THAT STADIUM IS. WELL, YOU KNOW KINZIE HANSEN, SHE’S ABSOLUTELY NO STRANGER TO DEVAN PARK. IN FACT, SHE WON FOUR STRAIGHT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS HERE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. NOW SHE’S ON TEAM USA. AND SHE SAYS THAT PLAYING SOFTBALL IN THIS STADIUM, THE BIGGEST STADIUM IN THE UNITED STATES, IN FRONT OF 14,000 FANS AS EVERY SOFTBALL PLAYER’S DREAM, THE FANS AND THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WE’RE ABLE TO CREATE HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY IS JUST ASTOUNDING TO ME. THE SOFTBALL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, SET TO HOST THE OLYMPICS FOR SOFTBALL IN 2028. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF SPORTS WILL BE HOSTED IN LOS ANGELES, THE LA 28 CHAIRMAN SAYS THERE ISN’T A SOFTBALL STADIUM IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT SEATS MORE THAN 2000 PEOPLE. DEVIN PARK HERE IN OKC SEATS 14,000. FORMER SUMNER AND TEAM USA PLAYER KINSEY HANSEN IS NO STRANGER TO THE PARK. SHE SAYS WHILE SOME HAVE CONCERNS, I KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE MISSING OUT OR CLAIMING THAT WE MIGHT MISS OUT ON THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, WHICH HAS BEEN A COMMENT GOING ON, BUT I REALLY HOPE THAT THEY’RE ABLE TO KIND OF CREATE A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE FOR US. FOR OKLAHOMA CITY, WE HAVE ABSOLUTE ALIGNMENT WITH BOTH THE FEDERATIONS AND OKLAHOMA CITY THAT ALL ATHLETES WHO COMPETE THERE ARE GUARANTEED TO EXPERIENCE EITHER OPENING OR CLOSING IN LOS ANGELES. UM, AND POSSIBLY BOTH FOR SOME OF THEM. PLUS, SHE SAYS, OKC HAS PROVEN TO BE THE PLACE TO PLAY IN THE U.S. AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN A FREQUENT FLIER OF THE OKC DEVAN PARK, I’M REALLY EXCITED FOR IT AND I’M EXCITED THAT IT’S A SOFTBALL ONLY STADIUM AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW THE STADIUM AND GROW THE SPORT. BUT AS OKC OLYMPICS READY, ONE THING ABOUT OKLAHOMANS IS THAT THEY’RE UP FOR THE HARD WORK. THE BLUE COLLAR STYLE. SO IF THEY’RE NOT READY NOW, THEY WILL BE READY COME OLYMPIC TIME. HANSEN SAYS THE FANS WILL SHOW UP. PLUS, 2028 WILL BE SOFTBALL’S DEBUT BACK IN THE OLYMPICS AND WITH THE GROWTH OF THE SPORT AND GROWTH OF TALENT, IT’S GOING TO BE A WORLDWIDE BROADCAST CAST OF THE GREATEST SOFTBALL THAT POSSIBLY THE SPORT HAS REALLY SEEN THIS OLYMPIC YEAR. IN 2028, WHEN SOFTBALL IS BACK IN IT, IT’S GOING TO BRING THE BEST YOUNG TALENT AND THE BEST OLDER TALENT TOGETHER. NOW, IF YOU’VE SEEN THE WOMEN’S COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HERE IN OKLAHOMA CITY, YOU KNOW THAT THIS PLACE IS PACKED WITH FANS. HANSEN SAYS SHE HAS NO DOUBT THAT OKLAHOMANS ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND MAKE THE OLYMPIC EXPERIENCE, ONE THAT THE WORLD WILL NEVER FOR
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OKC chosen over Los Angeles for softball, other sports for 2028 Summer Olympics
Living up to its name as the softball capital of the world, Oklahoma City has been chosen to host Olympic softball, canoe slalom and other events in the 2028 Summer Games.
