Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark - Oklahoma City Comets

Photos by Terry McCutchen, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark 2 S. Mickey Mantle Drive Oklahoma City, OK 73104

Oklahoma City Comets website

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark website

Year Opened: 1998

Capacity: 9,000

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Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, is known nationally for its location as an anchor in the Midwest’s Tornado Alley, as well as the location of a horrific act of domestic terrorism, the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Despite being shrouded by such a dark history, the city offers much more for visitors than many people could imagine. This budding metropolis, ranking as the 20th largest city in the US according to the 2020 census, is a hidden gem in an area of the country that is often forgotten or underappreciated. Serving as a regional hub of commerce and entertainment, OKC is home to a varied mix of cultures, most notably Native American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, and more.

Professional baseball in Oklahoma City is older than Oklahoma’s statehood (1907), dating back to the Metropolitans, who were formed in 1904. Other than a break in 1913 and a three-year hiatus during World War II, there was professional baseball in the city until 1957. During that time, in addition to the Mets, the team played under the monikers Indians, Senators, and Boosters at different times.

The team enjoyed membership primarily in the Texas League and Western League during its history, but also participated in the Southwestern League and Oklahoma State League at times. The city gained affiliation with Major League teams beginning in 1941, playing under the Cleveland Indians, New York Giants, and Boston Red Sox off and on until 1957, at which time the Indians left OKC for Corpus Christi when the Texas League restructured.

In 1962, MLB added an expansion team in Houston, the Colt 45’s, predecessor to the Astros, and placed its Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City 89ers, named after 1889 and the land rush, began what has been a 63-year run of Double-A and Triple-A baseball in OKC. Other than the Astros, the team has been an affiliate of the Phillies, Rangers, Indians, and Dodgers, which is their current parent club. The team has also rebranded a few times, playing under the names of RedHawks, Dodgers, Oklahoma City Baseball Club, and, most recently, the Comets. The Comet name was announced in the fall of 2024 to honor OK native “Commerce Comet” Mickey Mantle, as well as being a nod to the state’s ties in the aerospace industry.

Food & Beverage   4

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark offers a solid selection of ballpark fare, ranging from one-third-pound burgers, nachos, Comet Dogs (hot dogs), and multiple snack items. There are regional and specialty items available as well, such as Pi Pizza and Foul Ball Chicken. Fans can also find tacos, cheesesteak, and barbecue in selected concession spots.

Fans should also take advantage of the COOP Beer Garden where there is a selection of 4 locally branded beers on tap, as well as more local styles and domestics available in cans. For non-alcoholic beverages, flavored tea from HTeaO and Pepsi products are available throughout the park. Lastly, Boom Town Creamery lets you beat the heat during an Oklahoma summer evening with a scoop or two of OKC Comets Crunch ice cream, served in a souvenir helmet or waffle cone; it really hits the spot.

Atmosphere   4

Built in 1998 as a catalyst to spur downtown revitalization in OKC, Bricktown Ballpark became a popular venue ranking as high as number 2 in Baseball America’s 1998 minor league ballpark rankings, and remained in the top 10 as recently as 2013, courtesy of USA Today's Readers’ Choice Awards. Despite seating over 13,000 fans in double-decked stands on opening night, the current seating capacity is 9,000, with much of the upper deck closed to fans, due to seats being removed and bare concrete or advertising signage visible.

Along with the mile-long man-made canal, constructed in 1999, the Bricktown Neighborhood has become a vibrant entertainment district and tourist attraction for thousands of people annually. The stadium facade is constructed of red brick, matching many of the historic buildings that were originally warehouses and industrial buildings nearby, which gave the neighborhood its moniker.

Neighborhood   5

Located in the heart of Bricktown in downtown Oklahoma City, the ballpark is within walking distance of a plethora of food and drink options. Restaurants mere footsteps from the ballpark gates include Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Whiskey Chicks, The Melting Pot, Texadelphia, and Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse, among others.

For fans looking for activities other than Triple A baseball, options are plentiful in the area – within just a few minutes of Chickasaw Bricktown Stadium, you will find Riversport OKC, home of the US Olympic canoe, kayak, and rowing training centers. There are also multiple shopping options, not the least of which is Cabela’s.

Fans   4

Oklahoma City has averaged between 5,000 and 5,500 fans per game in most seasons since 2015, with a high of 6,713 per game in 2018. This means that most games have more than 50% capacity, which is enough to provide for an entertaining environment.

At the game I last attended, though it was marred by inclement weather, the fans were engaged and provided a fun atmosphere for the home team.

Access   5

Located in Bricktown, merely blocks from Paycom Center, home of the NBA’s OKC Thunder, there is ample parking immediately across the street from the ballpark. There is one lot across Joe Carter Avenue that charges $10 to park, which is merely 100 yards from the first base gate entrance, but if you are willing to walk just a little, there is free parking in several large lots within an easy 5-to-10-minute walk.

For overnight travelers, there are numerous hotels in the Bricktown area, some of which are behind the left field wall of the ballpark; these include Hilton Garden Inn,  Hampton Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites, and Courtyard by Marriott. Most of these accommodations range in price from $125 to $200 per night and have positive reviews. For fans looking to spend less for their lodging, there are numerous options within a short drive of downtown.

OKC’s Will Rogers International Airport is said to be easy to navigate – it is served by Delta, American, Southwest, and United Airlines, with multiple flights departing and arriving daily. If ground travel is preferred, however, Interstate 35, Interstate 40, and Interstate 44 all converge in the OKC metro area. Traffic can be heavy during rush hour, mainly due to road construction (planning for area growth) and in anticipation of the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Return on Investment   4

With the low cost of tickets and ample free parking in and around the stadium, the cost of attendance is well within the budget of any baseball fan. Add the fact that concessions are on the lower end of pricing for stadium for food and drinks, and attending Comets games is an economical entertainment option.

Extras   5

The Comet fans sing Oklahoma, the state song, after Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7th inning stretch. This show of state pride is worthy of special recognition and adds a unique, regional touch to the experience. The number of downtown attractions, including the river, museums, restaurants, and bars, is worth noting as well. One special attraction is the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame, which is located on the northwest corner of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, near the third base gate of the venue.

An extra point is also given for the sports history attached to the park; the street names surrounding Chickasaw Bricktown Park carry the names of some of Oklahoma’s baseball and entertainment stars of the past. These names include Joe Carter Avenue, Mickey Mantle Drive, and Flaming Lips Alley. In addition, the statues and plaques honoring all the major leaguers with ties to Oklahoma also garner an extra point.

More value is also provided here due to the welcoming and friendly nature of the staff and fans of the team – the way the staff make visitors feel comfortable as they enter the stadium is worthy of note. One final point is also awarded for the organization and quality of the team store, where there are multiple items available from all the past and present team identities, including logos from previous parent clubs.

Final Thoughts

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, even though it’s the second-oldest ballpark in the Pacific League, presents a great setting for Triple-A baseball. Free parking and reasonably priced concessions allow families to attend games without busting the monthly budget.

In addition to high-level minor league baseball, Oklahoma’s capital city provides plenty of entertainment and dining options for fans of all ages. OKC, sitting in the center of the country and home to a little over 700,000 residents, is underrated by most travel experts. As a hidden gem, planning a visit to Bricktown Ballpark should be on all baseball fans’ bucket lists.