The Texas Rangers have selected HKS to design their new billion-dollar retractable roof stadium, according to industry sources.
Arlington, Texas, voters on Tuesday approved a referendum for a public-private partnership to build the proposed stadium. The partnership, which will keep the Rangers in Arlington through 2054, won with 60 percent of the vote.
The Rangers and HKS know each other well. HKS designed Globe Life Park, the team’s open-air stadium, which opened in 1994, as well as nearby AT&T Stadium, the Dallas Cowboys’ home.
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Voters gave the referendum on a new Rangers ballpark a big thumbs-up.
Photo by: COURTESY OF TEXAS RANGERS
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When contacted last week, officials with the Rangers and Dallas-based HKS would not confirm the information.
“We do not have a signed agreement yet with any firm,” said Rob Matwick, the Rangers’ executive vice president of business operations. “I can’t confirm anything until we do.”
Sources said the selection of an architect came down to HKS and Populous, which has designed more MLB facilities than any other firm. HOK, Gensler and HNTB were also invited to submit proposals, but only HKS and Populous followed through with submissions.
Populous had worked on preliminary designs for the new ballpark.
The Rangers are asking fans to help out in the design of the facility, which will be built using a half-cent sales tax already in place to pay for AT&T Stadium.
With that support, Matwick said, the team hopes to build “the best ballpark in the major leagues.”
The team launched a new website — RangersNewBallpark.com — to gather suggestions and ideas from fans on what they’d like to see in a new ballpark, which officials say could open in time for the 2020 season.
The Rangers’ lease at Globe Life Park runs through 2024. The existing ballpark is expected to be part of a $4 billion mixed-use development, called Texas Live!, that could convert the stadium into part of the retail and entertainment complex.
Plans for the ballpark include a retractable roof that would give fans shelter and climate control during adverse weather conditions.
Officials say the new ballpark will have similar design concepts as those already in Globe Life Park. Officials expect to begin construction in summer 2017.
Candace Carlisle, who writes for the Dallas Business Journal, an affiliated publication, contributed to this report.