I'm creating a new thread for this, as I will with all the bigger OU projects. Developments that cost tens of millions deserve their own threads!



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Thanks Pete,


The House that Patti Gasso built. Notice there will be plenty of parking at LNC.

Thank you Pete. Next time gives us a south view from the outfield.

July 16 Update

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^

Thank you!

thank you Pete

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Thank you very much Pete

Since I'm not terrific at visualizing this stuff, I very much appreciate you taking pictures that are close to the vantage point of the rendering!

Hard to believe they will have this completed in time for the season.

Hard to believe they will have this completed in time for the season.

They typically don't play their first home game until March, so they have at least 7 months.

Also, they will likely still use the existing stadium to start the season and then make the move when Love's is ready to go.

Patty Gasso said in an interview it would be open at the start of next season. Which is March or April ? not sure. I know they play couple California tournaments in Feb.

The 2024 schedule isn't out yet, but I would bet they will play five weekend tournaments on the road or at a neutral site, then play the Hall of Fame Classic in OKC, then play their first Big XII series on the road. This would put the home opener on Friday, March 29th. Should be more than enough time, I think.

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Thank you Pete

They have a lot to do in 6 months if this is to open by the beginning of the Spring season.

Sorry if I missed it, but are they going with grass or artifical turf!

Sorry if I missed it, but are they going with grass or artifical turf!

Grass.

They have a lot to do in 6 months if this is to open by the beginning of the Spring season.

I imagine with the flash drought, they are on schedule or ahead of schedule. Looks to me they are way down the road on this project.

I imagine with the flash drought, they are on schedule or ahead of schedule. Looks to me they are way down the road on this project.

I would agree. It feels like the biggest issue is going to be getting the grass in good shape since they'll likely be putting sod down in the middle of winter.

Joe Castiglione said this week that this project is on schedule.

I'm sure they'll play at the new facility in the coming season, the only question is if they'll start at Hines Field and then cut over sometime later. But they certainly will be in the new place long before hosting the regionals and super regionals (OU has made the supers 13 seasons in a row).

Press release:

The current stadium only holds 1,600, so this new facility will increase that by 2.5x.

**********

Love's Field Capacity Announced; Seat Selection to Resume in November
September 29, 2023 | Softball

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department announced Friday a final fan capacity for Love's Field — OU Softball's home that will debut in the spring — and that the stadium's seat-selection process will resume this November.

OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione said the department and project architects worked diligently to maximize the stadium's capacity. The original capacity projection was approximately 3,000, but the final Love's Field capacity will be 4,200.

"Since the start, we've approached the design of Love's Field with our fans in mind," said Castiglione. "Because we know the demand for OU Softball is sky high, we took great care to increase the capacity wherever we could while maintaining the overall fan experience. We're thrilled with the results, as we've shattered our original expected capacity of about 3,000, now with 3,543 in fixed seating and an additional 657 in standing room. At every home game, we'll now have the opportunity for more than 4,000 Sooner fans to cheer our team to victory in the biggest and best collegiate softball stadium in the country."

The Love's Field seat-selection process for the 2024 softball season will resume in November with those in Groups 2 and 3 whose assigned selection time was not initially available during the first phase of the selection process this summer.

Seats will be selected via an online Love's Field seat map. Groups 2 and 3 members whose assigned selection time was not available during the first phase of the selection process will be assigned a selection time in which they can view inventory and make seat selections as availability allows. Available seat locations are in the outfield reserved sections and require paying only the annual season ticket cost. To maximize capacity of Love's Field, some sections in the outfield have been altered since the original selection process. Those who previously selected seats in these locations that may be impacted by this adjustment will be contacted prior to the selection process resuming in November.

Supporters in both groups will be ranked via Sooner Points associated with their OU Athletics account. Sooner Points accumulate for OU Athletics lifetime season ticket purchases, seat-related giving history and attendance. Assigned selection times and instructions will be provided via email to account holders prior to the start of the November selection process. Groups 2 and 3 are not guaranteed the opportunity to purchase season tickets, as seat locations throughout Love's Field are subject to availability and the selections made by those with earlier assigned times.

Fans in Groups 2 and 3 who have do not receive seat-selection information via email today can contact the Sooner Club at 405-325-8000.

