Petition, Facebook page designed to bring pitchers back to Oktoberfest

Within minutes of the news becoming public, reaction to RiverParks Authority's decision to stop selling pitchers at Oktoberfest began pouring in from thousands of unhappy Tulsans.

KRMG broke the news in an exclusive report early Tuesday morning.

By that afternoon, the story had spread like wildfire via social and traditional media.

A petition drive to restore pitcher sales began on change.org, which had 800 supporters in less than 24 hours.

Even more explosive was the growth of a Facebook page dedicated to bringing back the plastic pitchers.

By early Wednesday morning, it had close to 4,000 "likes."

Dozens of comments posted on krmg.com as well as the KRMG Facebook page reflected the overwhelming majority of people who say they want the pitchers, many of whom said they would not attend the festival in Oktober.

The RiverParks Authority has said it will be selling a commemorative stein which holds roughly half the amount of beer as the traditional pitchers did.

Most beer sales will likely involve 16-ounce plastic cups.

A couple of posters have said people need to quit "whining" and decry what they see as an alcohol-fueled event that ends with intoxicated drivers on the roads.

CLICK HERE for the online petition.

CLICK HERE to visit the Facebook page.