Tulsa Hoping To Hit A Downtown Homerun

The Tulsa Drillers and the city of Tulsa have entered into an exclusive agreement to negotiate a deal to move the baseball club to the downtown area.  During a news conference Tuesday afternoon at city hall, Mayor Kathy Taylor and Drillers owner Chuck Lamson announced the agreement. 

Under terms of that agreement, the Drillers and the city of Tulsa have until May 30 to negotiate a deal centering on the East Village area of downtown Tulsa. The East Village area is roughly 1st  to 6th Streets and the Inner Dispersal Loop to Elgin Avenue.

Mayor Taylor says the city will be exploring both public and private funding options to build the new downtown baseball park.  Taylor says Tulsa would actually own the stadium and the Drillers would lease it from the city.

Tuesday's announcement puts a letter of intent with Jenks developers on hold.  Last August, the Drillers confirmed they were looking at relocating the franchise to a location just south of the Oklahoma Aquarium in a new retail development in Jenks.  That letter was non-binding, meaning the Drillers could continue to look at other options. 

The Drillers are a AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.