Ladies & Gentlemen, your Tulsa Drillers

by frightened inmate #2 on Apr 25, 2011 8:46 PM MDT

Last week I ventured on down to Tulsa for a few days and was able to catch the Drillers game vs. the Springfield Cardinals on Wednesday. I joined an "intimate" crowd on a breezy night and toured around One OK field, now in it's 2nd year as the home of the Drillers. Minor League Baseball owns. Took a few pics, I meant to take a better camera but forgot so all these are from my phone, sorry they aren't the best quality.

This is the closest gate to downtown, and you enter sort of in right center. I got there pretty early. ONEOK Field opened in 2010.

Juan Nicasio was having a run when I got there. There are decks in both corners where you can stand and watch the game, you're right above the field.

You know, for kids.

View of downtown.

Hector Gomez done warming up.

His name was Ben Paulsen

Watching the grounds crew put the finishing touches on the field before a game is seriously one of the most relaxing things I can think of.

You know, for kids.

Riordan and Rosario in from the bullpen. Riordan was sharp, had didn't give up a hit until the 4th.

Boulevard makes a pretty darn tasty wheat, of which I enjoyed a couple.

Baseball is seriously by far the best game to go watch.

This one was tight with both starting pitchers doing extremely well. The only hit through the first 3 innings was Tommy Field's seeing eye single. Cory Riordan gave up two earned which was bested by Nick Additon (Springfield Cardinals) only 1 earned. Which really, was a home run by Field that was helped by a healthy wind. Tulsa's bullpen gave up a four spot in the 9th so the final score didn't look as close as it was. But still, it was a great night out at the park, that's a pretty nice one they have down there. Minor league baseball rules.

Oh, and here's a gratuitous picture of The National from the night before:

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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by Muzia on Apr 26, 2011 8:41 AM MDT reply actions

Awesome trip....

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by hotdoglady on Apr 26, 2011 8:48 AM MDT reply actions

Tulsa...

Did a great job with their ballpark. I love the view of the skyline from home plate. I wish the Sky Sox would have built a new stadium in the downtown area of the Springs.

Some magicians can walk on water. Joe Sakic can swim through land.
Todd Helton was once bitten by a rattle snake... After 3 days of pain and suffering... The snake died.

by Lost Winter on Apr 26, 2011 1:04 PM MDT reply actions

Completely agree

Sky Sox stadium is on the east side of the Springs (growing area) but the Sky Sox and Rockies as a whole would have benefited greatly if they’d decided to build in downtown Colorado Springs.

One day maybe?

Great post, however, and nice to see some pictures of the Drillers and their new (ish) stadium.

Rockies baseball fever

by EssentialCo on Apr 27, 2011 5:00 AM MDT up reply actions

E - Sky Sox

I agree that downtown stadiums are great, and that a downtown stadium here in the Springs would have been great for the Sky Sox and for Colorado Springs.

Sadly, I doubt it will ever happen. Roughly 10 years ago the Sky Sox were almost sold. I believe that the buyer-to-be was Jeff Smith, owner of Classic Homes. Supposedly Smith and the owner of the Sox were only about $1,000,000 apart on the deal.

After that deal fell through the Sky Sox switched GMs and spent more renovating the stadium than it initially cost to build in the late 1980s. So given that investment, even though I’d love to see them move downtown and would go to many more games, I don’t think it will happen.

When the Sky Sox first moved to town (from Hawaii) there was nothing else out there. Now it’s built up all around the stadium; probably not a vacant lot left for several miles in any direction.

"You have no other choice, you MUST go on." Stanley Milgram, "Obedience to Authority"

by Sky Sox on Apr 27, 2011 3:19 PM MDT up reply actions

When i was a mere child

I remember walking over to Memorial Park to watch them play when they were Class A affiliate with the Cubs. Then they moved to Hawaii , but the name seemed to have stuck. Good times !

by butterfly on Apr 27, 2011 3:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Maybe people more familiar with the Springs than I would be able to answer

but for the Sky Sox games I’ve been to, it seems like parking is a mess. Just the one lot with one vein in and out. Is there a better way to go? I usually prefer parking further away and walking and not dealing with all the traffic of a large parking lot.

two Icehouse 24 oz beers = $3.20 two "fancy" Bud Light 24 oz beers = $5.00

NOW who comes out on top?

by frightened inmate #2 on Apr 27, 2011 5:21 PM MDT up reply actions

actually two parking lots

The second lot (continue on up Barnes past Tutt, where you would turn for the main lot) is primarily for season ticket holders, but most games is also open to everyone. And since I’m a season ticket holder, that’s a secret i rarely share.

