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Play Ball!

The entrance to ONEOK Field
KWGS News Photo
The entrance to ONEOK Field

By KWGS News

Tulsa, OK – After an 80-plus year stay at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, professional baseball returns to downtown Tulsa when the Tulsa Drillers play their first game at the new ONEOK Field on Thursday, April 8. ONEOK Field is the team's new home located in the historic Greenwood District that is located in the northeast part of downtown Tulsa.

The Opening Night game will include several pre-game activities that will be highlighted by the official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:10PM at the Oil Derrick Entrance located near the corner of Archer Street and Elgin Avenue.

Opening Night will be the start of a six-game homestand that will open the new park. The stand will run for six consecutive days, with the final game slated for Tuesday, April 13. All tickets for the Inaugural Game are sold out, but tickets remain for the other five games.

In addition to the Inaugural Game at ONEOK Field, the first homestand will also include the first downtown fireworks show at the new park following the game on Friday, April 9. Saturday, April 10 is Tulsa True, Wear Drillers Blue Night with all fans encouraged to wear blue.

A complete list of promotions is below.

Remaining tickets are currently available at the ONEOK Field Ticket Office at 201 N. Elgin, over the telephone at (918)744-5901 or over the Internet at TulsaDrillers.com.

OPENING NIGHT SCHEDULE
5:10 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (Oil Derrick Entrance)
5:30 Stadium Gates Open
6:40 On-field Opening Ceremonies Begin

WEATHER OR NOT: The extended weather forecast is calling for clear skies and practically no chances of rain for the entire six days of the opening homestand.

HISTORY BOOKS: Tulsa last opened a new park for its professional baseball team on April 16, 1981 when Sutton Stadium hosted its first game. Arkansas defeated the Drillers 1-0.

STARTING THINGS: Highly touted pitcher Christian Friedrich (Freed-rick) will start the opening night game for the Drillers. Friedrich, a lefthander, was the number one draft pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2008. During the off-season, he was ranked as one of the Top 50 Prospects in minor league baseball by MLB.com.

FIRST PITCH: Country music star and actor Tim McGraw will throw a ceremonial first pitch before Thursday's Inaugural Game. McGraw, the son of former major league pitcher Tug McGraw, will perform a concert at the BOK Center later that night.