Drillers, baby, Drillers
Take it from someone who knows: All the hype about the new ONEOK Field in downtown Tulsa? 
The joint lives up to every bit of it. And then some. And then some more.
I was a little skeptical, especially since leading up to opening night, I edited what seemed like millions of stories touting the new park. I sat in the newsroom every day, reading and thinking, ‘surely this thing can’t be that great.’ I mean, as a huge baseball fan, I was actually quite fond of the old Drillers Stadium at 15th and Yale… then I attended opening night of the inaugural season at ONEOK Field.
The new digs made me forget about nostalgic Expo Square before I even walked through the gates.
With the cityscape as a backdrop, the Tulsa Drillers are now showcasing minor league talent in a major way. I’ve seen a lot of professional ballparks, and just like a representative for the parent Colorado Rockies said earlier this week, “The only difference is the second and third decks.”
There’s not a bad seat in the house, folks. And that’s no cliche — it is a fact.
I was in awe, and not just because of the gorgeous skyline views. The entire facility – from the grassy berms to the quality of the concessions on the concourse to the energy of the Drillers’ promotional staff — this is a place for families. You don’t really have to be a baseball fan to have a good time, but you may leave with a rooting interest — in both the Drillers and the revitalization efforts of the downtown district.
I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time to give those sleepy, old downtown warehouses a wake-up call and an invitation to join the party. Maybe the foul balls will jolt a little life into them as well.
—————————–
**Below is a sample of photos I snapped at the grand opening. And, boy, was it grand! There was a country music superstar, a marriage proposal, the son of a future Hall of Famer, tons of food and kegs of cold beverages. For my entire slide show, please click here!
{Wanna know more about my lifelong obsession with all that is baseball? Click here to read, “Today, I want to live here: The ballpark“}
All photos are property of fancybuffalo.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited by creative licensing laws.
Related posts:
Tags: baseball, i {heart} oklahoma, tulsa
