The Oklahoma Sooners softball team has created a dynasty and now are on the verge of beginning play in a state-of-the-art softball facility during the 2024 season.
On Friday, the University of Oklahoma announced the final seating capacities for Love’s Field.
“Since the start, we’ve approached the design of Love’s Field with our fans in mind,” said athletic director [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag] in the OU Athletic Department’s release. “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.”
Marita Hynes Field currently runs with a seated capacity of 1,378. Including standing room capabilities, Love’s Field will triple the attendance capabilities for Oklahoma Softball in the future.
Led by head coach [autotag]Patty Gasso[/autotag], the Oklahoma Sooners have won three straight national championships and six of the last 10 titles. She’s led Oklahoma to seven overall. That success has helped create an incredible buzz surrounding the sport of softball across the country.
“When we were standing above the outfield looking toward home plate, we were in awe,” said Gasso during a tour of the construction site. “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 Oklahoma Sooners are expecting to begin play at Love’s Field during the 2024 season.
More From OU Athletics
Plans call for the overall square footage of the complex to reach 44,000, compared to 15,168 at Marita Hynes Field, OU’s present facility. The team areas will expand from 2,598 square feet to 5,593 square feet and the indoor practice facility will jump from 4,744 square feet to 10,669 square feet.
The Love’s Field seat-selection process for the 2024 softball season will resume in November with those in Groups 2 and 3 whose assigned selection time was not initially available during the first phase of the selection process this summer.
Seats will be selected via an online Love’s Field seat map. Groups 2 and 3 members whose assigned selection time was not available during the first phase of the selection process will be assigned a selection time in which they can view inventory and make seat selections as availability allows. Available seat locations are in the outfield reserved sections and require paying only the annual season ticket cost. To maximize capacity of Love’s Field, some sections in the outfield have been altered since the original selection process. Those who previously selected seats in these locations that may be impacted by this adjustment will be contacted prior to the selection process resuming in November.
Supporters in both groups will be ranked via Sooner Points associated with their OU Athletics account. Sooner Points accumulate for OU Athletics lifetime season ticket purchases, seat-related giving history and attendance. Assigned selection times and instructions will be provided via email to account holders prior to the start of the November selection process. Groups 2 and 3 are not guaranteed the opportunity to purchase season tickets, as seat locations throughout Love’s Field are subject to availability and the selections made by those with earlier assigned times.
Fans in Groups 2 and 3 who have do not receive seat-selection information via email today can contact the Sooner Club at 405-325-8000.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.