i think 9-10k is probably about right. and in a sport where teams have trouble getting 2k fans to games in some places... i think that's pretty dang good numbers. and is a big reason why the WCWS will stay in OKC and no one else even wants to try and build a facility for it.

Exactly. What a lot of people don't realize is that some schools have nicer, somewhat newer ballparks that seat ...maybe 1,000 people. And they don't always get packed.

Building a same-or- bigger single-use venue like ASA would be all-but a financial impossibility or at least a tremendous impracticality. And that completely discounts the fact that OKC has been a softball destination for, what, five *decades* now, well predating OU's presence in the sport.

Not sure if this is upthread, but ASA has a contract for WCWS through 2035.

The mayor tweeted that Devon Park is 2.5 times larger than the next largest softball stadium in the World. I'm sure this is seating capacity.

Not sure if this is upthread, but ASA has a contract for WCWS through 2035.

The mayor tweeted that Devon Park is 2.5 times larger than the next largest softball stadium in the World. I'm sure this is seating capacity.

and I would expect around 2030 another round of improvements gets slated and the contract is extended to 2050

I 100% believe Austin will. They have been spending money at will for UT sports and for NIL. Their coach hates that the WCWS is in Oklahoma City. Austin will no doubt be building one by 2035, IMO. And probably develop the heck out of the surrounding area, so it isn't in a deserted part of the city with no restaurants or bars or hotels.

This may come as a shock to UT, but they don't ALWAYS get what they want. It will (probably) be in OKC forever. Especially now that OU is in the SEC, the most or tied for most powerful conference in sports.

^

Yes, Texas is in for a rude awakening now that they are in the SEC.

Can no longer bully everyone into getting what they want when they want it.

It was built in 1987. Downtown might as well have been BFE back then but the adventure district definitely isn’t now. It’s literally 5 miles from the center of downtown between downtown and one of the cities largest suburbs.

As long as the city keeps investing in the stadium, the college softball tournament isn’t going anywhere, especially not just because there aren’t enough bars and restaurants nearby for the one massive event it hosts every year when it’s only 10 minutes from downtown and might at some point have a direct rail connection.. No one else is building a huge, expensive softball stadium and complex and especially isn’t doing it on 40+ acres in the center of an urban area. It would be great to keep developing that area, and it’s slowly happening, but to act like we’re at any risk of losing the tournament, especially due to lack of development near a stadium that is 5-10 minutes in three directions from a ton of hotels/restaurants/etc, right now is just ridiculous. You are creating a problem that doesn’t and won’t ever exist unless the city decides to stop putting money into the complex.

Not to mention it's a perfect area for kids being next to the Zoo and Science museum

^

Yes, Texas is in for a rude awakening now that they are in the SEC.

Can no longer bully everyone into getting what they want when they want it.

They've gotten very used to bullying their way around in the Big 12, the SEC is very collaborative and will only support what's best for the SEC as a whole. They won't do something to benefit UT because UT is big mad a site is too "close" to OU.
That doesn't even include going to the NCAA to get moved after that. NCAA wouldn't even consider it if the SEC didn't buy in and they won't.

They've gotten very used to bullying their way around in the Big 12, the SEC is very collaborative and will only support what's best for the SEC as a whole. They won't do something to benefit UT because UT is big mad a site is too "close" to OU.
That doesn't even include going to the NCAA to get moved after that. NCAA wouldn't even consider it if the SEC didn't buy in and they won't.

Yeah let’s move it away from the facility that’s hosted it for 37 years and so big and nice that it’s being considered as an option to host the summer Olympic despite being halfway across the country from the host city (the fact this is even the remotest of possibilities really says everything about the national/international opinion of those facilities). Big mad Texas is my favorite Texas lol.

Not to mention it's a perfect area for kids being next to the Zoo and Science museum

I've always thought that the Adventure District would be perfect for something like ICON Park in Orlando. Would be a great way to use a chunk of the Remington parking lot, assuming a garage or two could be built.

Oklahoma City built the WCWS and made it into an annual destination. Centrally located, it is in a convenient travel location to get to OKC from all parts of the U. S., especially the schools known for softball like Alabama, UCLA, California, Arizona, ASU, Florida, Tennessee, Michigan, Washington and Fresno State.

