Rangers Fans Mixed On Prospects Of New Stadium
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - With Sunday's game behind them the Rangers can focus on the playoffs. Arlington voters will soon have a say in the team's long-term future when they vote in November on whether to approve plans for a new $500-million stadium.
Fans have mixed feelings about the prospect of their team playing somewhere else.
A lot of fans have a real attachment to Globe Life Park, but they are curious about what kind of advantage a covered stadium could give the team.
With the Rangers' guaranteed spot in the playoffs, fans had few worries on the last game of the regular season except possibly squinting through the sunlight.
"I feel like Texas baseball is not Texas baseball without the sun," Lana Beeter said.
Even with seats in Section 20 where the sun sometimes shines the brightest, Beeter has a strong stance on the the proposed $500-million covered stadium that would replace Globe Life Park.
"We don't need a covered stadium," Beeter said.
But fans like Missy Lomax say on days like Sunday, a ceiling sounds pretty good.
"Just not sitting in the sun is a winner for me," Lomax said.
The proposed new ballpark promises to double Arlington's tourist business by offering a climate-controlled venue available for events year-round, but fans like season ticket holder George Nelson have a hard time letting go of the team's home.
"I love it the way it is whether it's 105 degrees at 2:05 on a Sunday afternoon, or whether it's 80 degrees in the evening. I don't care. I love this stadium," Nelson said.
But even Nelson admits the heat can have a negative impact on the Rangers while other teams play their home games in more comfortable conditions.
"I would hate to see it go. I really would, but there's a strong argument for having a covered stadium because of those same reasons," Nelson said.
That's why even some of those strongly against replacing Globe Life Park say whatever the future holds, they'll be there to support their team.
"No, we're Rangers fans, so we would still attend the games, new stadium, old stadium, whichever," Beeter said.
Developers have said that if a new stadium is approved by voters, Globe Life Park would become part of surrounding developments that would create a new entertainment district, but the November vote only covers funding for the new stadium.
(©2016 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
