Women's College World Series

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City's future to secure this event as a permanent home.

The big changes will be the additional seats in an upper deck and expanded media areas, which ESPN feels is essential for its expanding coverage.

That backdrop provides insight why Brassfield was filled with emotion last week (June 2014) when the NCAA announced Oklahoma City will host the Women’s College World Series through 2035, provided the city makes good on its promise to complete a four-phase renovation.

...Hall of Fame Stadium eventually will have the capacity to host crowds of 13,000 once 4,200 upper deck seats are added in 2018 or 2019.

Oklahoma City’s commitment has helped boost the economy. It’s estimated 70 percent to 80 percent of fans are out-of-town guests that produce $30 million to $70 million of new money every year during the eight-day event.

With ESPN putting the sport in the spotlight by televising every game, softball enthusiasts started circling Memorial Day weekend to travel to Oklahoma City.

...Oklahoma City will host the Women’s College World Series through 2035 provided $23 million of renovations are completed.

Phases III and IV are the major undertakings. Construction won’t begin until 2018, following a December 2017 bond election.

Later this decade, the final product in 2019 or 2020 will include 4,200 upper-deck seats, additional concession stands, a new concourse and ticket area, plus a new press box that will replace next year’s expanded version.

Phases III & IV:

2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 – A 4,200-seat upper deck will expand capacity to more than 13,000. Additional projects include a second expanded press box, new concourse, plus upgraded concession stands and ticket areas.

Source: A look at the future of the Women's College World Series and ASA Hall of Fame Stadium: http://newsok.com/article/4869896

[ljbab728]

This all seems to be old news. Is there something new I'm missing?

[Dustin]

The Adventure District itself needs a much needed face-lift. Doesn't look very adventure-y when you drive through.

[shawnw]

Proposed solution: Connect the Adventure District with the Boathouse District with adventure-y infill projects and rename the whole thing the RiverSport Adventure District


:-P

[Laramie]

Proposed solution: Connect the Adventure District with the Boathouse District with adventure-y infill projects and rename the whole thing the RiverSport Adventure District


:-P

Now that's what you call getting CREATIVE, shawnw.

It's time Oklahoma City begin an aggressive plan to build up some of its districts that cater to tourist.

The Adventure District comprises:

Oklahoma City Zoo
Oklahoma City Zoo Amphitheater
Firefighter's Museum
National Softball Hall of Fame & Museum
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Remington Park Race Track & Casino
Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame Stadium
Omniplex (Science Museum Oklahoma)

Did I miss something?

[shawnw]

Yes, the Pigeon Museum, Lincoln Park Golf Course, the Railway Museum I think (is it in the boundaries?), the 45th Infantry Museum (same, is it in the boundaries?). And, of course, Tinseltown.

[Laramie]

Congratulations to University of Oklahoma Sooners Women's Softball team and Coach Patty Gasso & staff on advancement to the 2017 WCWS which starts in Oklahoma City on June 1st.

The Lady Sooners beat host Auburn in the Auburn Regional 4-0 & 5-2.

[Laramie]

Oklahoma City will be nationally spotlighted for the next 4 days on ESPN. We should have some large audiences tuned in to the WCWS especially with name-recognition schools (Florida, Texas A & M, UCLA, LSU, Oregon, Washington, Baylor & Oklahoma).

Look for the attendance record ('2015 - 78,078) to be broken. The WCWS continue to grow with or without a local state team entered. Hotels, restaurants are poised for this national event.

This is one of those events we want to keep in OKC because of the exposure & economic impact it gives our city.

Looks like a packed house for the opener (Texas A & M vs. Florida).

[SoonerDave]

Went to the OU-Baylor game last night and it was great fun. The atmosphere is tremendous, and I'm not sure everyone quite understands that you have visitors from *all over the country* at this event - even if they don't have a team in the Series. There are cars with plates from Michigan, Massachusetts, EVERYWHERE that come to this thing just because they're huge softball fans/families. That OU happens to be square in the middle of things again is just awesome.