Love's Field will also feature a 10,669-square-foot indoor training center and several team spaces, including a training room, locker room and classroom. It will also have space for a recognition area to showcase national championships, All-Americans and other outstanding accomplishments.

Plans call for the overall square footage of the complex to reach 44,000, compared to 15,168 at Marita Hynes Field, OU's present facility. The team areas will expand from 2,598 square feet to 5,593 square feet and the indoor practice facility will jump from 4,744 square feet to 10,669 square feet.

Head coach Patty Gasso and her 2023 team toured the Love's Field construction site Wednesday afternoon for the first time, and each squad member signed the final light pole before watching it hoisted into place in right center field.

"When we were standing above the outfield looking toward home plate, we were in awe," said Gasso, who has led OU to seven national championships, including six of the last 10 and each of the last three. "It was hard to comprehend the beauty and scope of what we were looking at, considering where we played when I started coaching here. I stood there and reflected on all my years at OU and all the athletes who laid the foundation for this program. I'm reminded of where we started this journey whenever I drive by Reaves Park. Then we stepped across the street to Marita Hynes Field. And now we're on the cusp of having Love's Field — the premier college softball facility in the country — as our home. I'm so grateful for everyone who helped us get to this point, and am incredibly excited for what's still to come."

OU starts its fall competition schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m. CT when it plays the first of six Oklahoma Battle Series games at Marita Hynes Field. The Sooners will also host North Central Texas College on Oct. 16 and Seminole State College on Oct. 23, both at 6 p.m.

Individuals interested in giving to Love's Field should contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000 or visit TheSoonerClub.com/softball.

They said this week that the new stadium is on schedule to open at the first of the spring season; first home game is usually in March.

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That's looking very good!

More great weather in the next couple of weeks should help move this right along.

Schedule was released today, home opener is March 1st.

https://soonersports.com/sports/softball/schedule

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Thank you Pete for all of the drone pics of Love's Field. Is there any way that you can give us, who live out of state, some more of these great pictures? Thanks in advance.

found on facebook. apparently the new scoreboard/videoboard is in the shape of the Great State of Oklahoma.1855718557

What is going on with each end of the seating with the big slope ?

That’s an optical illusion. There is a bit of a return on those seats in the outfield, orienting them back toward home plate.

That’s an optical illusion. There is a bit of a return on those seats in the outfield, orienting them back toward home plate.

I'm not talking the outfield seats, it's the seats that connect to the dugouts. But then again probably is an illusion. I went back up to original pictures and it's a little easier to see.

I'm not talking the outfield seats, it's the seats that connect to the dugouts. But then again probably is an illusion. I went back up to original pictures and it's a little easier to see.
You and I are talking about the same seats. I should have said base line seats in the outfield to be more specific. Those are the seats that at first glance look like they’re sloped, but it’s actually that they return a bit to face more toward home plate. They’re level.

From today (Sun 1/7/24):

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thank you Pete

Home opener is March 1st, so they'd better hustle, especially with bad weather coming.

I'm sure the field will go in very soon and they are putting up the scoreboard; everything else can just be done as the season progresses.


Also, I'm sure there is a contingency plan to move over to Marita Hynes field, but I know they very much want to be in Love's for their first home game.

Marita Hynes is outlined in blue; Love's Field in red:

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Home opener is March 1st, so they'd better hustle, especially with bad weather coming.

I'm sure the field will go in very soon and they are putting up the scoreboard; everything else can just be done as the season progresses.


Also, I'm sure there is a contingency plan to move over to Marita Hynes field, but I know they very much want to be in Love's for their first home game.
One more reason to hope\pray for very little bad weather.

Home opener is March 1st, so they'd better hustle, especially with bad weather coming.

I'm sure the field will go in very soon and they are putting up the scoreboard; everything else can just be done as the season progresses.


Also, I'm sure there is a contingency plan to move over to Marita Hynes field, but I know they very much want to be in Love's for their first home game.

Thank you Pete for all of these pictures. Especially for those of us who live out of state. I got luck and have season tickets this season and was wondering how it will work out if they don't get Love's Field finished by the first game. There aren't enough seats at Marita Hynes to accommodate the number of season ticket holders they have now.

Thank you Pete for all of these pictures. Especially for those of us who live out of state. I got luck and have season tickets this season and was wondering how it will work out if they don't get Love's Field finished by the first game. There aren't enough seats at Marita Hynes to accommodate the number of season ticket holders they have now.

