Drillers Work To Recoup Revenue Loss From Pandemic, Look For Congressional Relief

General Manager Mike Melega said the Drillers lost millions of dollars in revenue due to lost ticket sales and concessions.

Friday, July 23rd 2021, 10:34 pm



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Many of the more than 200 Minor League baseball teams across the country - including the Tulsa Drillers - were hit hard when the season was shut down last year due to the pandemic.

General Manager Mike Melega said the Drillers lost millions of dollars in revenue due to lost ticket sales and concessions and it will take several years to recoup those losses.

"We are ahead of plan this year, it’s been a great bounce back season for us, there is no question, but we are still four years out to make up for last season, where we have to be successful every year," said Melega.

Congress is debating a bill with bipartisan support that would divvy up $550 million among minor league teams to help alleviate the loss of their season.  

"I do think that minor league baseball is a compelling part of americana, I think there are a lot of clubs across the country in every state, so I think there is a stakeholder in every congressman and every senator in the country to support something like this," said Melega.

If the bill doesn't pass, the Drillers don't anticipate things changing at ONEOK Field. In fact, there might be even more concerts, graduations and even a return of the collegiate Drillers at the stadium, just like this past year.

"Moving forward, we were able to maintain a lot of those relationships that we started in 2020 and into 2021,” Melega said. “I think we are going to maintain those types of relationships moving forward.”



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