Some people park in the neighborhoods and walk. Some people bike. I do that occasionally, but weather hasn’t been conducive to it this year.

As for what’s “wrong” with the current location?

1) It’s not downtown.
2) As noted by Lost Winter, the weather up there is much worse than other parts of the Springs, particularly downtown. Higher elevation, much windier, usually much colcer in the early season.
3) It’s the only stadium I am aware of where the third baseman can lose a ball in the sun.

Management does a great job with what they have, and they really care, and try very hard to make it the best experience possible for the games.

The GM is often out and about, circulating in the stands during the games, rather than just hanging out in an office or a box.

"You have no other choice, you MUST go on." Stanley Milgram, "Obedience to Authority"

by Sky Sox on Apr 27, 2011 6:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Good to know, thanks.

I have a friend who lives close, kind of by the King Soopers on Tutt & Stetson Hills, but it’ s just a little far to walk.

two Icehouse 24 oz beers = $3.20 two "fancy" Bud Light 24 oz beers = $5.00

NOW who comes out on top?

by frightened inmate #2 on Apr 28, 2011 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions

I agree with everything said here

especially about the weather and field orientation

"There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare." ~Tallulah Bankhead
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too." ~Greg, age 8
JFK

by jrockies on May 4, 2011 11:57 PM MDT up reply actions

I'm not understanding how this would be better than where it is. Could you explain further, please?

by butterfly on Apr 27, 2011 9:07 AM MDT reply actions

The current location...

Has a bunch of problems that non-locals wouldn’t know.

1) The field is built in a flood plain. Sand Creek is located JUST beyond the centerfield fence. It is mainly a dry creek but when storms roll through, massive chunks of the Banks are destroyed and the area is prone to flooding.

2) The weather is extreme in northeast Colorado Springs. The altitude at the park is about 6,400 feet; in the Springs, the higher the elevation, the more it is windy. It’s located in an area that gets extreme amounts of wind and the wind is ALWAYS blowing out. Also, being further away from the mountains than the downtown area, the storms have more of a chance to develop which results in a lot more thunderstorm activity. I would say that 3-4 games that I will attend this summer will have hail and lightning interrupt the game.

3) The people who live in the Stetson Hills neighborhood around the stadium constantly complain about the lights being on past 10pm and the fireworks on Friday nights. (keep in mind, those houses were added about 5 years after the stadium was built.

The downtown area would have better parking lots and ways to exit the field. I-25 would be near by and would be more attractive to front range fans. In addition, it’s less windy and the weather is normally more tame. There are places to eat downtown (a LoDo feel) and more hotels for out of area fans. The current stadium, even with the upgrades, is just plain and boring. Even though eastern Colorado Springs is a hot bed for economic activity and growth, the area is tough to get into and Powers Blvd is known for grid lock and aggressive drivers.

Someday, a downtown ball park would be great.

Some magicians can walk on water. Joe Sakic can swim through land.
Todd Helton was once bitten by a rattle snake... After 3 days of pain and suffering... The snake died.

by Lost Winter on Apr 27, 2011 5:46 PM MDT reply actions

5 years?

Most of the houses to the east haven’t been there more than about 10-12 years. Everything else I agree with.

by jrockies on May 4, 2011 11:59 PM MDT up reply actions

I'll admit, I'd be pretty scared that I would slide right off that blowup slide and fall off the brick wall...

Awesome pictures, but what on earth is that mascot?

by Rockie4Ever on Apr 27, 2011 11:05 PM MDT reply actions

That's Hornsby the bull

I wasn't alive during the dead ball era; but thanks to the Padres, I know what baseball was like back then.

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Apr 28, 2011 7:42 AM MDT up reply actions

Here's another picture of him

I wasn't alive during the dead ball era; but thanks to the Padres, I know what baseball was like back then.

by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Apr 28, 2011 7:46 AM MDT up reply actions

Yep, it's Hornsby.

While I wasn’t sure exactly what it had to do with the Drillers, there was a lot of Borden Dairy signage aroud so I was wondering if they were a big sponsor and it had something to do with that.

two Icehouse 24 oz beers = $3.20 two "fancy" Bud Light 24 oz beers = $5.00

NOW who comes out on top?

by frightened inmate #2 on Apr 28, 2011 8:09 AM MDT up reply actions