On November 8 that year, Arlington voters approved the referendum by a 20-point margin. Four days later, the Council approved the master agreement unanimously. A new stadium would be built in the parking lot just to the south of Globe Life Park, pending City Council and voter approval.
The nature of negotiations between the team and city were kept under wraps, so it was a big surprise when on May 20, 2016, the Rangers and officials from Arlington made a huge announcement. With no air conditioning, the situation could only be improved slightly. The problem was that even if the sun could be blocked, the air was still quite warm. Unbeknownst to the public, the team had paid for engineering studies to see if a retractable roof could be constructed over the existing park to block or at least dim the unrelenting Texas sun. Globe Life Field is the new retractable-roof stadium. BY THE WAY … as you’re reading this review, remember that Globe Life Park refers to the old ballpark. Below, fans gathered to watch construction of the new park. The shot above was taken just after the final Rangers game there Sept. The CastleĪ common nickname for Globe Life Park was The Castle, as it resembles a fortress atop a hill.
#GLOBE LIFE FULL#
As a Rangers fan, I know full well how terrible it was, particularly during July and August.
#GLOBE LIFE FREE#
The park was certainly still beautiful, but fans and potential free agents had long decried the unbearable heat inside the facility. It was common knowledge that some preliminary talks between the team and the City of Arlington had been conducted in 2015 and early 2016. The Rangers’ 30-year lease at Globe Life Park, their previous home since 1994, was set to end after the 2023 season. And what an awesome experience it was.īut before we get to that, let’s talk about how this new park came to be.
Every seat was available for sale, and with the sold-out crowd, all of the park’s eateries and attractions would be available to fans.įinally, it was the right time to attend, photograph, take notes and experience. Buoyed by the State of Texas’ pronouncement that it was Open with a capital O, the Rangers not only announced that fans would be welcomed on Opening Day, but there would be no limits on seating. Sure, it was awesome seeing the first game with fans (at any park), but the capacity was limited, and so was the number of stands and attractions, so I couldn’t really assess the gameday experience.įast forward to 2021. So I bought tickets and was there for NLCS Game 1 on October 12th. Then came the announcement that “Bubble Baseball” was going to be the order of the day for the playoffs, and Globe Life Field would not only host four rounds, fans would be allowed at the NLCS and World Series. I did the best I could to capture the night in an article, but it was hardly the kind of in-depth review that visitors to are used to. Again, no fans, no atmosphere, no ability to roam around and see anything, nothing to experience anyway. Then came the true first game that counted, on July 24. Heck, I couldn’t even walk around the ballpark because media members were confined to the pressbox. Sure, I was there, but with no fans, there were no concession stands open.
When the delayed 2020 season was ready to start, another two exhibitions were scheduled just ahead of the true Opening Night in July.
#GLOBE LIFE PLUS#
I was going to attend them - plus the home opener - of course, but then COVID shut everything down. Naming rights: purchased by Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company until 2048īetcha didn’t know: Even with the retractable roof open, air conditioning is pumped into the ballpark on warm daysĬonstruction on Globe Life Field, the Rangers’ new $1.2-billion home, was finished in March 2020, and was ready to welcome fans to two exhibition games. Playing surface: Shaw Sports Turf B1K (artificial) Article and all photos by Joe Mock, ĪRLINGTON, TEXAS If you really want to analyze a new ballpark to write an in-depth review, when should you visit it? Ballpark Statsįirst game: July 24, 2020, a 1-0 win over the Rockiesĭimensions: LF – 329 LCF – 372 CF – 407 RCF – 374 RF – 326.Īrchitect: HKS: Project Manager – Greg Whittemore Principal Designer – Bryan Trubey Principal In Charge – John Hutchings Lead designer – Fred Ortiz Sr.
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