Fans Take in the Brand New ONEOK Field

Originally Published: Apr 8, 2010 10:57 PM CDT

Kyle Dierking
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma - One by one the tickets were torn.

It was the thrill of finding a new seat in the new ballpark. Whether it was a lawn chair, blanket or on top of a building, fans were taking in ONEOK Field.

"It's a total new game. It's like a new baby,” said Tulsa’s Brant Williams.

Said Sapulpa’s Scott Dougall, who has been going to Drillers games for 35 years, "Sure beats the daylights out of the old Driller park. Just being here is a hoot."

In the outfield grass it was the prospect of catching the long ball that had one fan excited.

"Now, with this general admission seating you can be right up front or out back,” said Tulsa’s Michael Knight. “You know you have a chance to catch a home run ball every now and then."

Beer vendor Mark Aaenson was patrolling around the park. He cracks open cold ones at about every local sporting event and picked the Drillers opener over the Tim McGraw concert at the BOK Center.

"It's pretty important. I love baseball - I like to play it, I like to watch it, I like to be a part of it," Aaenson said.

And that was the consensus among baseball fans making the trek to the new downtown ballpark.

"The first pitch is going to be the first pitch,” Knight said. “The first home run's going to be the first home run. It's a piece of Drillers history. It's a piece of Tulsa history."