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Living up to its name as the softball capital of the world, Oklahoma City has been chosen to host Olympic softball, canoe slalom and other events in the 2028 Summer Games.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.No stranger to Devon Park, where the softball competitions will be held, Kinzie Hansen said it will be an experience every softball player dreams of. Hansen, who won four straight national championships for the University of Oklahoma, knows how it feels to be in front of 14,000 excited fans.“The fans and the atmosphere that we’re able to create here in Oklahoma City is just astounding to me,” she said.While the majority of the sports in the Summer Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, the LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said there isn’t a softball stadium in southern California that seats more than 2,000 people, while OKC’s Devon Park seats 14,000.Former Sooner and Team U.S.A. player Hansen said some may have some concerns.“I know some people are missing out or claiming that we might miss out on the Olympic Village, which has been a comment going on, but I really hope they’re able to create a unique experience for us,” Hansen said. Wasserman said arrangements have been made.“For Oklahoma City, we have absolute alignment with both the federations and Oklahoma City, and all athletes that participate there are guaranteed to attend the opening or closing in Los Angeles or possibly both for some of them.">> Download the KOCO 5 appHansen said Oklahoma City has proven to be the place to play in the U.S.“As somebody who has been a frequent flier of the OKC Devon Park, I’m really excited for it, and I’m excited that it’s a softball-only stadium, and we can continue to grow the stadium and grow the sport,” she said.“One thing about Oklahomans is they’re up for the hard work, the blue-collar style, so if they’re not ready now, they will be ready come Olympic time,” Hansen said about the readiness of the city to host the games.Hansen said fans will show up, and 2028 will be softball’s debut back in the Olympics. “It’s going to be a worldwide broadcast of the greatest softball that possibly the sport has ever really seen,” she said. “This Olympic year in 2028, when softball is back in it, it's gonna bring the best young talent and the best older talent together.”Hansen said she has no doubt Oklahomans will show up and make the Olympic experience one the world will never forget.Top Headlines1 dead after multi-vehicle crash in southwest Oklahoma CityEdmond man heading home after sentencing for Turks and Caicos ammunition chargeFAA investigating after Southwest Airlines plane flew so low to the ground it woke up Yukon residentsOHP: 6-year-old girl killed in Thursday wreckSupport group provides safe space for older members of LGBTQ community
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Living up to its name as the softball capital of the world, Oklahoma City has been chosen to host Olympic softball, canoe slalom and other events in the 2028 Summer Games.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
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No stranger to Devon Park, where the softball competitions will be held, Kinzie Hansen said it will be an experience every softball player dreams of. Hansen, who won four straight national championships for the University of Oklahoma, knows how it feels to be in front of 14,000 excited fans.
“The fans and the atmosphere that we’re able to create here in Oklahoma City is just astounding to me,” she said.
While the majority of the sports in the Summer Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, the LA28 chairman Casey Wasserman said there isn’t a softball stadium in southern California that seats more than 2,000 people, while OKC’s Devon Park seats 14,000.
Former Sooner and Team U.S.A. player Hansen said some may have some concerns.
“I know some people are missing out or claiming that we might miss out on the Olympic Village, which has been a comment going on, but I really hope they’re able to create a unique experience for us,” Hansen said.
Wasserman said arrangements have been made.
“For Oklahoma City, we have absolute alignment with both the federations and Oklahoma City, and all athletes that participate there are guaranteed to attend the opening or closing in Los Angeles or possibly both for some of them."
>> Download the KOCO 5 app
Hansen said Oklahoma City has proven to be the place to play in the U.S.
“As somebody who has been a frequent flier of the OKC Devon Park, I’m really excited for it, and I’m excited that it’s a softball-only stadium, and we can continue to grow the stadium and grow the sport,” she said.
“One thing about Oklahomans is they’re up for the hard work, the blue-collar style, so if they’re not ready now, they will be ready come Olympic time,” Hansen said about the readiness of the city to host the games.
Hansen said fans will show up, and 2028 will be softball’s debut back in the Olympics.
“It’s going to be a worldwide broadcast of the greatest softball that possibly the sport has ever really seen,” she said. “This Olympic year in 2028, when softball is back in it, it's gonna bring the best young talent and the best older talent together.”
Hansen said she has no doubt Oklahomans will show up and make the Olympic experience one the world will never forget.
Top Headlines
- 1 dead after multi-vehicle crash in southwest Oklahoma City
- Edmond man heading home after sentencing for Turks and Caicos ammunition charge
- FAA investigating after Southwest Airlines plane flew so low to the ground it woke up Yukon residents
- OHP: 6-year-old girl killed in Thursday wreck
- Support group provides safe space for older members of LGBTQ community
