The MLB Rangers and city of Arlington on Friday officially announced plans that could see the team "playing in a new, air-conditioned ballpark" by Opening Day of the '21 season, according to Gordon Dickson of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Arlington officials and the Rangers have "agreed on a plan to build a stadium with a retractable roof that would be funded in part by tax dollars that are currently being used to pay off AT&T Stadium." The ballpark construction, which is estimated to cost $1B, still "must be approved by Arlington voters in a Nov. 8 election." If the referendum is successful, construction "could begin" by late '17. The city’s contribution "would be capped" at $500M, with the baseball club "paying for any overruns." Officials said that the agreement would "extend the lease with the Rangers" through '54. Officials emphasized that "no new taxes will be used." Instead, a half-cent sales tax, 2% hotel occupancy tax and 5% car rental tax being used to pay for the Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium "would essentially be re-purposed." Most of Globe Life Park "would be demolished but officials said there would be an effort to preserve the centerfield offices and perhaps parts of the facade and other historic features" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/21).
STAYING PUT: In Dallas, Jeff Mosier noted the new venue would be "built in parking lots" across from the current ballpark. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said, "We can't lose the Rangers. We need to put this to bed. It's one of those things that's just hanging over you." Rangers Owner Ray Davis said that there was not "any urgency to build a new stadium" since the team is committed to Arlington to '24. Davis said the city came and asked him, "What would it take to get you to stay here?" He said that the possibility of moving into "a new retractable-roof stadium a few years early was 'very compelling.'" The team "released renderings" of the new ballpark Friday but "warned that they were preliminary." The new ballpark "would probably have a capacity of 42,000 to 44,000, slightly smaller than Globe Life Park's current maximum of about 48,000" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/21). In Ft. Worth, Robert Cadwallader noted the new ballpark would "connect to the Texas Live mixed-use project planned just to the west, making a seamless entertainment, hotel and sports venue" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/21).
JUST MAKES SENSE: ESPN DALLAS' Brandon Land wrote a new ballpark deal "makes all the sense in the world." Land: "Sure, they'll be able to attract fans who once refused to come to the ballpark because of the intense heat." There have been "quiet rumblings" in recent years that the Rangers were considering leaving Arlington for Dallas "after the current lease expires" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 5/20). In Dallas, Robert Wilonsky wrote under the header "Dallas Tried To Play Ball With Texas Rangers, But Arlington's 'Bear Hug' Was Too Strong" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/20). In Ft. Worth, Mac Engel wrote not only is the logic behind replacing Globe Life Park "asinine and financially detrimental but it is the norm in the maddening con game that is American professional sports 'home building.'" The ballpark in Arlington is 22, which means that "archaic piece of junk has got to go." The overwhelming response to this announcement Friday "was positive, meaning the vote on this in November is a foregone conclusion despite this being a presidential election year" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/22).
