View Full Version : Bricktown Ballpark



Pages : 1 2 [3] 4 5 6

Pete
04-27-2015, 08:45 AM
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ballpark042415.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ballpark042415b.jpg

SoonerDave
04-27-2015, 10:18 AM
With that nice strip video board in LF, do they even need the CF scoreboard? IMO, that scoreboard has always been way undersized for a stadium the size of the Brick. Seems like they could (if they aren't already) build a simple inning scoreboard presentation graphic on that board and just not bother with the old one...?

ourulz2000
04-27-2015, 11:14 AM
Hate seeing those tarps. I know that going to ballpark isn't what its used to, but I remember going back in 2000, 2001, 2002 when there would regularly be 10k on a weekend series on friday, saturday night.

Average attendance in 2005 was 7,700: Pacific Coast League Attendance | Pacific Coast League Stats (http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?y=2005&t=l_att&lid=112&sid=l112)

Average attendance past few years is under 6k.

I also think that going away from the Rangers didn't help. Some pretty decent Rangers came through OKC then you could watch the Rangers when they would play their games on Cox.

http://oi57.tinypic.com/25t9eys.jpg

onthestrip
04-27-2015, 12:34 PM
I wonder what the holdup on leasing the former Coach's space is? Too high of rent? Not enough TI money for tenant (it would need a lot of renovations)? Prospective restaurant folks dont like the fact that its not ground level?

Its always had a cool setting over looking the ballpark and with some interior work it could become the best downtown sports bar. Come to think of it, is there a true sports bar in downtown? Does Urban Johnnies count? And I havent ever been into Hudsons. Do these places even have the NFL Sunday Ticket or NBA League Pass?

dankrutka
04-27-2015, 08:21 PM
Since that space isn't at street level I think it's going to have to be a destination spot of some sort. A RePUBlic would do incredible there, but so would Buffalo Wild Wings. While I prefer the former, I'd just like to see something go there that can succeed.

Just the facts
04-27-2015, 11:10 PM
I hope their "feasibility study" doesn't include tarping off more seats. I think that looks crappy.....just my opinion.

Agree 100%.

zookeeper
04-27-2015, 11:33 PM
Agree 100%.

I agree, too. I hate it. Especially with our having the second most expensive season tickets in the league. I did some research on this before I made a post about the season ticket packages a couple of months back in the Dodgers thread. Some of the teams in the PCL fill up sections like that with season tickets as low as $375 and then still have their expensive packages in the great seats. Why not?

Love the new Dodgers affiliation though. Wow.

ourulz2000
05-31-2016, 09:46 AM
Pic from the weekend. Which new buildings will be visible beyond the outfield by 2017?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjisKsWUYAA3AVQ.jpg

Laramie
05-31-2016, 03:35 PM
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is a beautiful venue. We may need to renovate it. Would $10 million (MAPS IV) help replace the right sideline upper deck seating and restore the park back to its original fervor?

Zuplar
05-31-2016, 04:06 PM
I've always really like that it's downtown and for that matter, our arena too. Watching the Thunder game last night as they pan outside and you see Oracle and their baseball stadium, what looks like out in the middle of nowhere to some degree (I know it's not, still) and in a see of parking, it kind of makes you go that's all there is to do there. Whereas I can go downtown before the game, Dodgers or Thunder, and have a whole bunch of entertainment choices. This is something I maybe took for granted before, but am coming to appreciate. Granted there still needs to be sufficient parking, but garages will do and can usually be made to enhance the area without creating a huge negative impact.

Bellaboo
05-31-2016, 04:33 PM
Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is a beautiful venue. We may need to renovate it. Would $10 million (MAPS IV) help replace the right sideline upper deck seating and restore the park back to its original fervor?

Nothing wrong with the seating other than getting butts in the seats, so they supplement with advertising covers.

Laramie
05-31-2016, 04:51 PM
Nothing wrong with the seating other than getting butts in the seats, so they supplement with advertising covers.

Heard that they were using seats under the tarped area to replace current seating in other areas of the stadium that were defective.

