Driller's Stadium Construction Progress

[TheTed]

There were no barriers up and nobody around, so I sauntered in through the outfield entrance and just spent several minutes taking it all in last night. Some subtle lighting from below the suites and the video board provided a little bit of light.

I can't wait for baseball downtown.

Also, with that lack of security, I hope not many bums have taken up residence.

[SXSW]

From the TW, view of the skyline looking down right field (the seats behind left field will have an even better view)


The scoreboard

[RecycleMichael]

My seats are in this shot. I am a section past the dugout (at the start of the outfield), fifth row from the field, on the aisle.

I plan to catch many foul balls.

[dsjeffries]

Took some shots last night as I went on my own little tour. There aren't many sports facilities I would call beautiful, but Oneok Field really is. It's especially stunning at night, with the nice lighting really playing up its features. And the streetscaping is going to be great--they've even installed bike racks in the parallel parking area (something completely new to Tulsa). The streetlight fixtures have no uplight, they light the sidewalks and street well, and it makes for a pleasant, well-lit walk along the sidewalk. The only complaint I have about them is the bulbs are too bright. People in Tulsa are just going to have to get used to light fixtures that do what they're supposed to do (put light on the ground) and save money by using lower-wattage bulbs. The kid zone area is pretty awesome, too, by the way.










I'm guessing art deco friezes will go in those holes. Anyone know for sure?














Bike racks in the parallel on-street parking





Play Ball!!!

[azbadpuppy]

That is one good looking baseball stadium. Nice job!

[Hoss]

That is one good looking baseball stadium. Nice job!

I've been driving by it at night fairly frequently after the Tulsa Oiler home games.  Even from the north leg of the IDL she looks super.

[sgrizzle]

Yes, you are correct on the art deco friese part.

[SXSW]

Aerial view of downtown with the ballpark (from the TW)

[Hoss]

Since hockey season here is essentially over and I have a two week hiatus in case we make the playoffs (6 game road trip for the Oilers) I likely will make a photo walk of this on the weekend, say mid Saturday morning?   That's if anyone is interested.  Either way, I will be out there.

[carltonplace]

Aerial view of downtown with the ballpark (from the TW)

Now we need some ground up construction in those two giant parking lots in the Blue Dome east of the PAC. That is one heck of a lot of surface parking for a downtown "that has no parking".

[SXSW]

Now we need some ground up construction in those two giant parking lots in the Blue Dome east of the PAC. That is one heck of a lot of surface parking for a downtown "that has no parking".

Agreed, either development or a park/green space.  I've always liked the idea of a 'Blue Dome Square' for concerts and events on that lot between Cincinnati and Detroit.  But fill in the lots along Elgin with new development that reinforces it as a 'main street' connecting Blue Dome to Brady, the ballpark, and OSU.

[TheTed]

Anybody know much about the expanded food/beverage options?

Marshall's beer/other non 3.2 beers?
Maybe some BBQ Nachos like the ones at AutoZone Park in Memphis?

[SXSW]

I was walking down there today and thought everything looked great.  A few things I noticed:

1.  The sidewalk on the west side of Elgin across from the ballpark does not have the paver stone along the curb or the street trees like the east side.  It would look much better if both sides matched, but maybe they will once (hopefully) that site across the street gets developed.  There are also utility poles along the west side of Elgin that should get buried.

2.  They should extend the same pavers/street trees/lighting and setback sidewalks north under the 244 underpass and into the OSU campus.  Right now the link between the two is awful.  Same goes for south of Archer, it would be great to see this streetscaping all the way down across the tracks and connected to the existing streetscaping along Elgin at 1st (and then hopefully that part is expanded south past 3rd).

3.  The two empty parcels of land directly across from the ballpark would make a great location for apartments with street level retail/restaurant space.  Hopefully that eventually happens.

4.  OSU should build some kind of monumental building like a library or student union where Elgin dead ends at John Hope Franklin at Sunset Hill.  That would provide a better visual connection to OSU beyond from Blue Dome and by the ballpark.

All in all this is a fantastic project and could eventually be just what was needed to bridge the gap between Blue Dome and OSU.

Oh and right along the parking lot fence they have planted bushes and vines that will eventually shield someone's view of the parking on the other side...a nice gesture I'd say.

[TheTed]

2.  They should extend the same pavers/street trees/lighting and setback sidewalks north under the 244 underpass and into the OSU campus.  Right now the link between the two is awful.  Same goes for south of Archer, it would be great to see this streetscaping all the way down across the tracks and connected to the existing streetscaping along Elgin at 1st (and then hopefully that part is expanded south past 3rd).

I walked it at night the other day and there was one working streetlight on Elgin between Archer and First. So it's dark, and there's no through sidewalk on either side. This streetscaping needs to be done now. As it is, that stretch of downtown is not gonna win the hearts and minds of downtown haters and those unfamiliar with downtown.

[SXSW]

I also noticed a small metal building that was just north of the old Curly's building (NW corner of Elgin & Brady) has been torn down.  Does anyone know what the plans are for this space?  Seems like I remember hearing about a museum but it could just be a parking lot.