Girls, grub and guests: A walk through a fun night at the ballpark

The Texas Rangers have embraced manager Jeff Banister’s motto to never, ever quit. It’s only fitting that the fans follow suit. That means, get to the ballpark! Josh Hamilton is back, the pitching is heating up, and the season is halfway over.

Use this handy guide to the ballpark to entice the girls, your special someone, your kids, your parents or your out-of-town guests to join you for a game and enjoy Globe Life Park to its fullest. From pregame fun to postgame celebrations, food, drink and the best seats ...it’s all here. So settle in, take your time, we’re taking you out to a ballgame!

Girls’ night

Baseball isn’t just for boys, and the Rangers’ ballpark isn’t just about beer and hotdogs. For your next GNO, take the town to Globe Life Park and enjoy a full helping of gourmet eats, interesting drinks, a little bit of sun and, of course, the great game.

Pregame: First things first, meet at the Captain Morgan Club for a drink. Get a seat by the window for the ultimate in people watching, and sip slowly (because it goes down a little too easy) on the Getaway. At $13.50 it’s a fruity drink that isn’t too sweet and is just refreshing enough to take the edge off a hot day. The Captain Morgan Club is in left-center field. It’s open to all ticketed guests before, during and after the game.

Where to sit: Section 33. These lower infield seats run about $83 for a weekend game, but hey, you’re worth it. And besides a great view of the field, you’ll get just the right amount of sun before playing it cool in the shade.

What to drink: Drinks are plentiful at Globe Life Park, but girls’ night generally calls for wine in some form or fashion. Check out Wine on Tap in Sections 15 and 33, where you’ll find a good pour for $9. Selections range from a nice chardonnay and pinot noir at Section 33 with additional options, including a Malbec and sauvignon blanc, at Section 15.

What to eat: While you may prefer a classier drink, let’s be real about food. Ballpark fare is meant to be enjoyed guilt free, and there’s no better place to get gourmet options than at the Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza behind center field. The four concessions include Taqueria (with fresh-made tortillas), Smokehouse 557 (featuring brisket smoked daily at the ballpark), Flew the Coop (hand-dipped chicken and homemade pickles) and American Dog (featuring a brisket sausage hot dog that’s just fantastic.) With so many options, we recommend one of two items that are perfect for sharing. The Totally Awesome Nachos from Taqueria are $17.50 and served in a cute pink helmet with Nacho Cheese Doritos and an array of excellent toppings; and the Smoker Bacon or Brisket Mac & Cheese from Smokehouse 557, which is exactly what it sounds like and a deal for $8.50.

Good to know: When the sun sets, Vandergriff Plaza heats up. If you’re getting antsy in your seats, head this way where you can watch the game on a big screen and grab a drink at Centerfield Alehouse between Sections 49-51. More than just beer (and a good selection at that), the Alehouse serves frozen beer, margaritas, mixed drinks and Texas Rangers wine. Prices start at $7.25.

Date Night

Whether it’s your first date, or hundredth, the ballpark can be a just what Cupid ordered. Even if your date’s a rookie to Globe Life Park or has been a dozen times, our date-night suggestions will ensure a night to remember.

Pregame: Pregame at one of the many great bar and grills in Lincoln Square, like Sherlock’s or Boomerjack’s, or stop in at the legendary J. Gilligan’s in downtown Arlington on Abram Street, all just minutes from Globe Life Park. Several of these venues even offer a shuttle.

Where to sit: Section 217-221, Club Level In-Seat service seats. A server takes your order and delivers your food and drinks right to your seat. The menu includes the usual suspects, but also better choices like a bacon cheeseburger and a premium draft beer for him, and a grilled chicken salad and wine for her. These seats also provide a great view of the big screen and the fireworks and, thankfully, there’s always a really good breeze. Only downside: no more kiss cam.

What to drink: Something you might like is the Corona ’Rita ($17.50) at Section 25, just down the escalator. Yep, a Corona in your margarita. It’s the not the fishbowl variety, but still just right to share on a warm night.

What about a snack? If you’re not totally full from the food in the service sets, and you’re maybe looking for something else to share, head down to Just Bacon in Section 17 for a snack. Yep, all bacon, all the time. Its bestseller is the bacon quesadilla ($9), but you can also get candied bacon, bacon sunflower seeds, bacon saltwater taffy ...and my mouth is watering. If you’re adventurous, share a Voodoo Doughnut Bacon Maple Ale ($12), made especially for the ballpark.

