Lease Approved For Old Tulsa Driller Stadium

TULSA, Oklahoma -- The old Drillers stadium has a new tenant. The field has been empty since the Tulsa Drillers baseball team moved downtown to OneOK Field.

But Tuesday, a one-year lease was signed and the plans still include a baseball diamond.

The Tulsa County Public Facilities Authority at Expo Square approved a one-year lease to RBI Baseball. Partners Jason Arrowood and Tim Strickland plan to use the stadium as a training and tournament facility.

"This is how kids get seen for college now. They'll play on these high school showcase traveling teams in the summer and go state to state. University to university," said RBI General Manager Jason Arrowood.

Driller's Stadium at Expo Square produced some of baseball's greats.

"Local guys. Matt Holliday from Stillwater, Pudge Rodriguez played here. Sammy Sosa. Guys that have a big name in the major league community played on this field," said Jason Arrowood, General Manager of RBI Baseball.

But once the Drillers moved downtown to OneOK Field, the historic ballpark sat empty. It's future uncertain. The county surveyed Tulsans to find out what we wanted to see come of the field.

"What came across loud and clear at the time is youth and sports," said Tulsa County Commissioner Fred Perry.

RBI will pay Expo Square $5,000 a month in rent. As part of the lease, they will pay the utilities and maintenance costs, including the care of that famous baseball diamond.

County Commissioner Fred Perry says it costs tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain the field.

RBI takes over on January 1, 2011.

4/30/2010 Related Story: No Outdoor Racing At Old Tulsa Driller Stadium