Those Rangers Ballpark Improvements Are Just First Wave; More to Come in Two, Three Years

By Brantley Hargrove Thu., Nov. 3 2011 at 6:00 PM

Categories: Sports

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Photo by Brantley Hargrove

Wilonsky won't say it, but I will: One week after the World Series title slipped from grasp, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is a sad, sad place. It was quiet this afternoon, empty, and the weight of Texas hope had all but evaporated.

Instead of announcing an $11.5-million upgrade on the heels of a giddy victory, a presser with subdued chief operating officer Rick George was held in the theatre inside the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. As noted in an earlier post, the plans include a new Batter's Eye Club (name apparently subject to change) with four rows of seating for 100 that can be rented for groups or reserved individually, a restaurant-sports bar with a box in the mezzanine for the radio guys, and an upgraded Kid's Zone -- all of it air-conditioned.

"There wasn't much time to prepare and bring it out to the public before now," said architect Mike Barnett of Sterling Barnett Little, Inc., who drew up the plans for the upgrade.

It will be the first in a multi-phase face lift, the Rangers COO says, perhaps in an effort to quiet those who keep hoping the Rangers will move into downtown Dallas sooner than later.

"This is one step we're going to take in the next two or three years at our ballpark at our ownership's direction," George said -- one that is, apparently, already selling seats. Batter's Eye, executive vice president Rob Matwick tells us, sold out for the April 6 opener next season. Demolition had already been completed Thursday afternoon, and construction looked like it was ready to get under way.

And in case you were wondering: No, Nolan Ryan wasn't there.

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Jump offsides much? Damn, I love watching you guys get your knickers in a twist. I actually go to a lot of Ranger games, have been since my dad took me to the first game they ever played in Arlington in 1972. Doesn't change the fact that the ballpark is in a stupid location. Hell, at one time there were only 3 ways to get to the old stadium, and one of them involved driving through the old Ninfa's parking lot. They've come a long way since then, but still have a long way to go.
Actually, I just enjoy poking the caged monkeys with a sharp stick every once in a while. You would think that it gets old after a while, but no, it never does. Thanks for entertaining me!
So you want the ballpark in Dallas huh? What about the inconvenience that will cause all the folks from the Fort Worth side? Sure seems that someplace in the middle makes a lot of sense. The Rangers drew almost 3 million people this season, so attendance isn't a problem. Then you go and insult the city of Arlington and the good folks over there. Sounds to me they are a city with vision, and now the city reaping the benefits of a successful team. G_David, you just come across as a total bitch that's going to whine no matter the situation. I'm sorry the world doesn't always revolve around you and your massive ego. Time for you get over it, because the rest of us don't really give a damn.
If worried about how much parking costs at games your not going to them anyway so why are you whining about it?
Why don't you get in your '95 Camery and drive out here and wipe yourself. Friendo. By the way the Stars are really packing in the ACC these days.
And if were back in Boston, I would only have to pay a $9 per person Charlie card day pass for $18 total for two people instead of $10 parking in Arlington. What's an OCTA round trip going for in Anaheim these days? $7 a person?
So the answer is $200.
$10 total for a parking pass for me and my guest. A local day pass on the DART is $4 per person, so $8 total, for a difference of $2 per game. $2 per game saved for a total of $40 saved across the entire season. Jesus, I've spent more on prop bets on the dot race at the games.
Thanks for your brilliant insight. Now go wipe the snot off your upper lip, it's disgusting.
Ah yes, good old Arlington, the City of Bits. I think that's actually on their city letterhead. Of course they don't want to leave the ballpark. If 98% of every home crowd didn't have to pay to park, just think how much revenue they would lose! Hopefully theyll also keep scheduling day games in July - it's so much fun to watch on TV and be able to actually count the number of people in the stands.
Of course you don't mind the drive, you live in DFW. It's what people do here. That doesn't make it any less irritating for those of us that have had a train drop us up off right outside Fenway, or taken the subway to the Bronx. Hell even f'ing Anaheim, the capital of suburban sprawl and pollution has a light rail system that runs within a half mile of the Big A. Think how much cheaper your season tickets would be if you didn't have to buy a parking pass for every game.
Because a giant operation like that has one big budget and doesn't break things down separately.
I live in Dallas and am a 20 game package holder. I don't mind the drive at all.
Dammit, Nolan has figured out my ingenious seating option for the last ten years...pay 5 bucks for a standing room ticket, walk straight to the picnic tables in Vandergriff park..flag down a Beera man and repeat. Progress? I guess.
Can't control what the dollar dog doo-doo.
Out of touch, Much ?
Me-ow!
Hey Dallas, you didnt want them when they moved here, you didnt want them in 1994, and now you wont ever get them. And when the mavs suck again when Dirk retires, we know you wont support them either.
Maybe they can also throw some money at improving the quality of the franks on those "dollar dogs". Or maybe I'm just cheap.
"hoping the Rangers will move into downtown Dallas " With the Bozos running Dallas County and the City of Dallas, not gonna happen. Two opportunities for a downtown Dallas stadium for baseball: Arlington Stadium - 1971 Ballpark in Arlington - 1994 The city of Dallas and Dallas County never have got their sh*t together to build a baseball stadium. What makes anyone think it can happen in the next 20 years? Three opportunities for a near-downtown Dallas stadium for football: Cotton Bowl - 1960 - and when it came time to build a better stadium, it wasn't Dallas, it was Irving: Texas Stadium - 1971 - and when it came time to build a better stadium, it wasn't Dallas, it was Arlington. Jerry World - 2009 At this rate, the Cowboy's next location will be in downtown Fort Worth
Hey dipshit not everyone lives in stupid ass Dallas.
You're right, having set the all time attendance record this past season obviously shows that no one gives a shit. The best thing about these upgrades, having now spent ~$30 million the last 3 years, is that it shows they have no intention what-so-ever of leaving the Ballpark anytime soon.
What you are looking at is money that should have gone into purchasing a pitcher, left fielder or first baseman.
<i><b>No, No</b>lan Ryan wasn't there.</i> I think I see what you did there. No-No. No-hitter. Nolan Ryan, king of the no-hitters. Maybe not.
The only thing that could improve The Temple is to bulldoze it and build a new one where somebody actually gives a shit. And where the only option I have of getting there is NOT a pain-in-the-ass 45-minute drive in rush hour traffic.
HOW about The Commissioners Trophy ? Losers !