Drillers & City Reach New Ballpark Agreement

The Drillers have agreed to play ball with Downtown Tulsa. The News On 6's Jeffrey Smith reports the city and the Drillers have agreed on a long-term lease for the ballpark. They want it built in time for opening day 2010.

On Saturday, Tulsa baseball and Tulsa government came to terms on a 30-year-lease to build a ballpark. But the city council has to figure out who's going to sit on the trust authority that runs the stadium.

The Drillers owner says Tulsa has hit a home run and now it's time to for city council play ball.

Chuck Lamson is walking on his field of dreams.

"I think we'd be on the field right about here, in this area. I'm sure. Because home plate will be right over there in that corner, near those trees," said Lamson.

Lamson says he's been waiting for this day for a long time and now his vision will become reality.

"It is time to say let's play ball," said Mayor Kathy Taylor.

The new 6,000 seat stadium will be in the middle of downtown.

"This is going to turbo-charge, supercharge downtown revitalization," said Mayor Taylor.

The whole project will cost $60 million. About half comes from private donors and the other half from a recently-approved downtown property tax.

A lawsuit against that tax hike is still pending and there's one more hurdle, the size of the trust authority that'll oversee the stadium. Originally proposed with 5 trustees, the number has ballooned to three times that.

"I'm not sure what the right number is. Maybe nine," said Lamson.

"It's some composition and some number of trustees, those are the two main issues that we're working through," said City Councilor Eric Gomez.

Councilor Eric Gomez says the stadium will be built.

"It's one of the last pieces of the downtown puzzle that we need," said Gomez.

Lamson says he wants to break ground by Thanksgiving.

"I would venture that our view will be as good as any in minor league baseball, and as good as some in Major League Baseball," said Lamson.

He says if he builds it, the fans will come.

Some city councilors say too many private donors have been offered a seat on the trust and it's become too bloated of an organization. City council will tackle those size issues on Thursday.