Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (Texas Rangers)

Ballpark Assessment

Category Score (0 to 10)					TOTAL (0 to 50)
Location	Atmosphere	Food	Exterior Architecture	Interior Architecture
2	5	3	8	7	25

The Ballpark at Arlington is in a poor location in the suburbs of the Metroplex, but it's great looking ballpark once you get there.  In particular, the 4-story white steel grandstand in straight-ahead centerfield (a nod to the old Yankee Stadium) gives the stadium a classic look.

Like Fenway, the food options are limited and, of course, there are no healthy options in this Texas stadium.  Also, true to Texas-form, the parking situation can be described as organized chaos.  Emblazoned by a Texas-sized independence, people park everywhere; on sidewalks, on the grass, at a nearby hotel, etc.

Game Notes (courtesy of MLB.com)
Game Date: May 8, 2010
Attendance: 36,349
Weather: 73 degrees F, clear
Length of Game: 2 hours, 43 minutes
Final Score: Texas Rangers 3, Kansas City Royals 2

Ian Kinsler's go-ahead single in the eighth gave Texas its third straight win over Kansas City on Saturday. Gil Meche put in an admirable start for the Royals, but the division-leading Rangers were not to be denied.

General Comments

Having previously spent 13 months in the DFW area for business, I had already completed most of the tourism circuit of the area: The Sixth Floor Museum (site of the JFK assassination), Billy Bob's (World's Largest Honky Tonk), Babe's Chicken (2 food options: Fried Chicken or Chicken Fried Steak), high school football game, etc.  Thus, the purpose of this trip to the Metroplex was to just relax.

 

On Friday, I had lunch at the Dallas Art Museum with a woman who works at the Dallas Rotary Club who I had previously met in the Chicago O'Hare airport of all places. We were both supposed to go to the game on Saturday, but she had to (or wanted to) cancel.  So I went solo to the game, which turned out ok.  Although I got lost on my way to the game (twice), I finally got to the stadium and as I entered my section from the concession area, a foul ball landed right at my feet!  Initially, I decided not to pick up the ball as I felt that I didn't really deserve it (I didn't even see any part of the play or game at that point).  However, after watching a couple people scrabble for the ball in front of my feet for about 15 seconds, I decided to reach my hand into the scrum.  And just like that, I became the proud owner of an Official Major League Baseball, treated with Mississippi Mud and scuffed by a baseball bat.