Globe Life Field
History
Background
On May 20, 2016, the Rangers announced that they would vacate Globe Life Park. The new stadium was to be constructed in a public/private partnership and have a retractable roof. The ballpark was approved on the following Election Day. HKS, Inc. was announced as the architect on January 5, 2017.
On January 31, 2019, the Rangers announced that the playing surface of Globe Life Field would be carpeted with synthetic grass supplied by Shaw Sports Turf, making them one of only five major league teams to play their home games on artificial turf.
The Rangers cited weather as the reason why attendance at Globe Life Park was lower than in other baseball stadiums in major metropolitan areas, as the area is prone to high temperatures and frequent rain, and also why the venue, despite being barely two decades old, was wearing out far more quickly than ballparks of a similar age such as Jacobs Field and Coors Field. Therefore, the Rangers proposed that their new ballpark be constructed with a retractable roof. Unlike its predecessors, the new stadium's center field faces northeast rather than southeast.
A new shopping mall, a Loews Hotel, and a ballpark village were planned to go along with the new stadium. After the Rangers left Globe Life Park, it was then to be renovated for football and soccer use and renamed Choctaw Stadium.
The plans to build the stadium generated a mixed reaction. The new stadium offers a more comfortable environment to watch baseball but extended existing taxes used to pay for AT&T Stadium. According to The Dallas Morning News, "The deal calls for the city to issue $500 million in bonds to help pay for the stadium. A half-cent of sales tax, 2% hotel occupancy tax and 5% car rental tax would pay off those bonds over an estimated 30 years. Voters also approved a ticket tax of up to 10% and parking tax of up to $3 at the new stadium. That money would be used for some of the Rangers' portion of the debt, which was criticized by the opposition campaign."
On December 14, 2019, a section of the roof caught fire while under construction.
Opening
Globe Life Field was originally scheduled to open on March 23, 2020, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season was delayed for several months. Globe Life Field opened for a high-school graduation on May 29, 2020.
On July 24, 2020, the Rangers hosted their first regular-season game against the Colorado Rockies, which they won 1-0. The Rangers played two exhibition games against the Rockies on July 21 and 22 at Globe Life Field. Joey Gallo hit the first home run at the stadium on July 26.
2020 MLB postseason
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, Major League Baseball announced on September 15, 2020, that it would implement a playoff "bubble" starting with the second round of the playoffs. Globe Life Field and Minute Maid Park in Houston shared the 2020 National League Division Series second-round playoff series, with one series in Houston and the other in Arlington. The 2020 National League Championship Series and the 2020 World Series were played exclusively at Globe Life Field. MLB allowed fans to attend games at Globe Life during the NLCS and World Series.
Naming rights
Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company owns the naming rights for the facility through 2048.
Dimensions
The marked dimensions of Globe Life Field pay extensive homage to Rangers history, honoring all of the team's retired numbers plus key seasons in team history.
| Location | Distance (in feet) | Honoree | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left field line | 329 | Adrián Beltré | Retired #29 |
| Left field just inside line | 334 | Nolan Ryan | Retired #34 |
| Left field power alley | 372 | 1972 Rangers | First season in Arlington |
| Deepest distance (to left and right of centerfield) | 410 | Michael Young | Retired #10 |
| Center field (straightaway) | 407 | Iván Rodríguez | Retired #7 |
| Right field power alley | 374 | 1974 Rangers | First winning season in Arlington |
| Right field line | 326 | Johnny Oates | Retired #26 |
| Home plate to backstop | 42 | Jackie Robinson | Number 42 retired throughout MLB |
Notable events
MLB
All 6 games of the 2020 World Series were held at Globe Life Field, making it the first and so far only venue to host a World Series without its tenant playing in the Series; this was due to the COVID-19 pandemic necessitating a neutral ground for the series. The stadium saw Joe Musgrove throw the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history against the Rangers on April 9th, 2021. Games 1 and 2 of the 2023 World Series (which the Rangers would end up winning in 5 games for their first championship) were hosted at the stadium. The stadium also hosted the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
National Finals Rodeo
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association held the 2020 National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at Globe Life Field instead of its usual location in Las Vegas due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Nevada's state-mandated health restrictions.
College football
On November 6, 2021, the ballpark hosted a college football game for the first time when Army and Air Force played in the Lockheed Martin Commanders' Classic. The Black Knights bested the Falcons, 21–14, in overtime. The day prior to the football game, the ballpark also hosted its first-ever boxing matches, with the boxing teams of each academy squaring off; Air Force won 6 bouts to 4.
Globe Life Field's football configuration has the end zones at left field and first base.
