The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber reports the average Thunder game accounted for roughly $1.2 million in direct spending during each of the 41 home games during the 2010-2011 season. That only included money spent within the arena’s walls on things like tickets, souvenirs, food and beverages. That number does not include indirect spending, which accounts for meals, hotels, gas, and other items purchased by fans from near and far, before and after games.

A lockout will result in the NBA possibly having a curtailed schedule, or not playing any games at all next season. Coupled with renovations to the Oklahoma City Arena that will keep it closed all summer and into October, Oklahoma City and business owners could stand to lose all of that anticipated revenue and more.

“If it was just a few games, it would be minimal,” says Mayor Mick Cornett. “But if it was two-thirds of the season, it would be significant. It would be tens of millions of dollars.”

The lockout may also spell tough times for businesses that have come to depend on that additional revenue as a direct result of events at the arena, from basketball to concerts.

“We have been down this road before,” says Avis Scaramucci, owner of Nonna's Euro-American Ristorante and Bar and president of the Bricktown Association.

In 2009, the arena, then known as the Ford Center, was closed during the summer for the first round of taxpayer-approved renovations. Rather than lively nights downtown, the arena remained dark. Business owners in Bricktown were prepared for that closure – and the closure this year from May 26 to Oct.1 – but knew that events and basketball would return.

With an uncertain NBA future, Scaramucci said no one in Bricktown is closing up shop, but if the team doesn’t play, it will affect the bottom line of many in the entertainment district.

“It is always really wonderful when we have all of these added activities occurring,” Scaramucci said. “But to not have, potentially, as many games as we might have otherwise, of course it will make a difference."

Scaramucci said many successful Bricktown businesses were open and doing well long before the Thunder arrived, and will continue to draw business whether there are basketball games or not. Despite what happens with the NBA, the arena will host WWE Monday Night Raw, Taylor Swift, Women of Faith 2011 and the 76th Annual All College Basketball Classic from October to December, in addition to events at the Cox Center.

"We can never get 100 percent dependent on one certain entity to bring us all of our business,” Scaramucci said.

Brittany Leemaster, events and marketing director at Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse in Bricktown, said while they have seen a dip in business with the arena closed this summer, the restaurant still derives much of its business year-round from meetings, conventions and events at the Cox Center.

“You’re going to definitely see a slight decrease in business, but I think our city does a great job of keeping events down here whether it be at the arena or the convention center,” she said.

Cornett said aside from the direct and indirect spending the city stands to lose if the lockout is not resolved, losing a season or part of a season would not reflect poorly on the city and its efforts to support the team.

“The intangibles have been enormous in raising the city’s exposure,” Cornett says. “It’s a branding opportunity that’s worldwide, and it allows people to associate our city with something positive on a national and international basis.”

How much money the city and businesses could stand to lose, however, hangs in the balance of the league and its players, Cornett says.

 “It depends a great deal on how long they don’t play,” he says.

Additional reporting by Kelley Chambers.

Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook shoots over former New Orleans Hornets player Melvin Ely. Credit: Shannon Cornman.