Billboard Takes A Swing At Baseball In Dallas
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – Gas, money and time: According to a small group of baseball fans who paid for a billboard along I-30 near beltline, that's what Dallasites waste every time they drive to Arlington to watch the Texas Rangers play ball.
"I can see where somebody from Dallas would say, 'Hey! We want it (baseball) too'," said Rangers fan, Randy Beeman.
The billboard went up last week and reads, "You're wasting gas, money and time driving to Arlington. Bring baseball to Dallas!
The sign is not sponsored by billionaires looking to buy a team. Instead, it's paid for by a handful of everyday fans who are fed up with the traffic, the hassle and the headaches that they say comes with driving to the Ballpark.
Craig Schenkel, who serves as spokesman for the group, said a baseball stadium in downtown Dallas could revitalize the area.
Schenkel admits his group does not have the money or influence to bring a Major League Baseball team to Dallas. However, his tight-knit group of loyal baseball fans believes they'll find many supporters in neighboring Collin, Kaufman and Ellis counties. Rangers fans such as Leroy Kelly find the idea intriguing.
"It cost me $35 in gas alone to get here (the Ballpark) from Wylie. I would love to have it a little closer to home," said Kelly.
Whether it means attracting a new team or moving the Rangers to Dallas, either option will work for Schenkel and his colleagues. However, both ideas will likely run into resistance from fans like Leo Roque.
"It's just a tradition to come all the way to Arlington to watch a baseball game," said Roque. "I don't think it would be the same feeling to have a baseball park in Dallas."
Rangers fan, Tammi Lacy agrees. "I think it's kind of ridiculous. I mean, everything is here in Arlington. You got the Ballpark. You got Cowboys Stadium. You got Six Flags. I think they would be wasting money driving to Dallas."
Schenkel's group realizes that fans in Tarrant, Johnson and Parker counties will likely pledge their allegiance to the Ballpark . That's just fine with them. With nearly six million people living in North Texas, the billboard group says there's plenty of fans for two teams.
