SBC Bricktown Ballpark
Oklahoma City, OK

The Oklahoma RedHawks are also seeking to build on past successes at the gate.  This year's theme is "The Sport of Having Fun" at SBC Bricktown Ballpark, which is now in its eighth season.

“That’s what it’s all about.  Our whole effort is to turn all of our fans into raving fans,” noted Mike Prange, the team’s Director of Operations as he surveyed a sell-out crowd watching an exhibition game in March. 

“We especially want it to be a joyful experience for families.  We hope they’ll go back to their neighborhoods and tell all their friends that a game at our park offers good

food, a clean environment and lots of action – both in the game itself and the entertainment we provide.”

Building on the popularity of a pre-game concert last year, the RedHawks are hosting four of them this year. 

A playground beyond the grass berm in right-center field is also new for 2005, as is a concession stand called the Dog Pound.  Here fans can enjoy hot dogs from parks around the Majors, including Dodger Dogs, Milwaukee Brats and Fenway Franks. 

The Bricktown ballpark is the centerpiece of a revived downtown with hotels, shops, and even canals with outdoor dining evoking a Venetian experience. Long a showcase for minor league executives and prospective park-building cities for what a ballpark can do to turn around a distressed area, it is slowly also becoming a sports tourism destination.

All the oars are obviously pulling in the right direction, as attendance in 2004 spiked upward by 25% from 2003. That's a particularly impressive feat when you consider that the Rangers' farm system is not known for being one of the great talent showcases.

This year the Brick drops two to the no. 3 slot.

Last Year's Ranking: 1