NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department is launching a $3 million matching gift challenge supporting Love's Field, OU's new softball stadium, in honor of the Oklahoma Sooners clinching their third consecutive national softball title.
Every donation will be matched dollar for dollar up to $3 million as part of fundraising for the project. Once fulfilled, the match will result in a total gift of $6 million to Love's Field, slated to open in spring 2024.
A lead gift of $1 million has been pledged by the Sadler family of Baton Rouge, La., in honor of Bob Sayre. This significant gift was announced Friday by OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione.
"The Sadler family's immense generosity makes possible our mission to provide a world-class experience for today's student-athletes and fans and the generations to come," said Castiglione. "The championship run our softball program has enjoyed these past three years reflects the passion and excellence we remember in Bob. A gift of this magnitude in his honor is more than fitting. We're abundantly grateful for the steadfast support of the Sadler family."
A lifetime resident of Norman, Sayre earned his bachelor's degree in business from OU in 1950. For part of his career, he joined his father in their family lumber company in Norman and provided donated lumber and other building supplies to one of the first expansions to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Sayre was a long-time softball supporter and competitor in the sport. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Amateur Softball Hall of Fame in 1996 and became one of Oklahoma softball's first season ticket holders. Sayre, along with his three daughters, graduated from the University of Oklahoma and was an unwavering and steadfast member of the Norman community. The Sadler family, comprised of two OU graduates and another earning their degree in 2024, shares the same passion for OU Softball and desires to support the Sooners' championship mindset.
"My father was as passionate a fan and supporter of OU Softball as you would ever find, and absolutely loved watching the Sooners," said Sandy Sadler, Sayre's daughter. "Our family is delighted to be able to honor his legacy while supporting the championship program and culture that Coach Gasso has built. We know he would be thrilled to see the influence this program has on the growth of OU Athletics, the sport of softball and beyond."
This matching gift challenge is part of the university's "Lead On" campaign that will impact every area of campus, including athletics, and extends through 2027. With a goal of $2 billion, "Lead On" is the most ambitious campaign in OU history. OU Athletics' portion focuses on building world-class facilities and providing a transformative student-athlete experience.
The 2023 OU softball team finished with a 61-1 record, good for the best single-season winning percentage (.984) in NCAA Division I softball history. The Sooners won their last 53 games to set the NCAA record for longest winning streak and became the first team in Division I history to lead the country in batting average (.366), earned-run average (0.96) and fielding percentage (.987). This year's national title was the program's seventh overall, fifth in the last seven seasons and sixth in the last 10.
"Our championship mindset is rooted in persistence and an undeniable work ethic," said head coach Patty Gasso, who has now led OU to seven national titles. "To see our values align with the Sadler family and to have the opportunity to honor Bob's legacy through our program is incredibly meaningful. We are truly grateful for their investment, as Love's Field will empower our student-athletes for years to come."
To date, over $33 million of the $47.9 million total project cost of Love's Field has been raised from more than 1,000 donors, including the $12 million lead and naming gift from Love's Travel Stops. In addition to the total dollars raised, seat-related contributions will assist in making the project a reality.
Love's Field, which will be located approximately one-half mile south of the existing Marita Hynes Field, will accommodate seating for 3,000 and is designed to allow for expansion. Including temporary seating that is added each season, Marita Hynes Field has a seating capacity of just over 1,700.
The new facility will feature a 10,500-square-foot indoor training center and several team spaces, including a training room, locker room and classroom. It will also have space for a recognition area to showcase national championships, All-Americans and other outstanding achievements.
Current plans call for the overall square footage of the complex to reach 44,000, compared to 15,150 at the present facility. The team areas will expand from 2,949 square feet to 5,375 square feet and the indoor practice facility will jump from 4,700 square feet to 10,531 square feet.
Those interested in giving to Love's Field through the matching gift challenge can visit TheSoonerClub.com/softball or contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000.
For updates and more information on Oklahoma softball, follow the Sooners on Twitter and Instagram (@OU_Softball) and like Oklahoma Softball on Facebook.