Can't see any responsible Austin billionaire building a $50 million softball stadium complex just to lure the WCWS away from Oklahoma City. There's roughly $40 million ($27.5 million recent upgrades) invested in the stadium complex which maintains 3 practice fields and the nearby National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum; also the OKC Zoo, Omniplex and Firefighter's Museum are in the area. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a short drive from the stadium. We definitely will need some hotels in the area to support Remington Park and build the area for tourism in the most beautiful area of topography in our city with the natural formations of molded rock, red clay near the Deep Fork area and Persimmon Hill.

Florida 9 vs Oklahoma 3 (Elimination game 11 a.m. June 4)
Texas 1 vs Stanford 0 - Attendance: 11,465 - Texas advances to finals.

https://www.theemblemsource.com/cdn/shop/files/7-114389-EMB-WCWSNCAA2024WomensSoftballCollegeWorldSeries_850x. jpg?v=1714499830

Oklahoma 6 vs Florida 5 (8 innings) Attendance: 11,166
No. 2 - Oklahoma advances to the finals vs No.1 - Texas

Women's College World Series finals 2024 schedule:



Wednesday, June 5
Game 1 Time (CT) - 7 p.m. - ESPN

Thursday, June 6
Game 2 Time (CT) - 7 p.m. - ESPN

Friday, June 7 (If neccessary)
Game 3 Time (CT) - 7 p.m. ESPN

Oklahoma 8 vs Texas 3 - Attendance: 12,300 - Oklahoma lead best of three game series 1 - 0

Box score https://www.espn.com/college-softball/boxscore/_/gameId/401672951

Kelly Maxwell is legit. Going to be a tough game tonight

Ok, I am an OU fan through and through, but is there any part of any of you that was ok with OU not going so more people from out of town would be here and spend more money here? No? Just me? Got it...

Ok, I am an OU fan through and through, but is there any part of any of you that was ok with OU not going so more people from out of town would be here and spend more money here? No? Just me? Got it...

Just you. The rest of us are actual fans.

Ok, I am an OU fan through and through, but is there any part of any of you that was ok with OU not going so more people from out of town would be here and spend more money here? No? Just me? Got it...

Catch 22. OU is by far the most popular softball team in America. You can't guarantee that fans from other teams will come here. So them not being here could be a negative.

Not a guarantee fans wouldn't show up. But having OU there helps a ton in getting that stadium filled up.

Ok, I am an OU fan through and through, but is there any part of any of you that was ok with OU not going so more people from out of town would be here and spend more money here? No? Just me? Got it...

that's the great thing about this format though... the first few days, all of those fans are here, even if OU made it... they still come here and they still fill the stands, and they still spend all of their money while here. then as teams are eliminated. those fans mostly start to leave. as i have been going to WCWS games consistently for the past 12 years now. i can say that i have met around 30-40 people who come every year even if their team didn't make the WCWS. it is their annual vacation.

that's the great thing about this format though... the first few days, all of those fans are here, even if OU made it... they still come here and they still fill the stands, and they still spend all of their money while here. then as teams are eliminated. those fans mostly start to leave. as i have been going to WCWS games consistently for the past 12 years now. i can say that i have met around 30-40 people who come every year even if their team didn't make the WCWS. it is their annual vacation.

Now IMO this is a good sign Oklahoma City has built the WCWS into something that benefits our city economic wise, much like the events held at the SFA. That's why I have no problem with the fairgrounds receiving MAPS money because we need to keep those horse shows in OKC.---they add to more out-of-town money spent on hotels and local retailers.

Noticed this year that the attendance seems to show a big boost (looks like every session topped 10,000). OU and OSU both made the cut for the top eight teams--is this why there's an attendance boost? Well, anyway let's see what the official attendance figures are for 2024. The city needs to put some MAPS funds (besides bonds) into Devon Park softball complex. This event promotes OKC much like the NBA Thunder adds more appeal to OKC being a member of the NBA (not as equals) . Recall seeing an article that compared the WCWS to the economic impact the annual OU-TU Red River rivalry has on Dallas at the Cotton Bowl Stadium.

It's the Sooners again 8-4 for 4th in a row.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hIh-nDUvGA

Oklahoma 8 vs Texas 4 - Attendance: 12,324
Gamecast: https://www.espn.com/college-softball/game/_/gameId/401672952/texas-oklahoma


Congratulations to Coach Patty Gasso and the Oklahoma Sooners on winning their record NCAA WCWS 4th straight softball championship.

