Downtown Tulsa's ONEOK Field Taking Shape

By Jeffrey Smith, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- With the all the concrete and steel in place, the Tulsa Drillers are taking time to show off the progress at the new ONEOK Field.  For the first time since construction began almost nine months ago, it was possible to go into the dugout, inside the press box, and get a feel of the new stadium.

08/13/2009 Related Story: ONEOK Field Holds Topping Out Ceremony

"This is a construction site. Be careful of your surroundings; be careful of where you're at. Things can come up behind you, things can come up in front of you, and things can come up above you," warned Project Manager Bob Jack.

The locker rooms and clubhouses are starting to take shape.  The diamond, however, is still a bit more of a diamond in the rough.

"You can actually start to see a baseball field taking shape, can't ya?" said Project Manager Bob Jack.

Jack says construction is on schedule and on budget.  The budget tops out at $60 million.

"The 360 degree concourse promotes an open, park-like feel, gives fans a great view from different spots," said Drillers Owner Chuck Lamson.  "Besides being a great ballpark for the fans, we want it to be a great ballpark for the players, as well."

Almost 150 construction workers are laboring on the project.  Jack says his crews have logged 50,000 hours of manual labor so far.

"The skeleton of the site has now been completed, and now we're starting to see the exterior skin go on the building," said Project Manager Bob Jack.

There were 1,100 tons of steel that went into the skeleton.  The evergreen tree on that last beam is supposed to bring good luck.

The team's owner says good fortune will have a new home in the 6,000 seat stadium.

The next step is to lay the sod on the field.  The construction guys say that will happen in the next two weeks.  After the grass grows, it should be time to play ball in early April.