The University of Oklahoma and OU Athletics Department are thrilled to unveil plans for a series of special, free public events celebrating the Sooners’ historic transition to the Southeastern Conference, set to officially take place on Monday, July 1.
Sponsored by Riverwind Casino, the celebration will offer a variety of fun activities for fans of all ages on OU’s Norman campus. These activities include SEC Network programming, the athletics department’s popular summer equipment sale, and open houses at the Barry Switzer Center and Love’s Field. Additional events will be held in Oklahoma City and Tulsa in the morning. The festivities will culminate with a free, family-friendly “Party In The Palace presented by motorola razr” from 5-10 p.m. inside Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, featuring live music, appearances from OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione, and a drone show above Owen Field.
“Joining the Southeastern Conference marks a transformative new era for the University of Oklahoma and all of Sooner Nation,” said Harroz Jr. “This day of celebration honors our iconic traditions, relentless pursuit of excellence, and the indomitable spirit of Sooner Magic. We’re eager to bring our passion and pride to the SEC, and this event provides the perfect opportunity for the OU Family to come together and celebrate all that lies ahead.”
“This day has been years in the making, so it’s fitting for us to celebrate together,” added Castiglione. “We are incredibly excited to join the SEC. Our teams are ready for success and look forward to competing with many of America’s top universities. At Oklahoma, we have a unique story to tell, and we’re energized by the opportunity to share what makes OU special with the world. Our unwavering commitment to our student-athletes’ success and our fans’ experience will only grow stronger with this move. We can’t wait to welcome thousands of new people to our community and spread Sooner Magic throughout the SEC.”
For more details about the celebration, read on.
Head to SEC’s 5-K Glow Run
The celebration kicks off at 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 30, with the “Race to the SEC” 5K glow run through the heart of OU’s campus. The race will start at Brooks Mall, just north of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, and finish at the 50-yard line on Owen Field. For an entry fee of $24.25, participants will receive an official OU x SEC T-shirt, an official bib, glow sticks, and a custom medal. After the run, COOP Sooner Schooner All-American Ale will be available, and at midnight, as OU officially joins the SEC, a “Flip the Switch” fireworks show will take place at the stadium. For registration and more details, visit www.runsignup.com/racetotheSEC.
Midnight Madness Deal
Additionally, at midnight, fans can purchase officially licensed OU-branded SEC merchandise for the first time during a Midnight Madness Sale at a special OU x Jordan Brand shoebox pop-up shop on Owen Field inside the stadium. The merchandise will also be available online at shop.soonersports.com starting at midnight.
Oklahoma and Tulsa “Wake Up in the SEC” Events
On Monday, July 1, “Wake Up in the SEC” events will be held from 8-9:30 a.m. in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, featuring prominent guests. The Oklahoma City breakfast will be at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill (310 Johnny Bench Dr.) and will include OU President Joseph Harroz Jr., Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione, and other special OU guests, including head coaches. In Tulsa, the breakfast will be at Mother Road Market (1124 S. Lewis Ave.) and will feature the SEC Network’s Dari Nowkhah, an OU alumnus, OU Vice President Susan Bynum, former OU head football coach Barry Switzer, and other notable guests, along with the Sooner Schooner. The Pride of Oklahoma and OU Spirit will be present at both events.
Final Stops of the Early Schooner Roadshow
Fans will have the chance to take photos with the official OU Conestoga as it concludes the Oklahoma Sooner Schooner Roadshow. The final leg of the journey will include stops in Tulsa and Oklahoma City before returning to Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium that evening.
Norman Pep Rallies
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Pride of Oklahoma and OU Spirit will lead pep rallies at seven different business districts in Norman, with each rally lasting 30-45 minutes.
Equipment Sale for Summer
The popular OU summer sale will return from 2 to 7 p.m. at the Mosier Indoor Track Facility, located one block east of the stadium. Items for sale will include football helmets (both traditional crimson and white alternates), football jerseys, cleats, Jordan Brand and Nike apparel and shoes, cold-weather gear, baseball equipment (including a wide selection of bats), workout shirts from various sports, and much more. Additionally, the sale will feature a large number of televisions up to 55 inches and enlarged photographs that were previously displayed in OU Athletics offices and facilities.
Programming SEC Networks
The SEC Network will broadcast from Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium from 2 to 8 p.m. “The Paul Finebaum Show” will kick off the coverage just north of the stadium from 2 to 6 p.m., and the first 300 fans at the show’s opening will receive a free OU x SEC T-shirt. “SEC Now: Live from Oklahoma” will air from 6 to 8 p.m. in the north end zone inside the stadium, hosted by Dari Nowkhah and Alyssa Lang. Former OU defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek, along with Haylie McCleney and Daymeon Fishback, will also represent the SEC Network.
OU fans will receive a warm welcome to their new league, as the SEC Network will host an open house on Owen Field to showcase everything the SEC has to offer, including live games, studio programming, original content, and more. Each room in the house will take fans on a journey inspired by the SEC Network’s diverse programming and rich history, giving them a preview of what to expect.
Party In The Palace, presented by Motorola Razr
The Athletics Department is excited to host a special “Party In The Palace presented by Motorola Razr” event on the stadium field starting at 5 p.m. Fans will have the opportunity to enter Owen Field via the Sooners’ team tunnel, and the event will offer a variety of food and drink options. Activities will include retail activations, such as an OU x Jordan Brand shoebox pop-up shop, a music DJ, basketball court, bounce house, obstacle course, face painting, balloon artist, gaming trailer, mechanical bull, photo booth, the Sooner Schooner, and more.
Open Houses
From 5 to 7 p.m., OU Athletics will host open-house events at the Barry Switzer Center (lobby and weight room areas) and Love’s Field, the Sooners’ new softball stadium. Fans will have the opportunity to take photos with select OU coaches and other influencers during these events.
Live Music Pep Rally and Drone Show.
Live music will be showcased inside the stadium from 7 to 9:30 p.m., followed by a pep rally featuring the Pride of Oklahoma and OU Spirit. Additionally, President Joseph Harroz Jr. and Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione will deliver short addresses. The evening will conclude with a drone show above the south end zone at 9:50 p.m.
Shop Hop and Challenge.
Oklahoma fans are encouraged to explore Norman while shopping for new OU x SEC attire throughout July 1. Fans can participate in a ‘passport challenge’ using the Visit Norman app. The more visits they make to participating stores, the greater their chances of winning one of five grand prizes. Fans can present their passport at “Party In The Palace” that evening to enter the contest.
Upcoming Student-Centric Celebration
To ensure students can fully engage in the festivities, the university and athletics department will host a celebratory event featuring a musical artist at the beginning of the fall semester. More information about this event will be provided soon.
