Softball Hall of Fame

[Rover]

Did they have a similar tour of the baseball facility so one can compare? I take it the virtual tour you took did show the commodes or sinks? If not then I guess they did not show everything on the virtual tour.

It’s all there if you care to go look. It does let you go all over.

[SoonerDave]

To give perspective, the men's venue in Omaha DOES have locker rooms for multiple teams. But it also cost over $130 million to build (would be way more now). It is used for the men's world series, the AAA baseball team, and the Creighton baseball team.

OKC can not, nor can anyone, afford to spend $100+ million for a comparable stadium whose main attendance drawing event spans a single week. It's a nice thought, but until some softball enthusiast billionaire wants to give us a stadium and watch it sit for 50 weeks of the year, it isn't happening.

I don't think anyone is suggesting a $100m stadium replacement. I think all that's being discussed are lockerrooms and showers.

[chssooner]

To give perspective, the men's venue in Omaha DOES have locker rooms for multiple teams. But it also cost over $130 million to build (would be way more now). It is used for the men's world series, the AAA baseball team, and the Creighton baseball team.

OKC can not, nor can anyone, afford to spend $100+ million for a comparable stadium whose main attendance drawing event spans a single week. It's a nice thought, but until some softball enthusiast billionaire wants to give us a stadium and watch it sit for 50 weeks of the year, it isn't happening.

The HOF stadium definitely does not "sit" 50 weeks a year. It is used pretty frequently. Now, not $100 million frequently, but more than enough to justify having showers. Shame on OKC for not having them.

[shawnw]

But it's not had shows in the decades of its existence with little fanfare in that regard?

[Laramie]

Recall before the upgrades to HOF Stadium; there was a Birmingham, Ala suburb Hoover wanted to reconfigure their 10,000-seat baseball stadium used for the SEC men's playoffs for college softball in an attempt to lure the WCWS to Alabama from Oklahoma City.

Construction cost: $14.5 million, ($31.7 million in 2020 dollars

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium.

City of Oklahoma City/Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau needs to commission a feasibility study on improvements to HOF Stadium not limited to more expansion and renovation like showers, new PA System, Scoreboard. exterior facade and the works. Look at funding mechanisms like leftover MAPS funds.

You will have future suitors for this event.

[Rover]

The HOF stadium definitely does not "sit" 50 weeks a year. It is used pretty frequently. Now, not $100 million frequently, but more than enough to justify having showers. Shame on OKC for not having them.

You seem to be in the know, so, how many days a year is it used and what is the revenue? How does it compare to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark?

[GoGators]

You seem to be in the know, so, how many days a year is it used and what is the revenue? How does it compare to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark?

It’s used from March- October about 30 weekends a year pre COVID. I think the schedule is lighter for 2021 but I’m sure it will be back to normal in the coming years.

[Rover]

It’s used from March- October about 30 weekends a year pre COVID. I think the schedule is lighter for 2021 but I’m sure it will be back to normal in the coming years.

Are there revenue numbers for those 30 engagements?

[GoGators]

Are there revenue numbers for those 30 engagements?

Probably.

[Rover]

I’ll play along. Do you know what they are? If so, what are they?

[Dob Hooligan]

I have no idea how much revenue the stadium generates, but I think it is in a wonderful location. I would suggest that, as locals, we might forget how many family and "Oklahoma" type facilities are within about one mile of Hall of Fame Stadium:

Remington Park. Still an excellent Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing facility

Large RV park

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

OKC Zoo. And the amphitheater is still a fun venue

Science Museum Oklahoma (Omniplex)

Girl Scouts campground

Pigeon Museum

Add in the Casino and Tinsletown Theater and it seems to me that this is a very well utilized part of Oklahoma City.

And remember it is all within about a mile of both I-44 and I-35

[Rover]

I have no idea how much revenue the stadium generates, but I think it is in a wonderful location. I would suggest that, as locals, we might forget how many family and "Oklahoma" type facilities are within about one mile of Hall of Fame Stadium:

Remington Park. Still an excellent Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing facility

Large RV park

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

OKC Zoo. And the amphitheater is still a fun venue

Science Museum Oklahoma (Omniplex)

Girl Scouts campground

Pigeon Museum

Add in the Casino and Tinsletown Theater and it seems to me that this is a very well utilized part of Oklahoma City.

And remember it is all within about a mile of both I-44 and I-35

Firefighter museum and Lincoln Park golf course.

[GoGators]

I’ll play along. Do you know what they are? If so, what are they?

Revenue for the city? I have no idea I assumed USA softball had a lease agreement to operate the facility. I wouldn’t think the city made anything from the gate admissions but I honestly have no clue.

[mugofbeer]

Hotel/motel/restaurant/rental car taxes

[Laramie]

Hotel/motel/restaurant/rental car taxes

Much of this depended on the Athletic budgets for the softball 8 elite schools (Many supported by their football revenue) like Alabama, Arizona, UCLA, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Jame Madison. Didn't hear of anyone staying at the Omni.

Do recall quite some time ago seeing the Alabama team at the Embassy Suites on Meridian Hotel corridor. They had a chartered bus for travel, and a number of vans/SUVs, utility type vehicles and fans who dined with the team. Quite a caravan left the Embassy Suites. Definitely a win for the OKC economy.

Recall my son telling me how excited the Alabama group was to be in Oklahoma City. He worked at the Embassy Suites Hotel at the time. They hopped on I-40 from Meridian and headed back to the stadium.

