We reported on this a month ago, and now it’s official: the Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) are installing a sponsored 3,000-square-foot lazy river and 12,000-square-foot outfield party and group hospitality area at Dr Pepper Ballpark, which should be up and running by early June 2016.
The new area will be sponsored by Choctaw Casinos of Oklahoma and called the Choctaw Lazy River. Rising above the right-field wall, the Choctaw Lazy River will provide one of the most unique viewing and entertainment experiences in all of professional sports. At a consistent depth of 3 feet, the gently-flowing river will span nearly 175 feet from end to end—longer than an Olympic-size swimming pool and nearly the length of a regulation National Hockey League ice rink.
To put things into even more perspective, here are some more stats. Filled with 68,023 gallons of water, the Choctaw Lazy River will have nine times more swimming area than each of the end zone pools at EverBank Field in Jacksonville (home of the NFL’s Jaguars), and will be eight times larger than the Arizona Diamondbacks’ famous outfield pool at Chase Field, which contains 8,500 gallons by comparison. The RoughRiders’ water volume is so vast that it would take 1,267,973 baseballs and 363,789 cups of nacho cheese to fill.
A person swimming or wading one full lap around the river’s two distinct middle islands will travel over 400 feet, the same distance from home plate to the center field wall at Dr Pepper Ballpark. Also, 113 linear-feet of recycled water will cascade over an infinity edge to create two fantastic 8-foot waterfalls that will drop into a beautiful reservoir behind the outfield wall.
“Our new Choctaw Lazy River at Dr Pepper Ballpark will be unlike any other water feature, party deck, or hospitality area in all of professional sports because of its size, unique design, and the incomparable experience fans will be able to enjoy on gamedays and for non-gameday pool parties and other special events,” said RoughRiders General Partner & CEO Chuck Greenberg. “From our earliest discussions with our architects and designers, the number one goal of this project was to carefully create a destination within the ballpark that will serve as a visual ‘wow-factor’ so incredible that even fans who aren’t directly in the Lazy River can enjoy its beauty from all around the ballpark. We can’t wait to unveil this unique, one-of-a-kind ballpark attraction to fans from across the entire DFW region and beyond.”
The new area will also include a number of additional fan amenities, highlighted by two open-air cabana structures for food and beverage service. The larger of the two—called the Cabana Bar & Patio—can be rented separately and will feature a built-in bar, dedicated buffet tables and private deck space. A resort-style wood deck will flank the area near the larger cabana, and additional public space for lounging and picnicking will surround the water. A pair of 23-foot tall water structures will drop 18-foot-tall by 20-foot-wide rain curtains, providing a massive water feature to further immerse fans in the aquatic environment.
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