Concerts
| Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / Concert name | Attendance | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 24, 2021 | Green Day Fall Out Boy Weezer |
The Interrupters | Hella Mega Tour | 37,519 / 37,519 | $3,200,000 | Originally scheduled for July 31, 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Opening date of the tour, and first concert at the stadium. |
| August 21, 2021 | Chris Stapleton | Willie Nelson Jamey Johnson Yola |
Chris Stapleton's All-American Road Show Tour | — | — | Originally scheduled for March 14, 2020 as the first public event at the stadium, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| October 14, 2021 | Aventura | — | — | — | — | |
| November 27, 2021 | Metallica | — | — | — | — | Part of Thriller Fright Club. |
| August 22, 2022 | Def Leppard Mötley Crüe |
Poison Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Classless Act |
The Stadium Tour | 37,086 / 37,086 | $5,561,368 | Originally scheduled for July 14, 2020, and then August 22, 2021, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| August 23, 2022 | Lady Gaga | — | The Chromatica Ball | 38,056 / 38,056 | $5,365,094 | |
| September 18, 2022 | Red Hot Chili Peppers | The Strokes Thundercat |
2022 Global Stadium Tour | 41,362 / 41,362 | $6,035,404 | |
| September 30, 2022 | Elton John | — | Farewell Yellow Brick Road | 38,316 / 38,316 | $6,876,473 | |
| October 8, 2022 | Morgan Wallen | Ernest Keith Smith | Dangerous Tour | 43,598 / 43,598 | — | The concert was Wallen's first ever stadium concert. It was also the fastest sellout in the venue's history, and broke its attendance record. |
| October 19, 2022 | Brad Paisley | Tyler Braden | — | — | — | |
| June 21, 2023 | TWICE | — | Ready To Be World Tour | — | — | The first Korean pop group to perform in a stadium in Texas. |
| August 30, 2023 | Jonas Brothers | Lawrence | Five Albums. One Night. The World Tour | — | — | |
| September 30, 2023 | RBD | — | Soy Rebelde Tour | 38,075 / 38,075 | $10,458,075 | |
| July 28, 2024 | ATEEZ | — | Towards the Light: Will to Power World Tour | |||
| August 12, 2024 | Def Leppard Journey |
Steve Miller Band | The Summer Stadium Tour | |||
| September 11, 2024 | Green Day | The Smashing Pumpkins Rancid The Linda Lindas |
The Saviors Tour | |||
| November 6, 2024 | Pink | Sheryl Crow KidCutUp |
Summer Carnival | |||
| November 8, 2024 | Linkin Park | Bad Omens Jean Dawson Helmet |
From Zero World Tour | |||
| June 6, 2025 | Stray Kids | Dominate World Tour | ||||
| June 11, 2025 | Shakira | Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour | First Latin female act to perform a show in the venue. | |||
| August 2, 2025 | My Chemical Romance | Garbage | Long Live The Black Parade Tour |
Professional wrestling
On August 15, 2024, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that the 2025 edition of their annual All In pay-per-view event, entitled "All In: Texas", would be held at Globe Life Field on July 12, marking the first professional wrestling event held at the stadium.
See also
References
- ^ Sullivan, T.R. (December 4, 2019). "Globe Life Field's dimensions honor key players". MLB.com. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
- ^ Brumfield, Loyd (September 21, 2017). "Rangers Unveil First Renderings of New Globe Life Field, Set to Break Ground Next Week". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- ^ Sullivan, T. R. (January 5, 2017). "Rangers Tab HKS to Design New Ballpark". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
- ^ "Globe Life Field". VLK Architects. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Rangers Unveil More Globe Life Field Design Plans, With Emphasis On Natural Light". SportsBusiness Daily. September 22, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ "Sports Facilities". www.jmeg.us. JMEG, LLC. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ "Manhattan Construction Company to build new multi-purpose ballpark for Texas Rangers". ManhattanConstructionGroup.com (Press release). Manhattan Construction Company. September 29, 2017. Archived from the original on October 4, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
- ^ Anglin, Dionne (May 29, 2020). "First event at Globe Life Field is a high school graduation". KDFW. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ Texas Rangers [@Rangers] (November 19, 2019). "40,300..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 19, 2019 – via Twitter.
- ^ Mosier, Jeff (May 20, 2016). "Rangers New Stadium Plans Unveiled; Find Out What It Will Cost and Timeline for Its Construction". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, T. R. (May 20, 2016). "Rangers, Arlington Announce New Ballpark". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
- ^ Sullivan, T. R. (November 8, 2016). "Raise the Roof: Rangers' New Ballpark Approved". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
- ^ "Texas Rangers to utilize synthetic grass playing surface for the new Globe Life Field". Rangers.com. January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ Zwirko, Walt (January 31, 2019). "Rangers' new home to feature artificial turf". KTEN. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ "Globe Life Field". Ballparks of Baseball. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "10 Things to Know About the New Rangers Ballpark, Including Where It Will Be and How Much It Will Cost". The Dallas Morning News. May 22, 2016. Archived from the original on June 1, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ Wilson, Jeff (December 14, 2019). "Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers' future $1.2 billion home, catches fire". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (May 18, 2019). "Rangers Set Globe Life Field Opening for March 23". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ^ Sullivan, T.R. (August 12, 2019). "Rangers 2020 schedule | Texas Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
- ^ McGrath, Luke (September 15, 2020). "MLB Announces Neutral Playoff Locations, World Series in Texas". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ "MLB will allow fans to attend 2020 World Series, NLCS at Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field". CBS Sports. September 30, 2020.
- ^ Bell, Allison (July 26, 2019). "Torchmark to Change Its Name to Globe Life". ThinkAdvisor. Retrieved July 29, 2019.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (August 24, 2017). "Globe Life Retains Rangers Ballpark Naming Rights". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
- ^ "Texas Rangers Unveil Globe Life Field Dimensions". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. December 4, 2019. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
- ^ Brewer, Ray (September 9, 2020). "National Finals Rodeo moving from Las Vegas to Texas for 2020". Las Vegas Sun.
- ^ Collins, Sean (November 3, 2021). "College football takes center stage at Globe Life Field with this weekend's Army-Air Force matchup". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ "Falcons Take Down Army West Point in Texas". Air Force Falcons. November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
- ^ Wedding, Paul (August 15, 2024). "All Elite Wrestling to host 2025 'All In' pay-per-view event at Arlington's Globe Life Field". WFAA. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
External links
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