The Ballpark in Arlington "has not matched the gate
appeal of its retro-park brethren" in Baltimore, Cleveland
and Colorado and the attendance difference "translates into
about" $6-$8M less in "annual revenue" for the Rangers than
at the other three parks, according to Gerry Fraley of the
DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Entering Tuesday's series opener
against the Yankees, the Rangers had an average attendance
of 35,257 for 382 regular-season dates. Fraley: "This is
good, but not up to the level of Baltimore, Cleveland and
Colorado. They were the top three clubs for attendance last
season. Each has averaged more than 41,000 in its new
park." Rangers President Tom Schieffer: "The strike really
broke our momentum. We're getting back to those levels
now." Fraley adds that the "novelty has worn off at The
Ballpark," and writes that the "problem for the Rangers lies
not with the Ballpark but with its location," as the team is
one of only three in MLB that play in "what could be
considered suburban settings" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/28).