We know the value the advertisements the tarps bring.

ourulz2000
05-31-2016, 07:53 PM
Avg attendance by season

2005: 7,744
2006: 7,422
2007: 7,567
2008: 6,716
2009: 5,675
2010: 5,479
2011: 5,262
2012: 5,633
2013: 5,797
2014: 6,045
2015: 6,941

OKCRT
05-31-2016, 08:07 PM
Avg attendance by season

2005: 7,744
2006: 7,422
2007: 7,567
2008: 6,716
2009: 5,675
2010: 5,479
2011: 5,262
2012: 5,633
2013: 5,797
2014: 6,045
2015: 6,941

Only so much you can do to attract fans to minor league games. Free Hot Dogs and $1.00 beer would prob. fill it up. Even many MLB teams are struggling at the gate these days.

bchris02
05-31-2016, 09:18 PM
Avg attendance by season

2005: 7,744
2006: 7,422
2007: 7,567
2008: 6,716
2009: 5,675
2010: 5,479
2011: 5,262
2012: 5,633
2013: 5,797
2014: 6,045
2015: 6,941

Looks like there was a huge dropoff when the Thunder came to town, and then after the Dodgers rebrand, attendance is headed back up again.

catch22
05-31-2016, 09:51 PM
I love minor league games. I really should have gone to more in OKC. It's super cheap entertainment, and on a nice warm summer night it's a very relaxing setting. Even with the very weak beer that is the equivalent of water, it's still a great bargain.

ourulz2000
06-01-2016, 07:59 AM
Looks like there was a huge dropoff when the Thunder came to town, and then after the Dodgers rebrand, attendance is headed back up again.

I think it was the economy more than anything that made the drop in numbers. A lot of baseball fans go that aren't necessarily basketball fans. I remember going in the early 2000s and the weekend games would be at capacity. Got to see some former Ranger greats play when they were rehabbing and Sammy Sosa when he was rehabbing for Iowa.

If only they would have built it facing the other direction....

https://www.adventureroad.com/media/733284/ar_destination_bricktown-ballpark.jpg

Pete
06-01-2016, 09:19 AM
If only they would have built it facing the other direction....

You really can't build a ballpark facing west otherwise the batters have the sun in their eyes.

Laramie
06-01-2016, 10:09 AM
You really can't build a ballpark facing west otherwise the batters have the sun in their eyes.

Good point!

A legitimate concern with another stadium in Oklahoma (Stillwater) where there's an east-west football stadium--the sun.

Zuplar
06-01-2016, 10:59 AM
I love minor league games. I really should have gone to more in OKC. It's super cheap entertainment, and on a nice warm summer night it's a very relaxing setting. Even with the very weak beer that is the equivalent of water, it's still a great bargain.

Very little difference between here and other states with so called "high point" beer.

https://m.reddit.com/r/tulsa/comments/175hh7/some_common_myths_about_beer_and_liquor_in/

CS_Mike
06-01-2016, 11:25 AM
Very little difference between here and other states with so called "high point" beer.

https://m.reddit.com/r/tulsa/comments/175hh7/some_common_myths_about_beer_and_liquor_in/

There's not much difference in alcohol content, but flavor-wise, low point beers seem to rarely measure up (in my opinion anyways). Even low-point beers produced by craft brewers such as COOP still can't seem to get past the slightly watered-down flavor. What's there is still a vast improvement over the beers put out by the large domestic brewers, but they still seem to fall short of the high-point beers put out by the same craft brewery. But maybe that's just intentional to discourage cannibalization of sales of their high-point beers.

catch22
06-01-2016, 12:18 PM
Yes, I think the light beer is very watery. I like a strong hoppy beer. Like I said, ballpark beer is part of the experience and is a relaxing way to spend a summer evening.

Zuplar
06-01-2016, 03:57 PM
I tend to need some water at a baseball game when it's warm out, so drinking light beer is a 2-fer, lol.

bchris02
06-01-2016, 04:30 PM
There's not much difference in alcohol content, but flavor-wise, low point beers seem to rarely measure up (in my opinion anyways). Even low-point beers produced by craft brewers such as COOP still can't seem to get past the slightly watered-down flavor. What's there is still a vast improvement over the beers put out by the large domestic brewers, but they still seem to fall short of the high-point beers put out by the same craft brewery. But maybe that's just intentional to discourage cannibalization of sales of their high-point beers.

I think it's because there is only so much you can do and still keep it under 4% ABV. Some European imports that are naturally below 4% ABV lack the "kick" that stronger beers have. Honestly if you are looking for good tasting 3.2 beer, Royal Bavaria's house-brewed beers are probably the best I've had.

