Fields & Futures on ESPN

Jul 17, 2020

Earlier this week, Oklahoma’s two professional soccer franchises, Energy FC and FC Tulsa, made their return to regular season play in an in-state rivalry match on ESPN 2.

Although the “Black Gold Derby” was a slower-paced match that ended in a 1-1 tie, it was still exciting enough to bring in the most international views of a United Soccer League re-opening weekend match on Youtube.

With thousands of viewers in the U.S. and another 9,000 tuning in from around the globe, Taft Stadium and its surrounding facilities built by Fields & Futures and other community partners were given a rare global spotlight.

Fields & Futures facilities sitting next to Taft Stadium, where FC Tulsa vs Energy FC played on ESPN.

Back in 2015, Fields & Futures completed a softball and practice field for Taft Middle School as well as a modern futsal/basketball court.

Five years later, the world is catching a glimpse of just how well we maintain our promise to manage and care for the facilities we build.

Matches like these further the development of the soccer culture in Oklahoma City, offering prime opportunities for the world to see the wonderful work being done in Oklahoma City to ensure the future plays here.

If you didn’t have a chance to glimpse our state-of-the-art facilities during the recent rivalry match on ESPN 2, you can always follow us on Instagram or watch this awesome drone footage captured by Ricardo Ulloa!

And of course, you can make a trip to Oklahoma City for a professional, socially-distanced soccer match.

Game, Set, Impact: A Q&A With Our New Development Director, Emmy Hufnagel

Emmy Hufnagel is an avid tennis player, former triathlete, and the newest addition to the Fields & Futures team. As our Development Director, Emmy brings a wealth of experience in youth sports advocacy and nonprofit leadership. Having seen firsthand the impact of sports on young lives, Emmy is dedicated to helping us take the next big step—from building fields to filling them with kids.

Meet Cody Laurendi, Fields & Futures’ New Director of Soccer

Cody Laurendi is a former OKC Energy FC goalkeeper and the newest member of the Fields & Futures team. As Director of Soccer & Youth Sports Advocate, Cody has shifted his focus from playing the game to growing it. With his passion for the game and vision for increasing youth participation in Oklahoma City, Cody is a key player in helping us keep our goal of creating more opportunities on and off the pitch.

What Drives Capitol Hill and U.S. Grant Football?

U.S. Grant and Capitol Hill may be rivals, but their football programs have more in common than their annual "Southside Bedlam" rivalry game. From 2014-2020, the OSSAA allowed both programs to play as independents so they could create their own schedules and rebuild their programs. Now playing in Class 6A, neither team has found success in district play, but they also know the scoreboard isn't the only standard of success.

Fields & Futures