According to Tom Anderson, special projects manager for Oklahoma City, every Thunder game pours $2.25 million into the local economy.

So with eight home games lost in to the lockout, the city of Oklahoma City lost out on an estimated $18 million in direct spending. NBA cities lose out on big money.

Anderson pointed that some of money gets redistributed within a city during a work stoppage, but overall levels are still impacted by lost wages, indirect spending and any potential multiplier effect.