Post by The Admin on Feb 21, 2024 8:23:53 GMT -6
⚾ Oklahoma City Baseball Club rebrands, working toward Opening Day and beyond | The Journal Record
journalrecord.com/2024/02/oklahoma-city-baseball-club-rebrands-working-toward-opening-day-and-beyond/
journalrecord.com/2024/02/oklahoma-city-baseball-club-rebrands-working-toward-opening-day-and-beyond/
OKLAHOMA CITY – Opening Day may still be six weeks away, but the Oklahoma City Baseball Club has worked through the winter to have several changes in place by the first home game in April.
Oklahoma City’s Minor League Baseball team hosted a preseason media event at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon, where Michael Byrnes, president and general manager of the club, detailed the team’s branding efforts, organizational initiatives and updates to venue amenities.
The team won its first league title since 1996 and the fifth in the franchise’s history in 2023. Byrnes said they hope to carry that momentum into this season under their temporary new name: The Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
A rebrand is in the works, and the list of potential names for the team has been narrowed down to a short list, according to organization leadership. They’re working with the MLB to develop a new identity by 2025, but depending on the day of the week this upcoming season, baseball fans will see uniforms that recognize the city’s area code, 405, on Sundays, or a nod to the 89ers, the club’s name as part of the now-disbanded American Association, on Throwback Thursdays.
The team may no longer carry the Dodgers name, but the affiliation remains strong, Byrnes said, describing the rebranding process as a lengthy one that involves stakeholder and community input, and working through several trade marketing and licensing elements.
“There was a moment when we just kind of decided that making sure we got this right was more important than making sure we did it quickly,” Byrnes said. “So, we just decided that we were going to push it out to 2025 to make sure when we unveil it in 2025, it’s the one that we’re really most confident in and happy to happen.”
Despite the rebrand, Byrnes said merchandise sales volume is strong.
“We’re up considerably over this time last year and this time 2022 and 2021,” Byrnes said. “There has been a really positive reaction to the elements that are new that we’ve introduced as well as some of the throwback things.”
When asked for a hint as to what the new brand could look like, Byrnes said it’s important to get back to something that is unique to Oklahoma, but ruled out a return to the 89er’s name that celebrates the Land Run of 1889.
To elevate the experience for fans at the 75 home games next season, the organization updated food and beverage offerings. Byrnes said Fowl Ball Chicken debuted last season and was well received by fans. The media on Tuesday sampled their new OKC Chicken Club, a double-decker toasted sandwich with honey mustard, bacon, lettuce, tomato and fried chicken.
“We also have some capacity to add some desserts. So we’re going to be creating some doughnut holes that we’ll serve with a helmet-style vessel,” Byrnes said. “There will also be hand-scooped ice cream that will go on there, and so we believe that’s going to only continue to be one of our strongest concession locations.”
A fan favorite, Dippin Dots, will return to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark next season. Park goers can expect new offerings, such as a red and blue flavor. The club level will also have Dippin Dots available.
Oklahoma City’s Minor League Baseball team hosted a preseason media event at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon, where Michael Byrnes, president and general manager of the club, detailed the team’s branding efforts, organizational initiatives and updates to venue amenities.
The team won its first league title since 1996 and the fifth in the franchise’s history in 2023. Byrnes said they hope to carry that momentum into this season under their temporary new name: The Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
A rebrand is in the works, and the list of potential names for the team has been narrowed down to a short list, according to organization leadership. They’re working with the MLB to develop a new identity by 2025, but depending on the day of the week this upcoming season, baseball fans will see uniforms that recognize the city’s area code, 405, on Sundays, or a nod to the 89ers, the club’s name as part of the now-disbanded American Association, on Throwback Thursdays.
The team may no longer carry the Dodgers name, but the affiliation remains strong, Byrnes said, describing the rebranding process as a lengthy one that involves stakeholder and community input, and working through several trade marketing and licensing elements.
“There was a moment when we just kind of decided that making sure we got this right was more important than making sure we did it quickly,” Byrnes said. “So, we just decided that we were going to push it out to 2025 to make sure when we unveil it in 2025, it’s the one that we’re really most confident in and happy to happen.”
Despite the rebrand, Byrnes said merchandise sales volume is strong.
“We’re up considerably over this time last year and this time 2022 and 2021,” Byrnes said. “There has been a really positive reaction to the elements that are new that we’ve introduced as well as some of the throwback things.”
When asked for a hint as to what the new brand could look like, Byrnes said it’s important to get back to something that is unique to Oklahoma, but ruled out a return to the 89er’s name that celebrates the Land Run of 1889.
To elevate the experience for fans at the 75 home games next season, the organization updated food and beverage offerings. Byrnes said Fowl Ball Chicken debuted last season and was well received by fans. The media on Tuesday sampled their new OKC Chicken Club, a double-decker toasted sandwich with honey mustard, bacon, lettuce, tomato and fried chicken.
“We also have some capacity to add some desserts. So we’re going to be creating some doughnut holes that we’ll serve with a helmet-style vessel,” Byrnes said. “There will also be hand-scooped ice cream that will go on there, and so we believe that’s going to only continue to be one of our strongest concession locations.”
A fan favorite, Dippin Dots, will return to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark next season. Park goers can expect new offerings, such as a red and blue flavor. The club level will also have Dippin Dots available.
