DRILLERS STADIUM

Drillers Stadium is located at 15th and Yale, on the northeast corner of the Tulsa State Fairgrounds which also contains Big Splash Water Park and Bell's Amusement Park. The most interesting aspect of this stadium is the parking lot of Yale Avenue - it is located right in the middle of a horse-racing track. When we entered the lot, we drove over a small steel path that was laid over dirt. We didn't realize where we were until we got out of the car and looked around. As you can see in the picture below, you need to walk over the racecourse to get to the ballpark.

The ballpark is beyond this racecourse.

The park itself was built in 1981 and like most 80's parks is mostly aluminum and steel. The capacity is 10,963, which makes it the largest stadium in all of AA. There are two levels of seating with 5 different ticket options. The dugout box seats are between the bases on the lower deck, but are sold out to season ticket holders. Down the lines lie the field box seats which are $8. In the upper level behind home plate are the $8.50 terrace box seats, but for $6 you can sit in the reserved benches, which are the first 8 rows of the second level. GA is above the reserved seats and costs $4.50, but there are occasionally promotions where GA tickets can be obtained for free from a local grocer.  I enjoyed the different perspective from the front row of the reserved seats - you are still close to the field, but from a much higher vantage point than usual. There is also a standing area on the lower-level concourse.

From first base

The main concession is known as Hornsby's Home Plate Grill, named after the mascot. Get there early, it can get busy. Didn't really enjoy the food here, so we can't recommend anything. The ice cream stand behind 3rd base is good though, they have a number of different helmets you can choose from.

The scoreboard over right-center field is one of the best we've seen in the minors - the video screen is new and the replays are good.  Lineups and standings are posted on the walkway behind third base using letters that are magnetically attached, making it easy to read. 

One nice feature is the Driller Hall of Fame which is on the wall along the concourse behind home plate. Sammy Sosa is probably the most famous inductee along with Ivan Rodriguez.

Overall, the stadium is nothing special. With the good seats already sold out, you are not left with as many options, and they are a bit expensive at that. I can't think of anything that would make this stadium a must on a roadtrip, it is probably better to skip it and move on down to Oklahoma City.