Good to know: No matter where you’re sitting, you and your date may want to get out of the humidity and enjoy a little AC (we all know what the humidity does to our hair, and sweat isn’t sexy.) So head toward Section 205 to enjoy the totally cool Jack Daniel’s Club. Much like the Captain Morgan Club, it has nice seating, a large bar and big, beautiful bathrooms. There are plenty of tables for two where you can share one of the cold, delicious handcrafted adult milkshakes ($13.95 and $14.95). Linda, the bartender, creates a Bananas Foster and Red Velvet variety, but the Seventh Inning Stretch is the best of the best, named for its seven ingredients: Chocolate-chip ice cream blended with ground pretzels and potato chips, peanut butter, chocolate and caramel syrup, vanilla Schnapps and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. One shake, two straws. While the Jack Daniel’s Club is for season-ticket holders, anyone can get in after the first pitch.

Baseball with the babies

Baseball fans nationwide know, you gotta train ’em young, and Globe Life Park is the perfect place to introduce your kids to the Texas Rangers. But, with kids, you also have to have a plan. So, plan away with a few tips from your friendly expert baby wranglers.

Pregame: Pregame at home, let’s be real. You’ll need to save all your energy for entertaining the little ones at the ballpark.

Where to sit: Sit in the cheap seats up in the 300s, so when you have to leave the game early and unexpectedly, you won’t feel so bad. Twenty dollars gets you in the Upper Reserve along the first-base and third-base lines. For $27, you can sit in the shade in the Upper Box high above home plate. Spend just a bit more at $37 and sit next to Greene’s Hill (where you can race to snag a home-run ball) and just steps away from the Kid’s Zone.

What to drink: Milk isn’t always cooler friendly, so grab the kids some nice cold dairy at Center Field Market. Conveniently located next to the Kid’s Zone, it also features a nice selection of Texas beers, fresh fruit, ice cream, sundries, headache medicine and vegan hot dogs.

What about a snack? If it’s not Wednesday Dollar Dog Night, grab a bite to eat from your cooler. Soft-sided coolers are permitted, and you can pack all the juice, water and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches your mini-cooler can hold. Supplement with fresh fruit from Center Field Market or a large, soft pretzel found at just about any concession stand in the upper level.

Good to know: Globe Life Park has plenty of entertainment options for little ones, most notably the Kid’s Zone, located in left-center field next to Vandergriff Plaza. The area is air-conditioned and enclosed and features a huge play area, video games, concessions and an area for kids 3-years-old and under. The play area offers Nerf guns, a rock wall, multiple tunnels to climb through, a giant “T” that lights up when you dance and a large baseball bat slide. Entry is $10 per kid (well worth the cost) and the space is available to rent for special events and birthday parties.

Family night

Time to get the whole family out to the park. Even if Dad (or Mom) is the only true fan, teens can find something they’ll like as well. Pack your brood and let’s play ball.

Pregame: Pregame at the ballpark. If you get there early enough, you can watch batting practice, get autographs and take lots of photos to post on social media — #NeverEverQuit is hot right now. Take a family pic in front of the Nolan Ryan statue in Vandergriff Plaza so you can all “check” in on your social networks. Post your photo to Instagram and tag the Rangers for a chance to have it put up on the big screen.

Where to sit: If you have hungry teens, try the Cholula All You Can Eat Seats in the upper-home run porch, Sections 248-250. They’re completely shaded, even on day games, and inside the Cholula Porch is air-conditioned. Your group can enjoy endless trips for grilled chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and nachos, along with ballpark favorites like popcorn and peanuts. The other option is the lower home-run porch, Sections 45-49, also in the shade and just above the Rangers’ bullpen. Bring a glove because Mitch Moreland or Prince Fielder might send a souvenir your way. Coca-Cola Family Four Packs ($69-$113) include tickets in either upper- or lower-reserved sections, jumbo hot dogs, sodas for four, two Kid’s Zone wristbands and a souvenir program.

What to drink: The ballpark serves Coke products. Fountain beverages are $5.50 for a regular size and $6.50 for a souvenir cup; bottled beverages are $5. Minute Maid frozen drinks are $6.50, bottled water is $5 and Snapple (sweet and unsweet) bottled teas are $5.50. Most are available at just about any concession throughout the park, and Snapple can be found at Center Field Market.

What About a Snack? Teens need choice. You can top your own sno-cone at the shaved-ice cart behind the lower home-run porch at Section 40; choose from tons of flavors and create your own icy treat. Or, take the family to the Tostitos Nacho stand at Section 41 where you can get made-to-order quesadillas ($9) and nachos ($17.50). Other options include the Section 40 fry stand, where you can smell the garlic fries from a mile away. If that’s too strong, try the sweet potato fries or spicy Cajun fries ($9.25) served in a bowl big enough for the whole family to share. The famous Popcorn Wagon, at section 42, is celebrating its 100th anniversary of making fresh roasted nuts and popcorn.