Was great to see OU win that opener over Baylor, 6-3, and frankly it should have been worse - after a 4-0 first-inning start for the Sooners, the game went into a bit of coast mode - they had a legit shot to run-rule the Bears in what I think was the 5th inning with the bases loaded and no one out, but managed only a single run off a hit batter. Sooner defense continues to struggle this post-season, committing *FOUR* errors - two in the seventh inning alone that let Baylor put up a 2-run comeback threat late. (All Baylor runs were unearned)

Sooners face Washington - one of the other teams that upended them this year - tonight at appx 8:30 CDT. Winner of that one has two chances to win the bracket and advance to the WCWS finals starting Monday. #BOOMER

[Pete]

Yes, in fact I was at Republic in Classen Curve last night watching the OU/Baylor game and a big group in their Washington gear came in, as they had beaten Oregon in the earlier game.

I told them congratulations and enjoy their stay... They seemed very happy to be treated in a friendly manner.

And I was very glad they found Republic because that place tends to impress.

[dcsooner]

Anyone getting any feel for people's ( out of State) impression of the event (venue, transportation ) and OKC overall in terms of eating options, accommodation etc. Just curious. Maybe especially the Washington folks given the Thunder move.

[Urbanized]

Every year I talk to dozens of people attending the WCWS. Parents, players, regular fans of participating schools, coaches, administrators. I also talk regularly with people in town for rowing events, cheerleading events, conferences, conventions, other NCAA events, opposing NBA fans and others. They are nearly universally impressed by OKC. Most of the comments I hear have to do with cleanliness, compactness/walkability (remember they're mostly downtown) and lately...construction.

I also talk to a number of people who have been for events like these and actually have returned here for vacations, believe it or not. We exceed all of their expectations, though this is admittedly aided by many of those expectations being low.

That said, for many of these people - especially college softball attendees - OKC is an aspirational destination. Most people have no idea how many visitors this city hosts, nor how important events like this are to our economy and to our image.

[dcsooner]

Thanks

[SoonerDave]

I'm no softball expert, but I think what we have to keep in mind is that softball is very much a sport that, *in general* gets thought of way after the "big" sports like football and basketball. Most places don't have facilities even remotely close to ASA stadium (yes, some bigger schools have nice places, but not generally), and to think they're playing in front of crowds approaching 10K is just phenomenal. We roll out the red carpet for them, and they love it. It's a perfect match here in OKC, and I hope we just keep up our end on the facility upgrades to keep it here for another couple of decades.

[Eric]

17 Innings.

Not sure what the pitcher resting rules are in softball, but I presume pitching may become a factor later in the series.

[SoonerDave]

17 Innings.

Not sure what the pitcher resting rules are in softball, but I presume pitching may become a factor later in the series.

No official rules as far as I know.

During their title run last year, Paige Parker pitched nearly every game, I think Kelsey Stevens may have pitched a handful of games, and I think even in the WCWS finals. I didn't realize until I kinda started watching things a bit that its not uncommon for pitchers to do multiple games on consecutive days, unlike baseball, because the arm motion is completely different...

I think just fatigue *in general* will be a factor tonight, not just for the pitchers.

[Bill Robertson]

Tonight is going to be interesting. I don't know about Florida's pitching but OU has two regulars. Paige Parker usually starts and they bring in Paige Lowery in later to throw her 75mph heat to close. Both threw more than a normal full game last night and have got to be tired. In softball you can pull your starter and later put them back in once. I could see both teams doing this again tonight to spread the workload.

[Pete]

OU may start their freshman pitcher tonight and see how she does.

It could be a case where they rest the Paiges until such a time they get a lead and want to close them out.

[shawnw]

Baseball pitchers risk injury to their rotator cuff due to their overhand throwing motion. Softball pitchers don't have that same risk.

[Pete]

Baseball pitchers risk injury to their rotator cuff due to their overhand throwing motion. Softball pitchers don't have that same risk.

I was talking to a former college softball pitcher last night who said that with the underhand motion that hip problems are the bigger issue.

[Dustin]

One of the most amazing games of any sport I have ever watched! Wow! A nail-biter from start to finish!

[Bill Robertson]

I knew tonight would bring out some interesting pitching for OU. Start Parker, go to the freshman Lopez then bring Mendes in from the feild. Different but so far so good.

[Bill Robertson]

BOOMER SOONER! You did it ladies!!!!!!!

[dcsooner]

OU should honor Patty Gasso with naming the SB stadium or placing a plaque or something. She elevated OU softball to great levels. Hope someone in OU leadership recognizes that

[SOONER8693]

The overall environment and atmosphere in the stadium for those last 2 games was as intense as any sporting event I've ever attended. In the top of the 7th last night you could cut the tension with a knife. Gasso is a rock star. Boomer Sooner!