OU Baseball Performance Center to Be Named for Toby Keith

The University of Oklahoma is honoring one of its most famous fans. OU regents voted Tuesday to name the new performance center at Kimrey Family Stadium the Toby Keith Family Performance Center, pending a pledge agreement with the Covel family. Keith’s given last name was Covel, and the connection runs deep for a guy who never hid his Sooner pride. The facility is part of a $49 million renovation and expansion that includes upgrades to seating, concessions, restrooms, and a fan plaza.

Student-athlete areas, including the performance center, break ground this fall and are scheduled to finish in spring 2028. Coach Skip Johnson said Toby’s values and his family’s align with the program and the rich tradition of Oklahoma baseball. OU President Joseph Harroz called Keith one of the university’s biggest supporters, and anyone who followed his career knows that wasn’t just talk. Keith died in February 2024 after a battle with stomach cancer, but his Oklahoma legacy keeps growing.

For Lawton and southwest Oklahoma, this one feels personal. Toby Keith was one of us. He played the same radio stations we grew up on and cheered for the same teams. Now his name will be on a building that helps young athletes chase their dreams in Norman. What do you think about OU’s decision? Is this the right way to honor Toby Keith’s legacy, or would you have liked to see something different?