art center and bringing Folding Light to fruition and introduced Elliott. “We are thrilled to see our story represented on our platform as a steam as the Smithsonian channel.”

I loved seeing Oklahoma City take center stage in the film for a big audience – the show prominently features Oklahoma City’s skyline and shots of downtown before honing in on the unusual building. Narrators marveled at how there are no right angles in the entire 30,000-square-foot building, which are generally a staple in sound design. They also remained in awe about the 16,800 reflective “aluminum fins” that reflect the diverse colors in Oklahoma’s sky and how they vacillate to mitigate winds and to keep the building cooler.

Elliott said he has taken about 10,000 photographs of Oklahoma Contemporary in all kinds of light – sunrise, sunset, blue skies and stormy ones.

“It’s all about the reflections,” he said. “This building is called folding light for an obvious reason: We try to capture the light.”

Elliott is the architect behind many of Oklahoma City’s iconic buildings, and they reflect his love for the state and the community. Wednesday, he praised his team that made Folding light happen, Keesee for championing it and the community for supporting it.

Riley said that the art center’s exhibitions, performances, workshops and artist talks fulfill its mission to enrich lives and celebrate the power of artistic expression.

“Oklahoma Contemporary was designed to be a place where everyone in our community can come together to explore art, ignite your imaginations and share meaningful experiences,” Riley said.

See more about current exhibits and art classes at okcontemp.org.

Tickets on sale

The Criterion and the Zoo Amphitheatre recently announced big shows coming next year, and tickets are on sale this week. The Violent Femmes are coming to the Criterion March 23, and ticket sales open at 10 a.m. Friday at vfemmes.com/tour. And The Goo Goo Dolls with Dashboard Confessional are bringing their show to the Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheatre September 11, with presale tickets at okczooamp.com.

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