As for the supposed "negligible difference" between Oklahoma's 3.2 beers and other states, I really wish people would stop bringing that up as it only applies if you are drinking domestic light beer i.e. Bud Light, Coors Light, etc. If you drink full-strength Budweiser for instance, there is quite a difference, in both flavor and potency, between a 3.2 Oklahoma Budweiser and the equivalent product in other states that comes in at about 5%. The difference becomes even greater with more potent beers like Blue Moon and PBR. The conversation isn't about just not being able to get as drunk on 3.2 beer. It's also about flavor and the quality of the product.

dankrutka
06-01-2016, 04:44 PM
As for the supposed "negligible difference" between Oklahoma's 3.2 beers and other states, I really wish people would stop bringing that up as it only applies if you are drinking domestic light beer i.e. Bud Light, Coors Light, etc. If you drink full-strength Budweiser for instance, there is quite a difference, in both flavor and potency, between a 3.2 Oklahoma Budweiser and the equivalent product in other states that comes in at about 5%. The difference becomes even greater with more potent beers like Blue Moon and PBR. The conversation isn't about just not being able to get as drunk on 3.2 beer. It's also about flavor and the quality of the product.

I live in Texas and while I usually drink craft beers, when I do have domestic beers in Texas and Oklahoma, I cannot tell any major difference. That's just my experience, but if you mixed up a box of Oklahoma and Texas Coors' Lights, there is no way I could tell a difference. It'd actually be fun to try this experiment and see how you do... ;)

bchris02
06-01-2016, 05:03 PM
I live in Texas and while I usually drink craft beers, when I do have domestic beers in Texas and Oklahoma, I cannot tell any major difference. That's just my experience, but if you mixed up a box of Oklahoma and Texas Coors' Lights, there is no way I could tell a difference. It'd actually be fun to try this experiment and see how you do... ;)

I would agree with Coors Light, but not Budweiser, Coors (full flavored), Blue Moon, PBR, etc.

OkieHornet
06-01-2016, 05:09 PM
minor league baseball and cheap beer seem to go together pretty well. thirsty thursdays at dodgers game makes it happen ($2 bud, miller products)

SOONER8693
06-01-2016, 06:46 PM
I agree with Dan on the beer in Oklahoma and Texass, can't tell a bit of difference. The Thursday night beer at the "Redhawks" games used to be $1. When the youngest daughter was a cheerleader in high school, the wife and I worked concession stands as a fund raiser for cheer squad. On Thursday's we would be assigned a beer kiosk. We were drawing beer non-stop from about an hour before the game until we had to stop in 7-8 inning or so. I guess the days of $1 beer left when the Dodger organization came to town.

2Lanez
06-08-2016, 09:27 PM
They're up to $2 on Thursdays, but you get a full 16 oz., instead of the 12 oz. you got in the Redhawks days.

SOONER8693
06-08-2016, 10:38 PM
They're up to $2 on Thursdays, but you get a full 16 oz., instead of the 12 oz. you got in the Redhawks days.
Well that is a plus.

Stinger
08-15-2017, 03:55 PM
Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame to Move to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark

http://kfor.com/2017/08/15/oklahoma-sports-hall-of-fame-to-move-to-chickasaw-bricktown-ballpark/

Probably good that the Sports HofF is going to Bricktown, but sad the restaurant space - with the great deck - won't be occupied by a restaurant. Hopefully, they can find something unique to do with it.

Urbanized
08-15-2017, 07:03 PM
Great fit. As fantastic as that deck space is, it is hard for a restaurant because of the removal from and lack of relationship with the street. The perception is that it is too far away, up stairs, difficult to get to, and...is the restaurant even open? Just a tough sell. I'd love to see the Dodgers and City RFP the plaza for redevelopment. If there were buildings brought out to the street and perhaps a corridor/breezeway back to the entrance to what wil now be the Sports HOF it would be great for all concerned. The new buildings would also be prime for rooftop.

dankrutka
08-15-2017, 08:09 PM
What if the plaza area closest to the sidewalk was lined with a shipping container sized streetwall (it doesn't have use actually shipping containers; small brick structures would do) that could provide a place for artists, local merchants, and others to rent out for a small price? This could create a vibrancy with alternating concepts that wouldn't take up much space. Not sure if this is a tenable idea because I haven't really seen it done elsewhere.

Ross MacLochness
08-16-2017, 08:48 AM
What if the plaza area closest to the sidewalk was lined with a shipping container sized streetwall (it doesn't have use actually shipping containers; small brick structures would do) that could provide a place for artists, local merchants, and others to rent out for a small price? This could create a vibrancy with alternating concepts that wouldn't take up much space. Not sure if this is a tenable idea because I haven't really seen it done elsewhere.

well a variety on this concept is being built in the parking lot across from all about cha, there is a small brick kiosk that's under construction that will sell tickets to the lot as well as other things - not sure but something like coffee, snacks, etc...

