The Rangers yesterday announced a series of new safety initiatives at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. While all current rail heights in the ballpark exceed code, the Rangers plan to raise the height of all rails in front of seating areas to the highest standard in the U.S. at this time. In addition, the organization is installing new signs on the railings at the base of the aisles and in front of front row seating that state, “Do Not Lean, Sit On, Or Stand Against Rail." In addition, the Rangers will make pregame announcements with the same information over the ballpark’s PA system and on the scoreboards (Rangers). In Dallas, Jeff Mosier reports the Rangers have "started preliminary planning” to raise ballpark railings to 42 inches, and “construction could begin this season.” Rangers Exec VP/Ballpark Operations Rob Matwick said that he “does not believe that any other major league stadium has railings consistently that high.” The railings currently vary in height “throughout the stadium but generally are 30, 34 or 42 inches.” Matwick said that the decision to raise the railings “was made after consulting for the last week and a half with industry experts” and MLB, though ultimately “it was still the team’s decision.” Matwick said that he “expects design and engineering of the railing adjustments to be completed by next month,” and indicated that there will not be “a precise timeline for construction until the current work is finished.” Mosier notes the “simplest option would be to extend the top of the railings,” but an engineering study “would need to determine if the existing structure would safely hold that extra weight.” The Rangers have “no plans to add any barriers between the stands and the outfield,” where fan Shannon Stone fell to his death on July 7 (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/20). The team anticipates “fan pushback for raising the railings, as doing so will affect sightlines.” Matwick said, “There will probably be some issues and challenges with sightlines, but that will have to be part of the experience” (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/20).
STAYING ON TARGET: In St. Paul, Charley Walters noted the Twins are “keenly aware of recent fan mishaps reaching for baseballs in the stands" at Target Field. Twins Exec Dir of Public Affairs Kevin Smith said, “From the design phase through the construction phase, fan safety was paramount in building a ballpark. This is as safe a ballpark as you get. … You can’t build or legislate against people falling or hurting themselves, but we make best efforts to make this place as safe as possible.” Smith added, “As far as what happened in Texas, which was a terrible thing, it doesn’t really change what we do. Everything (at Target Field) is up to code for safety” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 7/16). Twins VP/Operations Matt Hoy said that the club “constantly checks the ballpark and its policies to ensure fans are as safe as possible.” Hoy: “We are very concerned about the safety of fans attending games at Target Field. All Target Field railings meet or exceed code requirements for public assembly facilities” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/20).
