The Texas Rangers are planning a multimillion-dollar renovation to the center-field plaza at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington that could add a sports bar and reconfigure the visitors' bullpen.
Rangers spokesman John Blake confirmed that plans are under way for Vandergriff Plaza, but said details won't be released until possibly later this week. He said that some demolition work has started.Design work is still being completed, Blake said, and "until that happens, I don't want to get too specific. We're doing some very major renovations in the center-field area."That work will likely involve the demolition of Vandergriff Plaza and adjacent spaces to accommodate a new concession pavilion, club pavilion, renovation of a suite for a sports bar, and a mezzanine and family entertainment area, according to plans filed with the state.Project costs are estimated at $11 million, the filing said, with renovations to be completed by April 1.It appears that the renovation plans were well under way before a bullpen controversy erupted in Game 5 of the World Series in Arlington on Oct. 24, when St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa claimed he couldn't be heard over the bullpen phone, resulting in his inability to get the pitcher he wanted at a critical moment. The Rangers won that game but eventually lost the series to the Cardinals.Visiting managers are unable to see inside their bullpen from the dugout because of the physical layout of the ballpark. In Game 5, La Russa could not see that only one pitcher was getting ready instead of the two that he had wanted to warm up.The city of Arlington issued a building permit for the project on Oct. 12 that shows the work area will involve about 65,590 square feet of space. The city also issued a certificate of occupancy for space in the center-field office building in early October to Sterling Barnett Little Inc., the architecture firm listed on the state filing as the design firm.The center-field plaza is named for the late Tom Vandergriff, who is credited with bringing the Washington Senators to Arlington to become the Texas Rangers.A statue of Vandergriff and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, now the team's CEO, are displayed there. A children's activity area was added in 2000.Sandra Baker, 817-390-7727Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
