The Women's College World Series is a runaway tourism success story. Fans come from far and Far Far Away to watch the NCAA find a softball champion.

And now the NCAA wants Oklahoma City to get just as excited about its June jewel.

For all the talk about the explosion of this tournament — and explode it has, with crowds routinely over 8,000 through the weekend — the credit belongs outside state lines.

The World Series has bustling throngs not so much because Oklahoma City has gone ga-ga over women's softball, but because ESPN beamed the tournament all over America, and all kinds of people decided they had to see the event for themselves.

A 2007 NCAA study found that 87.5 percent of the fans at Hall of Fame Stadium came from outside Oklahoma. I think that's probably a little skewed. But 70 percent wouldn't surprise me.

The truth is, Oklahomans haven't embraced the event with the fervor as have softball fans from across the nation. And with the NCAA and the All Sports Association talking about a long-term agreement to keep the Series in OKC, some requirements could be in order.

1. Expand the stadium, not just in seats but amenities.

2. Build the fan base even more, especially for the championship series, which begins Monday and runs either two or three games.



Read more: Berry Tramel: Local support needed to get WCWS to next level | NewsOK.com
--Berry Tramel, Oklahoman


Do we move the Women's College World Series to the Brick or do we expand Hall of Fall Stadium in the Adventure District?