Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark

Originally named the Ballpark in Arlington, the Rangers renamed it Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in March 2007. From 2004-07 the park was called Ameriquest Field in Arlington. The exterior of ballpark resembles Ebbets Field with its red brick facade and arches. The area has multiple parking lots that start at $10.00. I stayed at a local hotel that provided free shuttle buses.

The Texas Rangers tour entrance. Tours are under an hour long and prices start at $8.00 for adults. The tour of the ballpark included batting cages, press box, City of Arlington Suite and dugouts. This was not one of the better tours I've experienced.

The field of Rangers Ballpark from the press area. Opened in 1994, the ballpark has a mix of old and new features. It borrowed the Tiger Stadium home run porch and originally had a hand-operated scoreboard in left field, much like Fenway Park. The scoreboard is now electronic.

One of the signature features of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is the four-story office building that encloses the structure from left-center to right-center fields. The natural grass batter's eye in center field was named for former Arlington Mayor Richard Greene in November, 1997.

Cowboys Stadium, aka "Jerry's World," can be seen from the Lexus Level of Rangers Ballpark.

The listings of the names of the luxury boxes, who are named after players enshrined in Cooperstown.

Murals of many Hall of Famer's like Joe Cronin are painted outside the entrances to help fans identify the luxury box each one is named after.

There is one luxury box at Rangers Ballpark not named after a former player but a former team owner - President George W. Bush.

The tour of Rangers Ballpark will take you down to the home dugout. No one is allowed on the field or in clubhouse during the tour.

A horseshoe with the world "WIN" hangs in a workout room just down the steps of the Rangers dugout.

Mitchell, one of the Texas Rangers ambassadors, will help fans to locate their seats and will answer questions. The Rangers had the friendliest and most courteous staff I've ever encountered, no matter what teams jersey you wore.

The Texas Rangers finish batting practice just as the visiting New York York Mets began their pregame warm-ups.

Texas Rangers legend and current CEO Nolan Ryan has one two statues that stands in Vandergriff Plaza out in center field. The other is of Tom Vandergriff, who served as mayor of Arlington from 1951 to 1977.

The Rangers have a store in center field where fans can purchase game-used items such as cleats, socks, bats and jerseys of their favorite Rangers players. The Rangers also hold silent auctions for items like autographed merchandise and unique framed memorabilia.

In right field is a double-deck covered home run porch, similar to the one at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. Bleachers from the old Arlington Stadium extend around the outfield to a grassy incline in center field.

The Center Field Sports Park is a fan interactive area located in Vandergriff Plaza in Center Field. The area includes a wiffle ball park, tee-ball cages, speed pitch, temporary tattoos, Mojo pitching cage, and picnic tables. Here a young fan can test his fastball again a mannequin wearing a Yankees jersey. No, he was not wearing the A-Rod's "13."

The view of the field from the home run porch.

The Texas Rangers mascot "Rangers Captain" gestures toward New York Met Jose Reyes before the start of the game. Rangers Captain was designed in the fashion of a Palomino-style horse and made his debut in 2003.

Shadows cast across the infield of Rangers Ballpark. Great views can be found from just about anywhere in the park. The upper deck is the furthest from the action in major league baseball history.

Here's a true Texan souvenir cup to hold your cold beverage on those summer days. Water $3.75 from a vendor and $3.25 at a concession stand.

View from my seats 13 rows behind the visitors dugout. Seat cost: $91.00 - priceless in comparison to Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. Game-time temperature: 103 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity - not as priceless.

The Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki is joined on the field by Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan before the start of the game. Nowitzki threw out the opening pitch to long-time Rangers star Michael Young. Young had to leap up out of a catcher's crouch as snare Nowitzki's throw.

During the course the game, fans are asked to answer questions via Twitter and their answers are displayed on the scoreboard. Good job by the Rangers keeping up with modern trends.

The Texas Legends Race is on in between innings featuring Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Nolan Ryan and Davy Crockett.

The Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton had a hard day at the plate with those blue eyes in the daylight. The reigning AL MVP struck out four times in the Rangers 14-5 loss.

The Texas Rangers Six-Shooters launch t-shirts from the dugouts during pregame and in the 5th and 7th innings. "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" is sung followed by "Cotton-Eyed Joe" as the young ladies dance on top of the dugouts.

Texas Rangers CEO and Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan sits dejected in near the Rangers dugout as the Mets pounded the Rangers 14-5.

The New York Mets Jose Reyes is always all smiles as he leaves the field after a big day.

After every Friday night home game is fireworks night. The fireworks last for 15 minutes and are well attended by fans.

Ballpark: A Baseball park is great, doesn't feel like a ripoff of other parks. Wide concourses and kids areas are great, plenty of shops.The tour was disappointing, short and tour guide leader was not very knowledgeable.
Fans & Atmosphere: A Fans are passionate about team and very friendly. I was very surprised to find fans who were knowledgeable about team and baseball.
Food: C Not much to write about, had hamburger and french fries that were cold and bland on a 103 degree day. Chicken fingers were okay but limited sauces. Plenty of other choices, but lines were long.
Mascot: B Rangers Captain, a 6' 8" palomino who entertains fans and taunts opponents.
Staff: A The friendliest staff I've ever encountered - very kind and thoughtful even despite wearing opposition attire.
Team Tradition: B Moved to Texas from Washington in 1972 after being an expansion team in 1961. Greatest moment from several - striking out A-Rod to win pennant in 2010. The team is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Location: A Located in Arlington, 30 minutes from Dallas next to Six Flags and Cowboys Stadium.