Summary
The USA Softball Stadium is home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) and USA Softball. The WCWS and numerous other events hosted in the stadium have an annual economic impact to Oklahoma City in excess of $70 million. In order to complete the renovations without interrupting the scheduled tournament play, Timberlake Construction worked with the City of Oklahoma City, USA Softball, NCAA, and ESPN to sequence the two-year construction project in a way that allowed for the games to occur.
Phase I: Extensive demolition with careful consideration for the parts of the stadium which remained untouched allowed for earth retaining and shoring to proceed, followed by the construction of a cast-in-place concrete basement addition. A multi-story press box was then built over this area and featured new facilities for television and radio broadcasts to meet the requirements of ESPN, as well as the needs of national and local sportswriters. Additionally, the press box includes a VIP spectators’ room, kitchen, conference room, interview rooms and other media accommodations. New lower concourses were also added.
Phase II: A new structural steel and precast grandstand area added 4,000 new seats as well as new upper concourses, concession stands, camera towers and field lighting. Additionally, the entire natural turf field, aggregate and drainage system was replaced during this stage of the project, making this one of the nicest playing surfaces in the country. The completion of this project guarantees that the NCAA Women’s College World Series will be held in Oklahoma City through 2035!
