The RockHounds Hosted an Olympic Watch Party of the Century

On Saturday, August 10th, the Midland RockHounds partnered with the City of Midland to host an event of the century at Momentum Bank Ballpark: a watch party of the Olympic Men’s 800-meter Final. Competing in the final was Bryce Hoppel, a Midland native and son of Monty Hoppel, who was RockHounds General Manager for 34 years, from 1989 – 2023. Bryce grew up at the ballpark, surrounded by sports, family, and a strong-supporting community. News of the watch party hit the streets just 24 hours before the event itself, and the turnout couldn’t have been better.

The ballpark welcomed roughly 1,300 people from the Midland-Odessa area. The party brought together young and old, families, coaches, teachers, RockHounds fans, as well as city and local business leadership. People were lined up outside the front gate an hour before gates opened, showing their support with custom t-shirts, hats, flags, and more. Entry was free and the event lasted from 11AM until 1PM.

Within the team’s premium Diamond Club area were festive decorations from full-size American flags, Hoppel family photos from Paris, and Olympic balloons to a community-signed banner. Everyone in attendance was offered complimentary hotdogs, chips and ice cream, incorporating a fun game-day atmosphere. TVs were set up inside and the live Olympic race was also played on the jumbotron outside, giving people great views from the Diamond Club and ballpark stands.

Before the race, the Olympian’s parents and family greeted fans all the way from Paris through FaceTime, giving everyone personal inside looks at the moments before this monumental moment. Following their appearance was a video presentation highlighting the life and accomplishments of the hard-working Midland native. Closing out the video was Bryce himself, as he expressed his appreciation and love for the community, thanking them for their unwavering support throughout the years and for attending this very event. Bryce ended up placing fourth in the fastest race ever in an Olympic 800m final, setting a historical American record by shattering the previous record with his 1:41.67 time. Cheers rang out through the stands at Momentum Bank Ballpark, as though a bottom-of-the-ninth RockHounds’ walk-off had just happened.

Bryce made everyone in the community very proud, as he represented the USA, west Texas, and his hometown of Midland in the 2024 Olympics. People at the watch party all felt connected to Bryce and to one another through him. They all stayed for hours after the race, sharing memories, celebrating, and snapping pictures of the moment. The celebration didn’t end there, though. The RockHounds still had a game to play that night. It was “Marvel’s Defenders of the Diamond” night, and there was a hero that needed recognizing! Following the baseball game, the stadium did a “Salute to Bryce” video and PA read. The crowd cheered and clapped for the Olympian just before the night ended with an explosive firework show!