It’s worth noting attendance records at the WCWS were also set this week in Oklahoma City. Over the nine sessions between May 30 and June 6, five were sell-outs. Session 2 — which featured Texas versus Stanford and Florida versus Oklahoma State — set a record for the highest attendance ever (12,566). The WCWS nearly broke that record two days later, with 12,565 fans attending Oklahoma versus UCLA and Texas versus Florida.


Link: The Athletic https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5549789/2024/06/07/wcws-championship-finals-viewers-ratings/?redirected=1

Nope gotta change it cause Texas Softball is BIG mad

Maybe they should try winning :butbutbut

Softball much like football, the U of Texas attracts the top recruits. It comes down to one key factor the U of Oklahoma has i softball--home crowd advantage. My observation, the Longhorn fan base showed up in numbers--like 1,000-1,200. Lots of Texas money injected into the OKC local economy.

Next improvement IMO would be to improve outfield seating with chairback seats (remove bleachers); add 2,500 seat sections of risers to the outfield.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Permanent outfield seating isn't possible due to the fact that the outfield walls are moved in and out as much as 100' depending upon the event. Devon park doesn't just host WCWS and USA Softball. It hosts softball events 30 weekends per year.

^^^^^^^^^^^^
Permanent outfield seating isn't possible due to the fact that the outfield walls are moved in and out as much as 100' depending upon the event. Devon park doesn't just host WCWS and USA Softball. It hosts softball events 30 weekends per year.

Realized the risers wouldn't be permanent--just a better upgrade of moveable seating.

I 100% believe Austin will. They have been spending money at will for UT sports and for NIL. Their coach hates that the WCWS is in Oklahoma City. Austin will no doubt be building one by 2035, IMO. And probably develop the heck out of the surrounding area, so it isn't in a deserted part of the city with no restaurants or bars or hotels.

OKC is more centrally located in the country than any other contender. Since a lot of fans drive to the games, that's a big factor in OKC's favor.

The City is soliciting architecture/engineering services for a new $15 million, 32,000-square-foot indoor practice facility and locker rooms for Devon Park. Don't know the source of funds.

The entire facility would be connected to the stadium through a tunnel.

Will also include a sports medicine room, indoor pitching and batting cages, and a softball infield. It will be located in the existing northwest parking area.


By comparison, the new indoor practice facility at OU is about 10,000 SF + another 20,000 SF in home locker rooms and offices in a separate 2-level building and then another 4,000 SF building for visitor locker rooms. The practice facility, home locker rooms and home dugout are all connected via tunnels, as are the visitor locker room and visitor dugout.

So, the total square footage would be very similar between the two facilities.


Not only will this help immensely with the Olympics, but will be yet another huge addition to the world's best softball complex. Hard to imagine the Women's College World Service ever leaving.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/softball082924b.jpg

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/softball082924c.jpg

Awesome!!!

They are obviously getting ready for the future WCWS and an eye cocked on the LA28 Olympics.

Will it be used for other things other than WCWS. It can't sit empty for like 10 months out of the year can it?

Will it be used for other things other than WCWS. It can't sit empty for like 10 months out of the year can it?

No softball stadiums are in use all year but Devon Park is busy.

https://www.visitokc.com/listing/devon-park/795/

"Devon Park, formerly known as the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, is home to the Softball Capital of the World®. With four fields, including the OGE Energy Field at Devon Park, and other world class amenities, the Complex has played host to the best softball competition in the world, including the World Cup of Softball, the NCAA® Women’s College World Series®, the Big 12 Conference Softball Championships, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Classic.

Don’t know why the narrative that the softball stadium never gets used outside of the WCWS is so prevalent.

Don’t know why the narrative that the softball stadium never gets used outside of the WCWS is so prevalent.

By men too, not just women.

Don’t know why the narrative that the softball stadium never gets used outside of the WCWS is so prevalent.

Probably anything that is not on the level a team people are interested in and/or aired on TV, is going to go under most people's radar.

Probably anything that is not on the level a team people are interested in and/or aired on TV, is going to go under most people's radar.

Ignorance isn't an excuse. But the stadium is used quite often.