[mugofbeer]

Much of this depended on the Athletic budgets for the softball 8 elite schools (Many supported by their football revenue) like Alabama, Arizona, UCLA, Georgia, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Jame Madison. Didn't hear of anyone staying at the Omni.

Do recall quite some time ago seeing the Alabama team at the Embassy Suites on Meridian Hotel corridor. They had a chartered bus for travel, and a number of vans/SUVs, utility type vehicles and fans who dined with the team. Quite a caravan left the Embassy Suites. Definitely a win for the OKC economy.

Recall my son telling me how excited the Alabama group was to be in Oklahoma City. He worked at the Embassy Suites Hotel at the time. They hopped on I-40 from Meridian and headed back to the stadium.

Maybe not the Omni but certainly the smaller Marriott Hotels and the Hilton Gardens.

I am staying in Norman right now and both Marriott brands are near-full from a HS baseball tournament. That's local tax revenue.

[Laramie]

Future expansion, renovation and upgrades recommended for Hall of Fame Stadium.

You want room to grow this tournament:

Add an elevated upper deck to the farthest most point in the outfield (believe it would handle slow pitch) with 5,000 seats to be opened if needed. You could still use the temporary bleachers for the fast pitch which would still be situated beneath the proposed new outfield upper deck. Maximum stadium capacity would be 17,200.

Saw some of these being used in the south parking lot at Lloyd Noble taking people to Memorial Stadium on game day.

Shuttle bus system. Are any of those Oklahoma Spirit trolleys still available to used as a shuttle bus system.

Heard the PA system is subpar. Purchase the best sound system for this event and a new video and electronic scoreboard.

If you watched this tournament, OKC shined as a host. Especially leading up to the tournament (regionals) to hear about teams looking forward to punching their ticket to OKC like this was some kind of vacation paradise--believe me--it made me blush.

The outer facade of the stadium looks so bland; it needs to be addressed.

Continue to work with Remington Park for parking. Could a future plan for a parking garage be needed (?); similar to the 1200 space garage (covered) for the OKC convention complex.

Most of all we need to protect our city from the naive Oklahoma legislature/Governor (predominately rural) from dictating whether a city can vote to increase its own minimum wage and so forth...

[catcherinthewry]

Didn't hear of anyone staying at the Omni.

OU stayed at the Omni.

[5alive]

Has this art installation been scrapped?

[Laramie]

OU stayed at the Omni.

Thanks for the information update. The OU softball team definitely deserved those luxury accommodations.

This had to be a challenge for Patty Gasso to keep the team focus throughout the tournament especially after getting ambushed by JMU in the opening game of the tournament and the initial loss to Florida State in the championship series best of 3.

[Bellaboo]

I have no idea how much revenue the stadium generates, but I think it is in a wonderful location. I would suggest that, as locals, we might forget how many family and "Oklahoma" type facilities are within about one mile of Hall of Fame Stadium:

Remington Park. Still an excellent Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing facility

Large RV park

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

OKC Zoo. And the amphitheater is still a fun venue

Science Museum Oklahoma (Omniplex)

Girl Scouts campground

Pigeon Museum

Add in the Casino and Tinsletown Theater and it seems to me that this is a very well utilized part of Oklahoma City.

And remember it is all within about a mile of both I-44 and I-35

45th Infantry Museum is fantastic.

[OkiePoke]

UCLA stayed at the Colcord.

[Laramie]

.

Oklahoma stayed at the Omni Luxury Hotel (catcherinthewry)
UCLA stayed at the Colcord Premium Luxury Boutique Hotel (OkiePokie)
Oklahoma State stayed at the AC Bricktown (3nglnd)

Any other sighting of where WCWS teams stayed: Arizona, Alabama, Florida State, James Madison, Georgia

[3nglnd]

.

Oklahoma stayed at the Omni Luxury Hotel (catcherinthewry)
UCLA stayed at the Colcord Premium Luxury Boutique Hotel (OkiePokie)

Any other sighting of where WCWS teams stayed: Arizona, Alabama, Florida State, James Madison, Georgia, Oklahoma State

OK State was at the AC Bricktown

[Urbanized]

The HOF stadium definitely does not "sit" 50 weeks a year. It is used pretty frequently. Now, not $100 million frequently, but more than enough to justify having showers. Shame on OKC for not having them.

This complaint should be lodged with the NCAA, not OKC. The City of OKC built the new additions to the stadium to the specifications of the NCAA, who specifically chose not to put showers in the stadium, for their own reasons. The NCAA signed off on literally every aspect of the work done on this facility. Showers were likely opted out of for logistical reasons (teams swapping out between sessions). During the tournament it is most typical for teams to go straight to the bus, and shower at the hotel. That is most common in any tournament situation, even the men's CWS. It's possible showers could be added to the field house rather than under the stadium (the field house is split four ways during tournament days) but those likely wouldn't be used either.

Most likely Coach Gasso's complaint was mostly directed at a perceived equity imbalance between softball and baseball (there's more to that than just the showers). But in the case of Omaha's home to the CWS you have to remember that is the home stadium of Creighton. It has a home and visitor's locker room, like literally any on -campus baseball stadium. A tournament-only stadium typically would not, because they are quickly moving teams in and out between games.

I just think it's important to be clear that the complaint is actually with the NCAA, not OKC.