The MLB Rangers yesterday announced plans for a series of upgrades to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The work will include a third row of Home Plate Seats, extensive upgrades to the private club and concessions areas behind home plate, a new retail store and concession stands on the Main Concourse, and deeper dugouts and field camera bays (Rangers). ESPN DALLAS’ Richard Durrett noted as part of the $35M renovations over a “three-year period,” the dugouts will be “moving closer to the field." The stadium’s private club will be renamed the Capital One Club, “after the Rangers announced a partnership with Capital One Bank.” There will be a “total of 52 seats added as a third row behind home plate.” Those rows have “extra leg room as well and each holder can receive complimentary buffet in the renovated Capital One Club before every game.” The Capital One Club will be “expanded and renovated” to include a “new cooking area, bars and dining room space in the center and the number of permanent seats goes up from 76 to 104.” The climate-controlled space “goes from 8,100 square feet to 9,100" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 10/30). In Ft. Worth, Jeff Wilson notes the redesign of the main concourse will allow fans entering the stadium through the home-plate gates to "see the playing field as the entrance to the now-Capital One Club will be moved and the concession stands will be renovated.” The result will be “more air flow and a view of the field.” The increased air flow “could temper the jet stream to right field, which allegedly adds home runs" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 10/31).
