Much Better Than Just OK

Official Review by Bradlee Ross, Stadium Journey Regional Correspondent

ONEOK Field is located in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma and is well worth a visit if you ever find yourself in the Tulsa area during those prime baseball-watching spring and summer months.

The park plays host to the Tulsa Drillers, who were founded in 1977 and are a double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Opening in 2010, ONEOK Field is named for ONEOK natural gas company and has a total capacity of just under 8,000.

Food & Beverage    5

One thing that you won't have trouble finding at ONEOK Field is a wide variety of different tasty treats to enjoy. Whether you prefer the typical concession experience consisting of popcorn, peanuts and a hot dog or something more specific like Philly cheesesteaks or Chinese stir-fry, you'll find what you need to complete your ballpark experience. The variety of food options available at this venue is top notch.

The list of those available options is long. The regular concession stands are called Wildcatters Café. At these stands you can find pretzels, wings, grilled chicken, mac and cheese bites, veggie hot dogs and burgers, popsicles, and chocolate malts as well as your more typical concession fare. The prices at these stands are very reasonable.

If you are looking for something a bit different than standard concession food, you have a long list of options for that as well. Head to Steakadelphia if you crave a philly cheesesteak, to Corner Cantina for authentic Mexican food or to the aptly-named Intentional Wok for Chinese stir-fry. You also have options for pizza (Mazzio's), ice cream and frozen yogurt (Sweet and Hornsby's Ice Cream Parlor) and specialty hot dogs (Franx). And of course, there are plenty of beer, cocktail and margarita stands for those fans who enjoy a drink at the ballpark. Most of these stands are very competitively priced.

The downside to having so many great options for food is that the lines are formidable. You will have to wait in line to get the good stuff, so pick and choose your concession breaks wisely.

However, if you are not the type who likes to take your meal back to your seat, you do have other seating options. The Osage Casino Pavilion outside left field has plenty of picnic tables where families can eat. There are also quite a few tables littered around the concourse, though those fill up quickly.

If you have trouble deciding what to spend your hard-earned money on, choose the Jalapeno Popper Burger that can be had from the Burgertopia stands. It consists of a ½ pound beef patty, jalapenos and cheddar cream cheese. It's delicious and a bargain.

Atmosphere    4

ONEOK Field has a very family-friendly atmosphere and is clearly catered toward that market. There are multiple areas around the concourse specifically designated for children, including a water area with fountains outside center field and a Kid Zone play area with inflatables on the east side of the ballpark.

The vendors that move throughout the seating areas selling various wares are also a highlight in this area. Many of them build a good rapport with fans and are an entertainment in and of themselves. The mascot Hornsby, a blue bull, also interacts well with the crowd and will even ride around the field in a pickup truck throwing shirts into the crowd between innings. Silly fan games and contests between innings are also fairly entertaining. Try to picture a fat-suit tug-of-war relay involving hula hoops and large bouncy balls and not be intrigued.

The beautiful (if a bit small) Tulsa skyline that juts up over right field adds tremendously to the atmosphere. Fans can also shop at Drill Bits, a souvenir stand, and Black Gold Outfitters, which is a separate, air-conditioned souvenir store.

Neighborhood    5

ONEOK Field isn't hard to get to at all. Interstate highway 244 goes right by and the Tulsa downtown district itself is surrounded by four or five different highways that all converge, making it easy to get to no matter what direction you are coming from. Once you get off the highway, things can get a bit more difficult, as downtown Tulsa can be difficult to navigate depending on construction.

There is plenty to see and do around ONEOK Field. Downtown Tulsa has much to offer including the Philbrook Arts Museum, Spaghetti Warehouse and the BOK Center, another great venue.

The most historically-significant aspect of downtown Tulsa is the Greenwood district, which was once known as the "Black Wall Street of America" because it was the home of many prominent African-Americans. Within it, you can find the Jazz Hall of Fame, Greenwood Cultural Center and the Mabel B. Little Heritage House, all of which are well worth the visit if you are even remotely a history buff.

As far as eateries go, you should plan to have your pre-Driller-game meal at Burn Co. Barbecue, which has the best barbecue in the state of Oklahoma. However, you'll have to time out your visit, as Burn Co. is only open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm, which leads to very long lines (though they move quickly). It also is a considerable distance from the park. However, when you bite into the best barbecue you've ever had, it will all be worth it.

Your post game meal doesn't need to be far from the ballpark at all. Fat Guy's Burger Bar is actually connected to ONEOK Field, just outside the outfield, but it also has a street front. With great burgers and plenty of TVs to watch your favorite ballgames, you won't be sorry you stopped here for a bite. If you need a recommendation, try out the Pizza Burger. It consists of a beef patty, a sausage patty, pepperoni, provolone cheese, basil mayonnaise and marinara sauce. It will change how you feel about pizza and burgers (in a good way).

Fans    4

Drillers fans are pretty involved in the action on the field, and they do a great job of cheering on their team. They primarily consist of families with young children or younger adults between the ages of 18 and 30, with families being the majority.

The stands will be over half-full almost every single game, which is very good participation for the local area. There are also very few hecklers and obnoxious fans that attend these games, with almost everyone being extremely polite and courteous.

Access    4

Fans should arrive early for good parking, but free parking can be had if one is willing to hunt for it. The OSU-Langston Tulsa campus offers free parking on certain nights of the week and is only about a mile away from the ballpark.

The walkways between seats and the concourse are wide enough to allow relatively easy travel around the park, despite the large crowds. The seats are pretty comfortable and spacious, and there is a lot of grassy seating areas off the outfield. It is also very easy to find one's seats thanks to the plentiful signage around the park.

This venue loses a bit of its luster in this area for the difficulties that downtown Tulsa can present. Construction and one-way streets can make it difficult to get around in your car, but you should have no problem once you actually park.

Return on Investment    5

A fan can't ask for much more than they will receive at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. The fans are great, the atmosphere is fun, there is more food than anyone could eat and it is surrounded by a great neighborhood filled with historical significance and great places to eat.

As if all of that wasn't enough, you'll be pleased to know that you can procure a ticket to a Drillers game for less than $10. Granted, that price won't get you the best seat in the house, but there really aren't any bad seats in this ballpark. All things considered, a visit to this ballpark is well-worth the investment.

Extras    3

One point is given here for the ballpark's willingness to make it a place parents can feel comfortable bringing their young children. Hornsby's Hangout is loads of fun for the kids with inflatables and other activities. The water play area off the outfield is also a great idea for those hot summer days at the ball park.

Another point for Hornsby the mascot, who does a great job of interacting with the crowd and being energetic.