I appreciate this post because it explains why they are dead-set on being ready for the home-opener.

Congrats on the season tickets! This new facility is going to be amazing and the team looks to be great for years into the future.

Is it me or does the field on Love's seem smaller?

Is it me or does the field on Love's seem smaller?

I see what you are saying. I think it is because the new one looks more closed in than the old. I'm sure it is the same size.

I appreciate this post because it explains why they are dead-set on being ready for the home-opener.

Congrats on the season tickets! This new facility is going to be amazing and the team looks to be great for years into the future.

OU's new field is going to be the envy of everyone in college softball. And you're right, as long as HC Patty Gasso is at OU, they're going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Btw, you're making a lot of other people very happy with your drone pics, and not just here on OKC Talk. By all means, keep em' coming.

^

Thanks, I'm going to try and get down there over the weekend.

^

Thanks, I'm going to try and get down there over the weekend.

Looking forward to the pics. I think seating has been going in.

From this (Sunday 1/28) morning; they are still saying they will be able to function for the home opener March 1st, although there will still be work to finish.

You can see guys were out there working on a Sunday at 10 AM:

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Great photos! I bet they make awesome progress these next 10 days with the warm and dry weather finally back.

thank you once again Pete

The new Love’s Field is rushing towards the March 1st home opener for 3-time defending national NCAA softball champs, the University of Oklahoma.


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The Sooners start the defense of their title on Feb 8th with a series of out-of-state games then host a tournament starting the first day of next month. OU officials are committed to having the new facility in ‘functional condition’ by March 1st although finish work will be ongoing this spring.

The $48 million ballpark includes extensive seating, a digital scoreboard, concessions, locker rooms, and an indoor practice facility. It is the most expensive softball complex ever built for a university and is located just north of Lloyd Noble Center on the northwest corner of Imhoff and Jenkins.

Capacity will be 4,200 compared to Marita Hynes Field, which held less than 1,400.



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It looks like they are about to lay out the field.

From George Stoia: "Patty Gasso says Love’s Field will be ready to play in on March 1. But the team won’t totally move into the new facility until mid-April."

https://x.com/GeorgeStoia/status/1754649420333818052?s=20

^

I'm sure the issue is the new locker rooms and indoor practice facility at Love's still need a bunch of interior finish out.

Thank you for the photos. I really appreciate the wonderful photography.

Makes sense. Get the field and stands ready for day 1. Finish the rest as you can. Sure will be close!

Taken this (Sat 2/10) morning:

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Thanks for the update Pete. I always look forward to them. I'm a little surprised they haven't started laying sod yet.

^

Regarding the sod, keep in mind that in softball all the heavy traffic is on the basepaths and infield, which are completely dirt.

The only grass is the outfield and it gets pretty light use, so that's probably why there is no rush to install it. It was so nice the last couple of weeks they could have easily done so but probably want to wait as long as they can because of the misc construction all around.


Also, I'm pretty sure the area behind home plate and in foul territory up past each dugout (the light grey areas) will be artificial - it looks like that material is compacted crushed granite which serves as the base for fake grass. There are a bunch of rolls of artificial turf in the parking lot of Lloyd Noble where they have been staging other construction materials; those particular areas get tons of traffic from the teams coming in and out of the dugouts, on-deck batters and coaches in the coaching box.

Pretty sure after a while they ended up installing artificial turf on those same areas of Marita Hynes field for the same reasons.

Saw where they added the permanent bleachers in the outfield. It will add between 500 - 600 more capacity than original numbers.

This came from a Patty Gasso interview last week.

This place is a big step up from Marita Hynes, but can't help but think it could've been so much better. It's an old school design compared to other recent ballparks with a wasted op to really do something cutting edge with the huge budget it was given (see below pics for examples at A&M and Arkansas).
They should've added more seats between 1st and 3rd base within the main grandstand. Instead, you have more seating in the outfield than you do main grandstand, which makes little sense. The added outfield bleachers look sloppy and just thrown in. They should've kept outfield for pavilions and overflow.
Also, the suites should've been elevated to allow open concourse throughout. Could've even added field level suites, similar to A&M and Georgia.
I'm sure the player facilities are top notch, which ultimately, is what's most important and should be an added recruiting tool.

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