USA Softball awards naming rights for Hall of Fame Complex, becomes Devon Park
The stadium will stage Group C of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup from 17-21 September.
USA Softball announced a partnership with Oklahoma City-based oil and natural gas company Devon Energy including naming rights to the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex, now known as Devon Park. The stadium will stage Group C of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup from 17-21 September.
USA Softball Chief Executive Officer Craig Cress said the partnership with Devon is a natural fit. “We are thrilled Devon is supporting USA Softball and the Softball Capital of the World," said Cress. “We are honoured to get this partnership up and running and continue to elevate the sport of softball together. Devon is synonymous with Oklahoma City, and we are excited to partner with them to support the continued growth of Oklahoma City and the Adventure District.”
Devon President and CEO Rick Muncrief said the company’s commitment to women’s sports is an investment in the next generation of leaders. “When female athletes enter the workplace, they already have experience leading under pressure and engaging in strategic problem solving,” said Muncrief. “Data tells us sports participation helps propel women into successful careers, which we’ve seen at Devon. In fact, many of our female executives played sports at some point in their lives. Our hope is many more young people will be inspired to pursue their goals with the same passion and excellence they see displayed on the field at Devon Park.”
Mayor David Holt said this partnership will elevate Oklahoma City. “Thanks to our investments in the venue and the events that venue has attracted, Oklahoma City is the Softball Capital of the World,” said Holt. “This has real value for our city. Each year, over 190,000 people come from outside OKC to enjoy softball and they bring with them an annual economic impact of $50 million. This partnership between Devon and USA Softball maintains and supports this continued success.”
USA Softball has been headquartered in Oklahoma City since 1966. It has become one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing sports organizations, with more than 120,000 teams. The complex hosts prominent events such as the Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship, NCAA Women’s College World Series, Oklahoma City Spark games, OSSAA Softball State Championships and the Olympic tryouts for USA Softball’s Women’s National Team.
