Marita Hynes Field Explained

Stadium Name:Marita Hynes Field
Location:Norman, Oklahoma
Opened:1998
Closed:2024
Owner:University of Oklahoma
Operator:University of Oklahoma
Tenants:Oklahoma Sooners softball - (NCAA)
1994–2024
Seating Capacity:1,378

Marita Hynes Field at OU Softball Complex is a college softball stadium on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. It is the home venue of the Oklahoma Sooners softball team. The playing surface was named for Marita Hynes on April 24, 2004. Hynes served as the second head coach of the Sooners and later as Senior Women's Administrator, and was instrumental in fundraising for the stadium.[1]

The stadium was completed in 1998, and includes seating for 1,378. In 2005, the playing surface was named for Hynes, and in 2009 a player development facility was added.

Due to high demand for tickets,[2] the University announced plans for a new stadium in 2018, with fundraising for the new 3,000-seat stadium underway as of 2019.[3] [4] In 2021, Oklahoma City-based Love's Travel Stops announced a $9 million donation (plus an agreement to match dollar-for-dollar an additional $3 million of donations) for the new field, which in turn will be named Love's Field.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marita Hynes Field. Oklahoma Sooners. September 29, 2020.
  2. News: OU Softball: Wait Continues for New Stadium. The Oklahoman. Joe Mussato. May 4, 2019. September 29, 2020.
  3. News: OU Receives $1.25 million Gift for Softball Stadium. The Oklahoman. Joe Mussato. September 12, 2019. September 29, 2020.
  4. News: Regents approve 'design and development' of new softball stadium proposal . The Norman Transcript. John McKelvey. June 19, 2018. September 29, 2020.
  5. Web site: 'This is real': How OU softball, Patty Gasso secured a record-setting donation from Love's for new stadium .