TULSA, Okla. –
Thousands of people are expected in downtown Tulsa this weekend, with the Route 66 Marathon and another big crowd of about 10,000 people expected downtown for the FC Tulsa game.
FC Tulsa takes on the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the championship game Saturday at 11:00.
From a Field to a Pitch
As ONEOK transforms from a field to a pitch, a lot of last-minute preparations are underway. Tyler Tetzlaff with the United Soccer League said playing soccer in a baseball stadium provides a unique opportunity.
“I think there’s just an opportunity playing in a baseball stadium that’s a little bit different,” Tetzlaff said. “We’re going to move the cameras, so we’re going to shoot into the crowd. Normally, the cameras are kind of behind the supporters, but we want to really capture the energy and the atmosphere that’s going to be here at the game tomorrow with those 10,000 people.”
Everything is getting cleaned up and prepped for a sold-out game, which doesn’t seem to be impacted by Thursday’s rain.
“We’re really confident about the shape the field’s in right now,” Tyler Tetzlaff said. “The grounds crew here put the tarp out yesterday during all the rain. They were taking care of it. People have been meticulously walking and measuring every blade of grass.”
Ready to Pour
And while they’re measuring, New Story Brewing is pouring. Pitchers of the brewery’s premium pilsner are half off this weekend.
The brewery, which just opened a few months ago, will have the game on a 15-foot projector screen. But Co-Owner James Schellhorn said being only a half mile away, customers might hear the crowd cheering in real life.
“Oh, I hope so. We’re going to have all the doors open, and yeah, it’s going to be really, really exciting. It gives me goosebumps thinking about it. It’s such a neat time for Tulsa soccer,” Schellhorn said.
At Cabin Boys BrewPub, employees serve the official beer for FC Tulsa, and they even made a special cocktail to celebrate the big game. “If you are going to the game, come afterwards and celebrate the FC win with us at Cabin Boys, because we’re always just be partying from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.,” Co-Owner Lisa McIlroy said.
How to Watch
Kickoff is at 11:00 a.m. and the game will be broadcast on CBS.
There are several watch parties in Tulsa, including at New Story Brewing, Cabin Boys Brewery and BrewPub, Waldo’s Chicken and Beer, and Main Event.
