Coronavirus in Oklahoma: Oklahoma City's downtown New Year's Eve celebration moving to Bricktown ballpark

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the Arts Council Oklahoma City to move downtown's "Opening Night" New Year's Eve celebration to the Bricktown ballpark.

Opening Night usually features music and other entertainment at City Hall, the Civic Center Music Hall, the art museum and other venues the evening of Dec. 31. 

The finale and fireworks show are centered in Bicentennial Park.

Arts Council Executive Director Peter Dolese said in a written statement the ballpark allows for crowd control, availability of masks and hand-washing facilities and other pandemic precautions.

Seth Lewis, Arts Council projects director, said the baseball stadium has "outstanding" performance areas and "fantastic" sight lines for midnight fireworks.