Fireworks are Tradition for Drillers

Every Friday night for nearly 50 years, one Coweta company has put on a show for baseball fans in Tulsa.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:23 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: May 6, 2011 10:34 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Reporter

TULSA, Oklahoma – The sounds brings smiles to thousands of baseball fans every year at ONEOK Field.

Boom! Pop! Crack! Ka-pow!

Fireworks are as traditional as hot dogs at Tulsa Drillers games. The colorful explosions light up the skies over downtown Tulsa all season long on Friday nights during home stands.

Imperial Fireworks out of Coweta has provided the post game entertainment at Drillers games since the mid-70s. It’s a family affair, headed up by owner Tiffany Dugan. Her father first started blasting off fireworks nearly 50 years ago for the Drillers. It began at old Drillers Stadium at the fairgrounds and followed the team after its move to ONEOK Field.

Dugan says fans and players alike routinely compliment her for the amazing shows. Imperial Fireworks takes about two hours to set up the entire show. It’s all automated and takes about ten minutes to fire all of the thousands of fireworks. The shows have really boosted the Drillers attendance numbers over the years. Team general manager Mike Melega says it’s the team’s most popular promotion of the season.

Nearly one month into the season, Tulsa leads the Texas League North Division at 16-10.