Protective Netting Extended at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In addition to several health and safety protocols that will be instituted, the Oklahoma City Dodgers have announced another big change to the fan experience at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in 2021.

The protective netting has been extended down both foul lines to in order to cover a vast majority of seats in the lower seating bowl, safeguarding fans from foul balls and other flying objects while still allowing a premier viewing experience by sitting close to the action.

The project was completed by Arizona-based West Coast Netting in late April just in time for the start of the 2021 season. West Coast Netting is one of only a handful of vendors approved by Major League Baseball to install netting projects across the country at both Major League and Minor League ballparks in order to keep fans safe.

The project was originally slated to be done prior to the 2020 season but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The previous protective netting spanned from behind home plate to approximately two-thirds of the way down the home and visiting dugouts, covering Sections 106-114. The new netting structure will extend along the padded half-wall separating the field of play from the seating bowl all the way into the outfield.

A great feature of new netting will allow certain portions of the net to be raised before and after games, allowing fans a chance to interact with players. However, due to COVID-19 safety protocols, this feature will not debut until the 2022 season.

“The new netting is really the best of both worlds,” said Oklahoma City Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes. “Not only does it allow us to provide a safer fan experience at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, but it will also allow us in future seasons to maintain the fan-player interaction which is a hallmark of Minor League Baseball.”

This is the second time in the last five years the protective netting has been extended, with a prior extension installed in 2016. The latest project was funded by the City of Oklahoma City, using monies raised through the Dodgers’ rent of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

Fan can get their first look at the extended netting during the OSSAA Class A and Class B spring baseball championships May 8. The Dodgers return to play at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for the first time since September 2019 when they host the Sacramento River Cats May 13-18. Single-game tickets for May and June games are now sale and can be ordered through okcdodgers.com/tickets.