If you look at old pictures of the Colcord (there is one in the Underground that comes to mind) It had a long but shallow newspaper stand that occupied the street wall where the hotel is setback.

I love the idea of having small, even temporary lease-able spaces like the pop up shops that could line the plaza you mentioned (which is pretty underutilized when there is no beach) and surface parking lots. If they are on Parking lots you could still have your damn parking (lol) as well as have a continuous streetwall and places to buy interesting things.

shawnw
08-16-2017, 08:53 AM
but but but... bricktown beach...

dankrutka
08-16-2017, 11:12 AM
well a variety on this concept is being built in the parking lot across from all about cha, there is a small brick kiosk that's under construction that will sell tickets to the lot as well as other things - not sure but something like coffee, snacks, etc...

If you look at old pictures of the Colcord (there is one in the Underground that comes to mind) It had a long but shallow newspaper stand that occupied the street wall where the hotel is setback.

I love the idea of having small, even temporary lease-able spaces like the pop up shops that could line the plaza you mentioned (which is pretty underutilized when there is no beach) and surface parking lots. If they are on Parking lots you could still have your damn parking (lol) as well as have a continuous streetwall and places to buy interesting things.

^^^
Yes, all this! And the buildings would be shallow, thus leaving room for Bricktown Beach to stick around. :) I imagine this could be a great spot for artists, local merchants, local crafts industry, OKC tourism, local breweries (even if they can't sell alcohol - they could advertise and point people to breweries), etc. It would kind of serve as a small festival area any time it was full. The spaces could be for a small charge or free with scheduling and limits on time (not sure if that's hours, days, or weeks). Anyway, it's an idea I've had for lots of vacant plazas or holes in otherwise strong urban streetwalls.

Urbanized
08-16-2017, 11:18 AM
While I like the idea in concept, I think that big plot would be much better served with a retail arcade leading to the museum entrance. A restaurant (or even two) could be located in one of the storefronts, and a rooftop (or two) would be amazing in this location.

shawnw
08-16-2017, 11:20 AM
Except the other rooftops nearby might sue you for obstructing their view.... :-P

KingOfTheNorth
08-16-2017, 06:03 PM
Wasn't the restaurant once a Coaches, like the one in Norman? I loved eating in there as a kid.

Ross MacLochness
08-17-2017, 08:50 AM
While I like the idea in concept, I think that big plot would be much better served with a retail arcade leading to the museum entrance. A restaurant (or even two) could be located in one of the storefronts, and a rooftop (or two) would be amazing in this location.

great idea

Teo9969
08-18-2017, 08:31 PM
Except the other rooftops nearby might sue you for obstructing their view.... :-P

It's OKC, so I might actually be willing to hold my breath on that one...

NIMUD is a real thing here: NotInMyUrbanDistrict

shawnw
09-21-2018, 09:48 AM
Ballpark is having a monster truck event. I expressed concern about the field. Got a response from the Dodgers themselves stating the field was being entirely replaced for next season, so that's nice!

PaddyShack
09-21-2018, 09:56 AM
Ballpark is having a monster truck event. I expressed concern about the field. Got a response from the Dodgers themselves stating the field was being entirely replaced for next season, so that's nice!

Yeah I had the same thought and someone mentioned that it might help offset the cost of removing the old field. Are they not also having a bull riding event around the monster truck show?

Ross MacLochness
09-21-2018, 10:12 AM
The dodgers are doing these events only because they are getting a new field.

Pete
10-19-2018, 02:36 PM
On the city council docket for next week is approval of $1.879 million (!!) for a new field to come from the general obligation bond.

shawnw
10-19-2018, 02:59 PM
It's a city owned facility and the turf was due for replacement, which is why they let monster trucks on it recently.

Mr. Blue Sky
10-19-2018, 03:00 PM
On the city council docket for next week is approval of $1.879 million (!!) for a new field to come from the general obligation bond.

Hmmmmm.... gotta love the free market, huh? For such a conservative city, every other business in town runs to government to help pay the bills. But when we ask government for money for mental health care - it's not there. I actually had someone say to me, "Where's the return?" Think about that a minute. Apparently the only kind of "return" many can relate to is monetary. This, unfortunately, adds to what makes Oklahoma City, and our state, fall so behind in QOL rankings. I know that's not the topic here, and I realize it's a GO bond, but just sayin'. Should be a really, really nice field.