Good to know: No matter where you’re sitting, if you bring the family on Wednesday nights, you can enjoy dollar hot dogs. Wednesdays are also Dr Pepper autograph days. Find Rangers players and coaches set up to sign for kids 13 and under at spots on the concourse from 5:45 to 6:15 p.m. All autographs are free and on a first-come, first-served basis. Families can enjoy some impressive postgame fireworks shows on Friday nights at the park. The show, set to music, starts about 15 minutes after the final out.

Grand night

Yay, grandma and grandpa want to take you out to the ballgame. This means two things:Make them comfortable and they may foot the bill.

Pregame: Probably not, just hugs and kisses and let’s get to it. Maybe stop at the Majestic Grand Slam Gift Shop in center field beforehand to pick up a new cap, T-shirt or foam finger for the grandkids.

Where to sit: Sections 127-136, located on the lower level and in the shade. The path from parking lot to seat has almost no stairs and is totally shaded, even during day games. It’s a little pricier, but it’s worth it. There are plenty of restrooms nearby and easy access to lots of concessions.

What to eat: Offer to take the grands’ order and get them what they want. Suggest something from The Chipper at Section 32, which offers kettle chips or tater tots topped with brisket or chicken and lots of extras. Or try to tackle the Holland Hot Tot’Chos, tater tots topped with chicken or beef fajita meat and finished with buffalo sauce, jalapenos, peppers and hollandaise queso served in a mini Dutch oven ($17.50). Globe Life Park also offers lots of brisket options, including the brisket sausage sundae at Homeplate Butcher Block. The ballpark boasts its own smoker that cooks 90 briskets daily to supply all the beef fans can eat. If grandma and grandpa want traditional fare, numerous vendors roam these sections. The more colorful vendors like Elroy Galvez, who does bird calls, and Ben Ross, who can holler an exaggerated hot dog call loud and long, are usually in these sections.

What about a snack? Wait for the roaming vendor to come by offering just the right treat from peanuts or popcorn to churros and frozen treats. Offer to hit the ice cream concession stand at section 37 for an Ice Cream Helmet Sundae ($8.25) or an ice cream float ($6.75). You can create your own waffle cone concoction ($8.25) and impress the grands, just grab an extra spoon and lots of napkins.

Good to know: Valet parking ($40 or free for Lexus drivers) is offered on all sides of Globe Life Park. It can be reserved ahead of time or on the spot. Rangers courtesy carts are available to aid any guests to or from the parking lots. The largest handicapped parking lot is adjacent to Lot B closest to the First Base entrance, but there is handicapped parking in every lot.

Showing off the Globe to out-of-towners

When friends and family come to visit, a trip to the ballpark should top your list of to-dos, because nothing says Texas like Rangers baseball, except for maybe the Dallas Cowboys. The big difference though, is price, and for a good one, you can enjoy an afternoon or evening at one of the prettiest parks in the major leagues.

Pregame: Find one of the grassy spots around the ballpark, pull up a chair and spend the day tailgating before you head into Globe Life Park. The parking lots open three hours before the game and tailgating is permitted until the second inning. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the company of your guests while giving them a view of Globe Life Park and the very large and very impressive AT&T Stadium.

What to drink: A surprising amount of Texas beer is located throughout the ballpark, with a good selection at Major League Brewhouse near Section 17. Regional craft beers rotate in and out at this station throughout the season, so impress your guests with a variety of Texas’ best brews. While we’re partial to Revolver Blood & Honey, the Deep Ellum IPA ($10) is also a sure bet. If you’re glued to your seats during a Rangers rally, just wait for the trademark, “BEEEEEEEERRRRR” to sound out and grab your favorite lite beer ($7.75).

What to eat: The Rangers’ food-service department has come up with some pretty crazy offerings that are great for impressing your out-of-town guests. Everything’s bigger in Texas, and this holds true for the colossal Choomongous (a 2-foot Teriyaki beef sandwich), the Boomstick (a 2-foot hot dog) and the Beltre Buster (a 1-pound hamburger patty), among others, all $26 and available in Section 29. Another Texas favorite is the State Fare concession in Section 41. Here, you can show off our State Fair’s finest selections from fried Twinkies ($7) to fried s’mores ($8) and funnel cake fries ($6).

Good to know: Before Friday and Saturday games, visit the New Era Alumni Alley at Vandergriff Plaza in Center Field to get free autographs from some favorite Rangers alumni players. A different former player signs for about an hour before the game on a first-come, first-served basis. Treat your out-of-towners to a night of Texas country music when Fort Worth’s own Pat Green takes the field to perform on Saturday, Sept. 20, after the game against the Mariners. This postgame concert is included with your ticket.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 1:15 PM with the headline "Girls, grub and guests: A walk through a fun night at the ballpark."