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AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
(Formerly SBC) |
| Oklahoma City, OK |
“Under the Lights” is the 2006 marketing slogan for the Oklahoma RedHawks of the Triple-A (AAA) Pacific Coast League. The theme is meant to evoke “the curiosity and nostalgia of passing the stadium and hearing the roar of the crowd as field lights blaze through the night sky,” explains Laurie Gore, Director of Public Relations.
Quite a roar it was in 2005, as attendance surged upward to 542,095, an increase of 67,889 over the previous season. Usually a ballpark debut generates big numbers, making the 14% attendance pop particularly sweet for Bricktown which opened in 1998.
In September, Minor League Baseball will revisit the idea of a Triple-A championship in a game to be played at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark on September 16, pitting the winners of the Pacific Coast League against the International League.
In December, a little bit of Alpine fun will be returning to the stadium. Last year, a snow-tubing track was constructed from the ballpark’s upper deck, and it was a huge hit. It will be “bigger and better than before,” said Gore.
New Name & The "Ultimate" Hot Dog
Perhaps the biggest change of all for this season is at the front of the ballpark. Telecommunications giant SBC changed its name to AT&T after the baby Bell acquired Ma. The stadium will likewise change its name to AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.
Fans will find batting cages for their use in right field, and remodeled guest areas featuring upgraded furniture and carpeting.
Is the RedHawks Fiesta Dog the “ultimate” ballpark frank? The dandy dog debuted on opening day, a winning recipe from a contest that the team held in the off-season. What is the Fiesta Dog? This Tums special aims more for the heartburn than the head, and is not for the calorically-challenged: A frank topped with refried beans, taco meat, nacho cheese, grated cheese, salsa and sour cream on top of the dog itself. A tasty treat to tempt you back to your Stairmaster.
Experts Take
“They did a nice job replacing old All Sports Stadium back in 1998,” says Charlie O’Reilly, webmaster of Charlie’s Big Ballpark Page. “Bricktown Ballpark serves as a model for a lot of the new stadiums to look up to. It’s also helping to energize a long-neglected part of town.”
