There was no hiding the rebrand of USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium on Monday.
The park, the home of the Women’s College World Series and the Big 12 Tournament is already adorned with plenty of signage with its new name — Devon Park.
The sponsorship by Devon Energy was announced Monday morning at the stadium in an event featuring OU coach Patty Gasso, Oklahoma State coach Kenny Gajewski , ESPN broadcaster and former OSU standout Michelle Smith, executives from USA Softball and Devon and others.
The field was formerly known as OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium.
“It’s just a tribute to all the hard work that’s been put in to get to this point through viewership, through new facilities,” Gasso said. “Devon was watching from the sidelines and wanted to get involved. This is one of the biggest investments, I’m certain, for anyone in women’s athletics. The fact that they’re Oklahoma City-based means so much to us as well. …
“This is everything. And to see all these big moments happening for women’s softball is really exciting.”
More: Oklahoma State softball came up short of Bedlam sweep but reinforced its confidence
The branding will make its public debut at the Big 12 Tournament, which runs Wednesday through Sunday at the stadium.
“We want to make sure that whatever we do in the community aligns with the values that we have and how we can support the universities, support the communities, support the state, support the people of the state,,” Devon President and CEO Rick Muncrief said at the announcement. “And we think this aligns perfectly with us. … We think that sports is a great venue.”
Oklahoma State opens the tournament against BYU at 11 a.m. Thursday, followed by OU against the winner of Wednesday’s Kansas-Houston matchup at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
The WCWS begins May 30 at the stadium with the championship series scheduled to conclude June 6 or 7.
Gasso had been coming to the WCWS in Oklahoma City before she became the Sooners’ coach in 1995.
Since, the event and complex has continued to grow.
The stadium currently holds 13,000 for the WCWS, with 9,000 permanent seats and 4,000 temporary bleacher seats in the outfield.
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The sport has also continued to grow, especially in Oklahoma, with television ratings rising, an NCAA regular-season record crowd last season between OU and Texas and the opening of the Sooners’ new Love’s Field this season.
“It does, because it’s so big. It’s not small,” Gasso said when asked if she’s still surprised by the sport’s continued growth. “They’re just huge investments going on around the country. I’ve been here for 30 years so I remember what it looked like here with the berm. I was probably one of 3,000 back when I was coaching in California junior college.
"I thought this was the greatest thing I’ve ever seen. I sat at the stands wishing, wondering what it would be like if I was coaching a college team and it’s an unbelievable dream but I’ve watched it from the beginning and I’ve been part of the dream, but now to see where it’s going all over the country, all over the world, the investments that are happening for women’s athletics but women’s softball specifically, it’s amazing and I’m just happy to be here.”
While there is plenty of signage already in place — including at the entrance to both the parking lots and the stadium as well as inside the stadium and above the video board — the announcement video also included renderings of a new-look main entrance to the stadium.
Gajewski hasn’t been around the sport quite as long as Gasso but has witnessed plenty of growth first as an assistant at Florida and then over the past nine seasons as the Cowgirls’ head coach.
“This is a major day in our sport, for USA Softball and most importantly for OKC and the state,” Gajewski said. “This is just another sign that softball matters here, young women matter in a big way. I couldn’t be more excited for everyone.”
More: OU softball roars past Oklahoma State to avoid Bedlam sweep, take second place in Big 12
All times Central.
- Game 1: No. 7 Kansas vs. No. 10 Houston, 5 p.m.
- Game 2: No. 8 Texas Tech vs. No. 9 Iowa State, 8:30 p.m.
- Game 3: No. 3 Oklahoma State vs. No. 6 BYU, 11 a.m.
- Game 4: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. Winner of Game 1,1:30 p.m.
- Game 5: No. 1 Texas vs. Winner of Game 2, 5 p.m.
- Game 6: No. 4 Baylor vs. No. 5 UCF, 7:30 p.m.
- Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 5 p.m.
- Game 8: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6, 7:30 p.m.
- Game 9: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 8, 6:30 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Home of Women's College World Series, USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, unveils rebrand
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