Parking lots will open at 10 a.m. Thursday before the Rangers 3 p.m. matchup with the Boston Red Sox.
ARLINGTON, Texas — When the Texas Rangers begin their fifth season at Globe Life Field on Thursday, baseball fans will notice some changes at the ballpark.
On Monday, the franchise unveiled a spate of new menu items and minor renovations to the concourse above left field. After hosting two World Series and the MLB All-Star festivities, stadium officials say they have a stronger sense of fans’ gameday expectations.
“When you build a new stadium, you can do all the planning and go through all the scenarios – but until you actually see how fans get in here, react, and move around, it’s hard to know that,” said Casey Rapp, who oversees food, beverage, and retail operations for Globe Life Field through hospitality service Delaware North.
Rapp observed that fans tend to congregate at the left field concourse, an area that’s hosted Hurtado Barbecue and a rotation of other local restaurants. This off-season, the franchise added more dining tables and seating in the area so that it functions like a food court.
This season, the section will offer an increased selection of local eateries and a wider variety of local craft beers.
To formalize the team’s commitment to partnerships with DFW establishments, officials nicknamed the area “Arlington Alley.”
“There are so many people who come here, and we just want to show them what Arlington is about,” Rapp said. “There’s a great food scene here.”
Concession stands in other parts of the ballpark will also feature new menu items, including lobster dishes, an oversized ‘Boomstick’ burrito, and hot dogs with rotating toppings inspired by the Rangers’ opponents.
Beyond the stadium’s food offerings, the team hopes its new television deal to boost fan engagement this season. The franchise expects the expanded broadcast accessibility to drive ticket sales.
“It helps us grow the fanbase,” said Jim Cochrane, the Rangers’ chief business officer. “Our fans can actually watch the games now. We expect that when fans do that, they’re going to want to come see the team in person, too.”
For Opening Day, the Rangers will open parking lots at 10 a.m. to allow fans plenty of time to explore the now-completed entertainment district. Globe Life Field will open at noon, with the first pitch set for 3:05 p.m.
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