EDIT: I understand it's a city owned facility. I understand the need for maintenance. But the primary tenant I'm sure is having a big say in what kind of "field" they get. If I rent a house, I don't get to tell the landlord I want real hardwood floors versus laminate. Pushing $2,000,000.00 for a new field at the ballpark sounds like the landlord is being more than generous.

shawnw
10-19-2018, 03:02 PM
I don't know this for a fact, but I suspect it's not just the top turf getting replaced. After all these years I'd bet there are drainage issues and sprinkler line issues and such that they'll probably rectify as part of this effort. These are things I'd expect the city to be responsible for no matter who the tenant was.

jonny d
10-19-2018, 03:22 PM
Hmmmmm.... gotta love the free market, huh? For such a conservative city, every other business in town runs to government to help pay the bills. But when we ask government for money for mental health care - it's not there. I actually had someone say to me, "Where's the return?" Think about that a minute. Apparently the only kind of "return" many can relate to is monetary. This, unfortunately, adds to what makes Oklahoma City, and our state, fall so behind in QOL rankings. I know that's not the topic here, and I realize it's a GO bond, but just sayin'. Should be a really, really nice field.

EDIT: I understand it's a city owned facility. I understand the need for maintenance. But the primary tenant I'm sure is having a big say in what kind of "field" they get. If I rent a house, I don't get to tell the landlord I want real hardwood floors versus laminate. Pushing $2,000,000.00 for a new field at the ballpark sounds like the landlord is being more than generous.

You do realize a field is much more than grass and dirt, right? Fields normally include drainage, sprinklers, etc.

SoonerDave
10-19-2018, 03:34 PM
I'm no expert, but I suspect the costs related to the complete replacement of a natural, at-or-near major league quality baseball playing field is decidedly non trivial. You'll take out not only the existing sod, but likely a few inches of substrate, replace it, add or amend a drainage layer of some sort, then roll out several thousand square feet of sod - to say nothing of rolling/leveling, and (minimally) first-time fertilization. I don't suspect any of that comes cheap.

jn1780
10-19-2018, 05:01 PM
2 million to replace a field that has lasted 20 years doesn't sound bad at all really. Its not like their changing it out because its not pretty. Its being replaced because its costing more to do daily maintenance on it because of its poor substructure and irrigation system. Really saving money in the long run.

citywokchinesefood
10-19-2018, 06:09 PM
In addition to replacing the turf on the field the city really needs to buy some turf floor panels. The ballpark could be a fantastic concert venue and flooring to protect the new turf and open up additional usage of the space would be a boon to the facility.

gopokes88
10-19-2018, 10:49 PM
Hmmmmm.... gotta love the free market, huh? For such a conservative city, every other business in town runs to government to help pay the bills. But when we ask government for money for mental health care - it's not there. I actually had someone say to me, "Where's the return?" Think about that a minute. Apparently the only kind of "return" many can relate to is monetary. This, unfortunately, adds to what makes Oklahoma City, and our state, fall so behind in QOL rankings. I know that's not the topic here, and I realize it's a GO bond, but just sayin'. Should be a really, really nice field.

EDIT: I understand it's a city owned facility. I understand the need for maintenance. But the primary tenant I'm sure is having a big say in what kind of "field" they get. If I rent a house, I don't get to tell the landlord I want real hardwood floors versus laminate. Pushing $2,000,000.00 for a new field at the ballpark sounds like the landlord is being more than generous.

No you don’t but if the floor fell into such disrepair that it was becoming unusable you would press him for a new floor. Which is the case here for the dodgers

catch22
10-20-2018, 01:29 AM
I’m failing to see the controversy?

shawnw
10-31-2018, 01:18 AM
Status

https://twitter.com/okc_dodgers/status/1057348409655472128

Pete
11-12-2018, 06:57 AM
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ballpark111218.jpg

Pete
11-15-2018, 07:56 AM
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ballpark111218b.jpg

mugofbeer
11-17-2018, 12:41 AM
I’m failing to see the controversy?

I'm guessing he thinks the Dodgers should pay for their own turf replacement. I guess he didn't see the situation where the KC Chiefs and the Rams were to play in Mexico City this Sunday. The turf was so bad they moved the game back to LA. The teams don't do turf, the stadium owners do.

Dob Hooligan
11-17-2018, 10:06 AM
That reminds me, I think we are a Triple A city. By that I mean that Major League Baseball has contracted with Oklahoma City to guarantee that Triple A ball will be played here. For as long as the contract term a team will be here. Even if the Dodgers move, MLB has to place a team in OKC. OKC has to maintain the stadium in a Triple A fashion.

shawnw
11-17-2018, 02:28 PM
Unlike the past, where there were local owners, the Dodgers bought our AAA franchise.