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Opinion

Editorial: OKC sees major payoff with investment into softball

We'd like to hear from you. Email us at editorials@koco.com.

Opinion
Editorial: OKC sees major payoff with investment into softball

We'd like to hear from you. Email us at editorials@koco.com.

NOW A KOCO FIVE EDITORIAL HERE IS PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BRENT HENSLEY. RIGHT NOW, ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING EVENTS IN COLLEGE SPORTS IS HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN OKC. YEARS AGO, OUR CITY TOOK A GAMBLE ON SOFTBALL INVESTING TIME, ENERGY, AND MONEY IN BECOMING THE CENTER OF THAT SPORT IN THE COUNTRY. AND WHILE IT’S PAID OFF IN THE PAST, WE’VE NEVER SEEN AS BIG A RETURN AS WE’RE SEEING RIGHT NOW WITH THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES, THE NEWLY NAMED DEVON PARK WILL STAY PACKED THROUGHOUT THE NINE DAY EVENT, EVEN AFTER EXPANDING TO 13,000 SEATS LAST YEAR, WITH AN ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $25 MILLION. AND THAT NUMBER OF FANS IS SMALL COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO WILL SEE THE CITY SHOWCASE ON THEIR TV SCREENS. LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE WATCHED OU WIN THEIR THIRD STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP, AND THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY TO RISE EVEN HIGHER THIS YEAR AS THEY GO FOR THEIR FOURTH. YOU CAN SEE THE IMPACT IT HAS ON YOUNG WOMEN ACROSS OUR STATE BY LOOKING AT THE INCREDIBLE COMPETITION ON SOFTBALL DIAMONDS ACROSS OKLAHOMA, OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE TOP NOTCH AND OUR COLLEGES ARE THRIVING WITH OU AND OSU BACK IN OKC AGAIN THIS YEAR, WE AT COKE CO ARE PROUD OF THIS EVENT. WE’RE PROUD TO BRING YOU SOME OF THOSE GAMES LIVE ON KOCO AND WE’RE PROUD TO SPOTLIGHT THE EVENT AS A TOP EVENT STATEWIDE. WE HOPE YOU’LL CONTINUE TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT THIS YEAR AND FOR YEARS TO COME. I’D LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU. EMAIL ME AT EDITORIALS AT KOCO DOT COM. THIS H
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Opinion
Editorial: OKC sees major payoff with investment into softball

We'd like to hear from you. Email us at editorials@koco.com.

One of the most exciting events in college sports is happening right now in Oklahoma City.Years ago, our city took a gamble on softball, investing time, energy and money in becoming the center of softball in the U.S. While it's paid off in the past, we've never seen as big a return as we're seeing right now with the Women's College World Series.The newly named Devon Park will be packed throughout the nine-day tournament. Last year, the stadium expanded to fit 13,000 seats, and the estimated economic impact is over $25 million.That amount of fans is small compared to the number of people who will see Oklahoma City showcased on their TV screens. Last year, more than 2 million people watched OU win their third straight national championship, and that number is likely to rise even higher this year as they go for a fourth.You can see the impact it has on young women in our state by looking at the incredible competition on softball diamonds across Oklahoma. Our high school programs are top notch, and our colleges are thriving with OU and Oklahoma State University back in the Women's College World Series this.We at KOCO 5 are proud of this event. We're proud to bring you some of the games live, and we're proud to spotlight the event as a top event statewide.We hope you'll continue to show your support this year and for years to come.I'd like to hear from you. Email me at editorials@koco.com.

One of the most exciting events in college sports is happening right now in Oklahoma City.

Years ago, our city took a gamble on softball, investing time, energy and money in becoming the center of softball in the U.S. While it's paid off in the past, we've never seen as big a return as we're seeing right now with the Women's College World Series.

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The newly named Devon Park will be packed throughout the nine-day tournament. Last year, the stadium expanded to fit 13,000 seats, and the estimated economic impact is over $25 million.

That amount of fans is small compared to the number of people who will see Oklahoma City showcased on their TV screens. Last year, more than 2 million people watched OU win their third straight national championship, and that number is likely to rise even higher this year as they go for a fourth.

You can see the impact it has on young women in our state by looking at the incredible competition on softball diamonds across Oklahoma. Our high school programs are top notch, and our colleges are thriving with OU and Oklahoma State University back in the Women's College World Series this.

We at KOCO 5 are proud of this event. We're proud to bring you some of the games live, and we're proud to spotlight the event as a top event statewide.

We hope you'll continue to show your support this year and for years to come.

I'd like to hear from you. Email me at editorials@koco.com.