Downtown Businesses Hope For Boost From Drillers Baseball

Downtown businesses certainly don't mind the congestion as Drillers fans stream into ONEOK Field. Many have been eagerly anticipating Opening Day for months.

Thursday, April 8th 2010, 6:10 pm

By: News On 6

Downtown Businesses Hope For Boost From Drillers Baseball

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Downtown businesses certainly don't mind the congestion as Drillers fans stream into ONEOK Field. Many have been eagerly anticipating Opening Day for months.

Many businesses took a risk and opened up shop near the ballpark. They hope Thursday's opening day is proof that their investment has paid off.

Even seven hours before the first pitch, patrons of Fat Guy's Burger Bar were already digging into game day food.

"Food is great, burgers are great. Fries are great. They did a good job here," a diner said.

Fat Guy's opened last Friday and sits adjacent to the Greenwood entrance to ONEOK Field. Management says business has been brisk these past few days, but opening day is what they've really been looking forward to.

"You could be looking at 24, 25,000 people," said Mike Meehan of Fat Guy's Burger Bar. How many of those people are going to come here? We hope a lot."

Owner Mike Meehan realized the risk he was taking by opening a downtown ballpark but says he was banking on the ballpark.

"It's the only district that actually adjoins to the ballpark, and we think it's a big advantage we have over other parts of downtown," he said.

The Hunt Club opened on Main Street last summer. The owners invested in the bar before ONEOK Field was a done deal.

The ballpark was a pleasant surprise.

"We didn't realize it was going to be so close to the Brady District and everything, so it's definitely an added bonus," said Christina Snow of The Hunt Club.

"We're super-excited about it. Can't wait."

The Living Arts Gallery hopes to attract the sports fan who is also a fan of the arts. Its owner moved the gallery from its Kenosha location, and says the prospect of a revitalized Brady District was too much to resist.

"We wanted to be a part of that synergistic quality that's going on in Tulsa. The ballpark was an enticement," said Steve Liggett of the Living Arts Gallery.

Several other downtown projects are under construction, but have yet to be finished. They include more lofts, restaurants, and the John Hope Franklin Memorial and Museum.

The News On 6 will have live reports and special coverage during the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts, and the game will be broadcast on our sister station, The Tulsa CW, beginning at 7 p.m.

OKBlitz.com will be livestreaming the opening game in the new ONEOK Field. Click onto OKBlitz.com to watch the game online!