At the Rangers home opener on Friday against the Angels, "bad bar codes printed on tickets kept some Rangers fans from seeing the beginning of the game," according to Bill Hanna of the FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. The team said that "long lines did form at the gates to the ballpark itself when the barcodes on the tickets weren't being read by the electronic scanners used by ticket takers." At least 1,000 people "were waiting in line at the home plate entrance." A fan said that he "waited 45 minutes to get into the Ballpark." Fans at other gates "didn't report as long a wait, saying it took 5-10 minutes to get inside." Tailgaters this year said that the "smaller amount of tailgaters was a direct result of the Rangers telling fans they wouldn't be admitted into the parking lot without a game ticket." Last year, thousands of ticket holders "had to park a half-mile or more away because 10,000 to 20,000 people without tickets showed up just to tailgate." The new policy is "designed to prevent a repeat performance," but it "provoked a split decision among fans" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 4/6). Angels RF and former Ranger Josh Hamilton said that extra security was "called for his wife Katie and daughters in the stands after some over-exuberant fans verbally accosted them" during Friday's game. The Rangers said that they "could not provide the Hamiltons with a suite" for the game "because all were sold out." In Dallas, Evan Grant noted the Hamiltons "did receive a suite for the games" on Saturday and Sunday (DALLASNEWS.com, 4/6). Meanwhile, the AP's Schuyler Dixon reported longtime Rangers fan Robbie Parker threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Saturday's game against the Angels "in honor of his 6-year-old daughter, Emilie, who was among the 26 killed in the mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn." (AP, 4/6).
