Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark

Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark

Originally named the Ballpark in Arlington, the Rangers renamed it Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in March 2007. From 2004-07 the park was called Ameriquest Field in Arlington. The exterior of the ballpark resembles Ebbets Field with its red brick facade and arches. The area has multiple parking lots that start at $10.00. I stayed at a local hotel that provided free shuttle buses. (Photo: Gordon Donovan)

Rangers Ballpark is a stadium in Arlington, Texas, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It was known as The Ballpark in Arlington until May 7, 2004, when Ameriquest bought the naming rights to the ballpark and renamed it Ameriquest Field in Arlington.

On March 19, 2007, the Texas Rangers severed their relationship with Ameriquest and announced that the stadium would be named Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The stadium was constructed as a replacement for nearby Arlington Stadium. It is home to the American League's Texas Rangers, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Hall of Fame.

The stadium contains 5,704 club seats and 126 luxury suites.

A roofed home run porch in right field is reminiscent of Tiger Stadium, while the white steel frieze that surrounds the upper deck was copied from the pre-1973 Yankee Stadium. 

The out-of-town scoreboard (removed in 2009 and replaced with a state-of-the-art videoboard) was built into the left-field wall—a nod to Fenway Park, while the numerous nooks and crannies in the outfield fence are a reminder of Ebbets Field.

The arched windows are a reminder of Comiskey Park. However, it has a few distinct features of its own. Several traditional Texas-style stone carvings are visible throughout the park. 

A four-story office building in center field encloses the park, with a white steel multilevel facade similar to the facade on the roof.

As the ballpark was built on one of the former Arlington Stadium parking lots, the irregular dimensions of the outfield were planned independently, rather than being forced by neighboring structures. 

The home plate, foul poles, and bleachers were originally at Arlington Stadium. The Home Plate was inserted into place by Richard Greene (then Mayor of Arlington), Elzie Odom (Head of Arlington Home Run Committee and later Mayor of Arlington), and George W. Bush (former part Rangers owner, later Texas Governor and President of the United States).

Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington Fireworks
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark
Ballpark Roadtrip: Rangers Ballpark

Ballpark Scorecard

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Ballpark: A - Baseball park is great, doesn't feel like a ripoff of other parks. Wide concourses and kids areas are great, plenty of shops. The tour was disappointing, short and the tour guide leader was not very knowledgeable.

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Fans & Atmosphere: A - Fans are passionate about the team and very friendly. I was very surprised to find fans who were knowledgeable about team and baseball.

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Food: C - Not much to write about, had hamburger and french fries that were cold and bland on a 103 degree day. Chicken fingers were okay but limited sauces. Plenty of other choices, but lines were long.

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Mascot: B - Rangers Captain, a 6' 8" palomino who entertains fans and taunts opponents.

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Staff: A - The friendliest staff I've ever encountered - very kind and thoughtful even despite wearing opposition attire.

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Team Tradition: B - Moved to Texas from Washington in 1972 after being an expansion team in 1961. Greatest moment from several - striking out A-Rod to win the pennant in 2010. The team is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

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Location: A - Located in Arlington, 30 minutes from Dallas next to Six Flags and Cowboys Stadium.

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Photos taken June 23-24, 2011 using a Canon EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR with a EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens, EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens.