https://soundcloud.com/listenfrontier/what-did-it-take-to-keep-the-drillers-in-tulsa

Kathy Taylor might not know the difference between a sacrifice fly and a squeeze bunt, but her name will forever be associated with baseball in Tulsa.

Taylor was Tulsa’s mayor a decade ago when she received a letter from the city of Jenks stating that it was negotiating with the Tulsa Drillers baseball team to move the team to a new location along the Arkansas River.

She responded by meeting with local business leaders, who advised her to do what she could to keep the team in town. She did, and in the process led an effort to build a new stadium in the Brady District.

The Drillers opened their eighth season in ONOEK Field on Thursday night.

We spoke with Taylor on Friday about what it took to get the new ballpark built and what it has meant to the city. Drillers GM Mike Melega joined us to discuss this year’s team and what amenities the team has added to the stadium since last year.

https://vimeo.com/213277830