It's the home stadium for the OKC Spark. If you haven't attended one of their games, I highly suggest it!

https://www.okcspark.com/

Right on top of the already limited parking seems a little odd, but they do have that new path over from Remington for overflow parking and they don't have a lot of spare room given the site layout and being fairly boxed in.

^

There is 10x as much parking as they will ever need at Remington as well as the zoo and Science Museum.

Out of curiosity, is there any financial relationship between Remington and the city for the use of their parking by Devon Park visitors? Seems hardly necessary given how frequently the Remington parking stays empty but there's usually no such thing as a free lunch.

^

There is 10x as much parking as they will ever need at Remington as well as the zoo and Science Museum.

And when I drove by this summer, there were tents in the Remington park parking lot and shuttles picking people up and taking them there.

Also, I just mapped it and it is a half mile walk from the parking lot to the front of the Ballpark.

Don’t know why the narrative that the softball stadium never gets used outside of the WCWS is so prevalent.

Because you never hear about other events that are there. As least I never do. I know there are but couldn't tell you when they are.

Out of curiosity, is there any financial relationship between Remington and the city for the use of their parking by Devon Park visitors? Seems hardly necessary given how frequently the Remington parking stays empty but there's usually no such thing as a free lunch.

the zoo trust owns all of that land ..

Someone at the City just told me the improvements to Devon Park will be part of a 2025 bond offering.

Looks like we will have a vote coming up soon.

Someone at the City just told me the improvements to Devon Park will be part of a 2025 bond offering.

Looks like we will have a vote coming up soon.

last one was 2017 so it is due in the next few years ..

Someone at the City just told me the improvements to Devon Park will be part of a 2025 bond offering.

Looks like we will have a vote coming up soon.

last one was 2017 so it is due in the next few years .. and the last one was just shy on 1 billion .... this one should be over a billion

So i see there's a walking path connecting the softball parking lot (at the little turnaround at the corner) and one of the Remington lots. Is there a tram that goes back and forth across that path during the WCWS too or is it just foot traffic? I've never been there during those games, so I'm wondering if that's a close enough path that the Olympics are going to be ok with that, or if they are going to want some sort of more mature transport service. It does seem like it's a pretty good trek and in Oklahoma, in the summer, on asphalt....it's gonna be hot. There are no trees or anything along that path so it's just in the air. Doing some planting of trees at this point won't help for the Olympics (they wont grow enough, fast enough), but it could help for later. If they have people movers, then it's probably fine the way it is, but some of that path looks a little narrow to me to do both tram and foot traffic.

^

It's a wide sidewalk only for pedestrians. The shuttle busses run on the street.

It's an easy walk from the parking to the stadium.

last one was 2017 so it is due in the next few years .. and the last one was just shy on 1 billion .... this one should be over a billion

Pete mentioned improvements to Devon Park will be part of a 2025 bond offering. . . . a new $15 million, 32,000-square-foot indoor practice facility and locker rooms for Devon Park.


. . . Not only will this help immensely with the Olympics, but will be yet another huge addition to the world's best softball complex. Hard to imagine the Women's College World Service ever leaving.

Pete, you're correct--this is probably the last hurdle needed to clear to keep the WCWS in OKC beyond 2035.

Funds needed:


Improve the Riversports Rapids facility $25 million (Grand Stands . . .)
Devon Park complex--$15 million for 32,000-square-foot indoor practice facility, locker rooms and other issues in preparation for LA28 Olympics in which OKC hosts softball and canoe slalom---$25 million total for the softball complex.

Budget around $50 million (5%) of a $1 billion bond package.


The coverage of the Olympics inside the United States with OKC co-hosting the canoe and softball events;
viewership with the return of softball to the Olympics will put the spotlight on Oklahoma City.

Construction on the $900 million downtown NBA arena will be in the final completion stages and you bet they will be scenes of the Adventure District.

https://www.canoeicf.com/sites/default/files/styles/top_image_1300/public/news-top-images/la28_rendering_whitewater_center_in_oklahoma_city_ ok_06_21_24_disclaimer_landscape.jpg

https://64.media.tumblr.com/e8606560456d416c8260b113a861046c/a6dceed9f6f1eb9e-1c/s1280x1920/9156dd2fb0d02c5ca8efc94f8547187ab5090415.jpg

.

There are also little league tournaments that happen at HOF complex throughout the year. It gets used quite a bit!