Texas Rangers, area school districts are working to keep Class of 2020 safe at home
The Texas Rangers hosted representatives on Wednesday from the 18 schools districts from across the Metroplex that will use the team’s new $1.2 billion ballpark to hold 49 high school graduation ceremonies over the next month
The original sites for those ceremonies were blocked because they were inside, and therefore were not compliant with Gov. Greg Abbott’s mandate that such large gatherings could not occur indoors because of the coronavirus pandemic and concerns over the possibility of spreading COVID-19. The fact that the Major League Baseball season has been delayed created the opening for the ballpark to be used.
“We expected players sliding into home plate, not graduates crossing it,” said Sean Decker, Rangers executive vice president for sports and entertainment. “But, that said, the reality of getting folks in and doing that is super exciting.”
The Forney Independent School District was the first to announce it would hold its graduation ceremonies at Globe Life Field on May 7, two days after Gov. Greg Abbott approved statewide outdoor ceremonies could begin May 29.
Irving, Rockwall, Mansfield and Burleson followed Forney’s lead a day later.
Once the first five signed on, 13 others followed. So far, 18 will honor their seniors with 49 ceremonies over one month, beginning with the four Irving high schools May 29-30.
The Rangers expect to have some 13,000 graduates parade through the ballpark, Decker said Wednesday. Every member of the Class of 2020 is to receive a maximum of five tickets. Team officials have been working with the school districts to find a way to hold the ceremonies safely, in accordance with guidance from the Texas Education Agency. Among the protocols that must be followed are:
▪ All guests must wear face coverings and observe social distancing.
▪ Districts must assign seating. No more than five people from the same household can be grouped together, and they will be spaced by three empty seats. Guests will be seated in the lower bowl. Tickets will come in the senior’s graduation packet and won’t be disbursed until the day of the ceremony.
▪ Graduates must stay at least six feet apart. They will be brought through the concourse and onto the field. Each senior will walk to home plate, stop to have a photo taken and displayed on the ballpark videoboard, and then leave the playing field.
▪ No diplomas will be given.
▪ The retractable roof must be open, as per the governor’s order. In the event of rain, the Arlington fire marshal will decide if the roof can close.
▪ Concession stands will be closed, but restrooms will be open. An attendant will likely be located near the restrooms to help ensure social distancing.
▪ Parking is free.
▪ Hand sanitizing stations will be placed through the seating area.
▪ Cleaning crews will give the ballpark a deep cleaning before each ceremony, which includes days in which four ceremonies are being held.
“Even though we’re in a bigger venue, we still have to follow the social distancing protocols,” said Rob Matwick, Rangers executive vice president of business operations. “Just because we’re coming in a 40,000-seat venue doesn’t mean we’re going to put 15,000 people in here.”
The cost per district varies depending on the number of ceremonies, graduates and the total number of attendees, but the costs cover the Rangers’ operational expenses to host the ceremonies, which includes enhanced cleaning procedures and increased staffing, team spokesman John Blake said in an email.
The Mansfield School District will pay $161,000 after a $49,000 donation by Globe Life Field corporate sponsors, according to district spokeswoman Hope Boyd. She said the rounded cost to host graduations at the district’s Vernon Newsom Stadium was about $170,000 with additional cleaning crews, ushers, audio, video, a stage and others costs such as protecting the turf.
Everman ISD superintendent Curtis Amos, one of several officials from participating schools on hand for a glimpse of the ballpark, said the Rangers worked diligently with his district’s June 18 ceremony happen. Everman was scheduled to hold its commencement at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and Amos didn’t want to settle for a virtual graduation.
“This will be something they remember for a lifetime,” Amos said. “We needed something that was more meaningful, that was going to be more touching for them. This is certainly an honor for all our kids. They deserve this. We wanted to see them go away with a blast and, basically, hit a home run out of the park.”
