Dodgers to take field as Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City to open a nine-game homestand; Alternate identity part of Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión since 2018
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma City Dodgers will take the field as Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City Friday through Sunday during ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! weekend at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark as the team opens a nine-game homestand at 7:05 p.m. Friday against the Dorados de Sacramento.
In addition to Dodgers players and coaches wearing Cielo Azul jerseys and hats during the three-game series against Sacramento, the gameday environment during ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! will feature Latin music, colorful and festive concourse decorations, unique entertainment, live performances and a Spanish-speaking public address announcer for select games. Specialty concession items will be available for purchase as well as Cielo Azul merchandise in the OKC Dodgers Team Store.
Since 2018, the Dodgers have participated in MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión, or Fun Cup, which is a season-long event series designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams’ local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities, including creating culturally relevant on-field personas and gameday experiences.
The number of participating MiLB teams has expanded to 85 for the initiative’s sixth year in 2022. Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City was established in 2018 and ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! festivities take place during two series at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark this season, including this weekend and Sept. 6-11.
“The gameday environment during ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! is rich, vibrant and also distinct from our typical Oklahoma City Dodgers games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark,” OKC Dodgers President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “We have worked closely with leaders in our Latino communities to incorporate fun entertainment and key elements into our Cielo Azul games that celebrate and engage the diverse Oklahoma City community we call home.”
In addition to the game action on the field, Clips N Hips will perform during Friday night’s game and Ballet Folklorico Xochipilli OKC is slated to perform Saturday and Sunday.
New and unique food options will also be available for purchase throughout ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, including a Fiesta Bowl at Salsa that includes taco meat or chicken, black beans, pico de gallo, lettuce, cheddar and sour cream on a bed of Mexican rice.
The name Cielo Azul – translated to “Blue Sky” – was derived from three key factors: Incorporating the color blue, which is a key component of the Dodgers organization; the vibrancy of Oklahoma’s blue skies, and the breadth of the diversity of Hispanic and Latino culture that resides under those skies; and as a tribute to Dodgers legendary pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, who looked up at the sky during his windup.
Cielo Azul was named one of five finalists for the inaugural “Copa de la Diversión” by MiLB in 2018. At the end of each season, MiLB’s Latino Leadership and Community Growth Council recognizes the top-performing teams in categories such as ballpark experience, community engagement and philanthropic impact. One team is then named the overall Copa de la Diversión champion.
¡Celebración Cielo Azul! opens a nine-game homestand for the OKC Dodgers with games at 7:05 p.m. both Friday and Saturday and at 6:05 p.m. Sunday against Sacramento at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Fireworks are scheduled to follow Friday’s game and groups of 10 or more can purchase a terrace-level seat, all-you-can-eat food and an OKC Dodgers hat for $20 per person.
Gates open at 6 p.m. for Saturday’s 7:05 p.m. game and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a bobblehead of Dodgers catcher Will Smith presented by Lime.
Kids can run the bases following Sunday night’s 6:05 p.m. game to wrap up the first ¡Celebración Cielo Azul! of the season.
Following a day off Monday, the Dodgers remain home and open a six-game series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at 7:05 p.m. July 26 on a $2 Tuesday, featuring $2 select beer, soda and bottled water from a line of Budweiser and Pepsi products. COOP Ale Works draft beer will also be available at a special rate of $3.
Games continue at 7:05 p.m. through Saturday, with Friday Night Fireworks set to follow the July 29 game.
Saturday, July 30 is Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night and OKC will wear special edition Marvel-branded jerseys on the field and special gusts Thor and Star-Lord will be in attendance. A Braum’s Friends and Family group offer is available Saturday for groups of 10 or more to receive a game ticket, OKC Dodgers hat and meal voucher to use at any Braum’s location in Oklahoma for a special ticket price.
Following Sunday night’s 6:05 p.m. series finale against the Space Cowboys, kids can run the bases.
OKC Dodgers tickets can be purchased through okcdodgers.com/tickets. For more information, please visit okcdodgers.com or call (405) 218-2182. Live radio coverage of each OKC Dodgers game begins 15 minutes before first pitch on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com and through the free iHeartRadio or MiLB First Pitch apps. OKC Dodgers games are also available streamed live on MiLB.TV with a subscription.