The University of Oklahoma, winner of six national softball championships since 2013, including the past three, announced Friday it is expanding capacity of its new stadium by 40 percent over initial designs ahead of the facility's 2024 debut.
Love’s Field is scheduled to open in spring at a price tag of $47.9 million and with a capacity of 4,200 fans versus the original 3,000.
“Since the start, we’ve approached the design of Love’s Field with our fans in mind,” OU athletics director Joe Castiglione, as reported by the Tulsa World. “Because we know the demand for OU Softball is sky high, we took great care to increase the capacity wherever we could while maintaining the overall fan experience. We’re thrilled with the results, as we’ve shattered our original expected capacity of about 3,000, now with 3,543 in fixed seating and an additional 657 in standing room.
“At every home game, we’ll now have the opportunity for more than 4,000 Sooner fans to cheer our team to victory in the biggest and best collegiate softball stadium in the country.”
Completion for the stadium continues to be on schedule, Castiglione told the Tulsa World last month. “We do appear to be right on time,” Castiglione said Sept. 14. “We’re looking to actually start putting sod down here in the next several weeks, so that’s a good indicator. … There’s obviously a lot going on inside the walls that a lot of people don’t see until it’s complete, but very, very excited.”
According to Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World, during a tour of the construction site last week, coach Patty Gasso and each player on her 2023 signed the final light pole before it was placed in right-center field.
“When we were standing above the outfield looking toward home plate, we were in awe,” said Gasso, in her 29th season as the Sooners' coach. “It was hard to comprehend the beauty and scope of what we were looking at, considering where we played when I started coaching here. I stood there and reflected on all my years at OU and all the athletes who laid the foundation for this program. I’m reminded of where we started this journey whenever I drive by Reaves Park. Then we stepped across the street to Marita Hynes Field.
“And now we’re on the cusp of having Love’s Field — the premier college softball facility in the country — as our home. I’m so grateful for everyone who helped us get to this point, and am incredibly excited for what’s still to come.”
The complex’s square footage will reach 44,000 compared to the current 15,168 at Marita Hynes Field. The indoor practice facility will go from 4,744 square feet to 10,669 square feet, Bailey reported.
