OGDEN — Country music star Jake Owen brings his “Life’s Whatcha Make It” Tour to Ogden this weekend, playing a rare concert on the home field of the minor league baseball team in town.
The concert begins at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at Lindquist Field, 2330 Lincoln Ave. Tickets are $34.50 to $69.50, available through Smith’s Tix or the Lindquist Field box office.
Owen has certainly made something of his life, parlaying a potentially career-ending sports injury into a wild 12-year ride in country music. He was headed for a career as a professional golfer — earning a golf scholarship to Florida State University after high school — when a water-skiing accident required shoulder surgery and ended his aspirations of a career in golf.
Depressed over his change of fortunes, Owen borrowed a neighbor’s guitar, and the rest is history.
The 37-year-old Florida native has had a string of charting singles since he first who broke onto the scene in 2006 with the debut album “Startin’ with Me.” In addition to singles like “Yee Haw,” “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You,” “Eight Second Ride,” “Real Life” and “Days of Gold,” Owen has had three No. 1 hits — “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Alone with You” and “Beachin’.”
His most recent singles are the drinkin’ song “Down to the Honkytonk” and “I Was Jack (You Were Diane),” a nod to the John Cougar Mellencamp hit “Jack & Diane.”
Opening for Owen at Saturday’s concert will be Jordan Davis and Chris Janson.
Dave Baggott, owner and president of the Ogden Raptors, said it’s been awhile since Lindquist Field has hosted a concert.
“I think the last concert we held was 10 or 11 years ago — Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult,” Baggott said. “But the idea of a concert being able to play in Ogden, instead of another city down south, is always a good thing.”
Baggott said what attracted him most about Saturday’s concert is that it’s taking place after the baseball season.
“The most appealing part is we don’t have to be as protective of things, because we don’t have to clean up to play a game tomorrow,” he said.
What’s more, Baggott said the concert promoters for this show are also in the baseball business, so they understand the issues involved with using a ballfield.
The stage will be set up at second base, facing home plate, according to Baggott. The infield will be covered with a “hard flooring surface” for the premium seating up front, and the baseball stands will be used for the rest of the seating.
“With the stage that close, there won’t be a bad seat in the house,” Baggott said.
Promoters are hoping to attract about 5,000 people for Saturday’s show. Baggot said he hasn’t gotten a report on how sales are going, but he’s cautiously optimistic.
“Smith’s Tix has not given me a definitive number, but they’ve told me sales are above average for this community,” he said. “If you’re into country music, there’s no excuses for not showing up at this concert. It’s going to be 84 degrees that day, and we’ll have food and drink available for sale on the field. Hopefully, it’ll be a great event that the city can be proud if.”
Baggott said he hopes to bring more concerts to the downtown baseball stadium in the future.
“We’re in favor of bringing as many events to Lindquist Field as possible,” he said. “But the chips have to fall just right to bring something in, and this one absolutely did. We’re excited about it, and if all goes well here I can’t see why these promoters wouldn’t want to bring in more events.”
