MLB All-Star Week in Arlington is more than just the 94th annual mid-summer classic

Can’t get tickets to the 94th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, scheduled July 16 at Globe Life Field, but you want to feel part of the festivities?

Fear not. There’s plenty of activities planned all around the region to celebrate baseball’s mid-summer classic. Here’s what you should know about the big game and everything surrounding it.

First, a history lesson

The Rangers were awarded the game on Nov. 17, 2022. The team has hosted the game once before in 1995 at The Ballpark In Arlington, later renamed to Globe Life Park and is now Choctaw Stadium.

The National League won that game, 3-2. Florida’s Jeff Conine was named the Most Valuable Player.

This year’s game

The pinnacle event is the Game itself, scheduled Tuesday night. First pitch is expected around xx p.m. Tickets have been sold out for quite some time. If you don’t have one, your best bet is to go to one of the secondary sites like StubHub where you can expect to pay well above the face value (lowest face value ticket is $350).

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy has the honor of managing the American League team. He got that right for winning the World Series last year. He’s bringing the entire Rangers coaching staff with him. Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo will manage the National League team.

However, there won’t be many Rangers on the team. The team has not performed up to expectations through the first half of the 2024 season.

Fans selected the starting lineups, which were announced on Wednesday. They include:

American League: first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto), second baseman Jose Altuve (Houston), shortstop Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore), third baseman Jose Ramirez (Cleveland), catcher Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), outfielders Aaron Judge (New York), Juan Soto (New York), Steven Kwan (Cleveland) and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (Houston).

National League: first baseman Bryce Harper (Philadelphia), second baseman Ketel Marte (Arizona), shortstop Trea Turner (Philadelphia), third baseman Alec Bohm (Philadelphia), catcher William Contreras (Milwaukee) , outfielders Fernando Tatis (San Diego), Jurickson Profar (San Diego), Christian Yelich (Milwaukee) and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles).

Judge and Harper received the largest number of fan votes.

The reserves will be announced on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. CT during a special ESPN broadcast.

HBCU Swingman Classic, July 12

The Classic is the first of the All-Star Week festivities. The event is powered by the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. The annual event allows baseball student-athletes from Division-I programs at Historically Black Colleges & Universities the opportunity to play on a national stage. Former major leaguers Lloyd McClendon and Ken Griffey Sr. will manage the teams.

The event will highlight 50 HBCU players that were selected by a committee, including representatives from the MLB.

During the game, fans will be treated to a special “Battle of the Bands,” featuring Prairie View A&M’s The Marching Storm and Texas Southern’s Ocean of Soul.

Tickets for this event are starting as low as $15.

Going? General public parking will be available in Lots B,C,D, E, L, M, N, Q, R,V, W.

All parking lots will open at 2 p.m.; Globe Life Field entrances open at 4 p.m.

All-Star Village, July 13-16

The All-Star Village will be held inside the historic Choctaw Stadium and the surrounding area. It will bring a fan festival feel to All-Star Week. The village will feature various interactive festivities, a giant Ferris wheel, autograph signings and more.

The MLB revealed its list of former players who will make an appearance at the All-Star Village. Among the former Rangers players, Adrian Beltre, Rafel Palmeiro, Michael Young and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez will be featured during the 4 four-day long event.

More than 20 other former MLB stars, including baseball legends Vlad Guerrero Sr., Rollie Fingers and Andre Dawson will also be present. Another list with additional players will be released in the weeks leading up to All-Star Week.

Tickets for the All-Star Village come in several packages. Single, full-day tickets are available each day the village is open. Family four pack tickets, allowing entrance for two adults and two children for $110 is another option. A special two-ticket pack is also available for Tuesday, July 16.

Going? All-Star Village public parking will be available in Lots F, G, H.

All-Star Village public hours of operation: July 13 and 14, 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.; July 15 and 16, 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

All-Star Saturday, July 13

The All-Star Saturday is a sort of catch-all event, featuring three different events all inside Globe Life Field.

First, the All-Star Futures Game, featuring the MLB’s top prospects facing off in a game as they near the Major League. Those teams will be managed by Rangers greats Adrian Beltre and Michael Young.

Then, a new event called the Futures Skills Showcase will once again highlight the skills of MLB’s top prospects. Among the competitors is Texas Rangers prospect Sebastian Walcot, an 18-year old shortstop.

Finally, the return of the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game, where the top names in pop culture will face off alongside MLB legends.

The Futures Game kicks off the action at 3 p.m.

Going? General public parking will be available in Lots B,C,D, E, L, M, N,Q,V,W.

All parking lots will open at 11 a.m..

Globe Life Field Entrances will open to the public at 1 p.m.

MLB Draft’s first round, July 14

The historic Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards will host the Major League Baseball 2024 draft. The first round is on Sunday and is open to the public.

The draft begins at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN and the MLB Network.

Rounds 2-20 will be held Monday-Tuesday and are not open to the public.

All-Star workout day, Home Run Derby, July 15

The All-Star Workout Day will allow fans their first look at the 2024 All-Star lineup in action during a batting practice at Globe Life Field for both teams.

Both squads will hold batting practice, then the Home Run Derby will begin at 7 p.m. CT. There are new rules for the derby this year as the eight competitors will be allowed just 40 pitches in a three-minute span. The top four hitters advance to the semifinals, then the top two semifinalists advance to the finals.

Tickets are sold out, but can be found on second-hand markets.

If you can’t go, ESPN will broadcast the event.

Going? General public parking will be available in Lots B,C,D, E, L, M, N,Q,V,W.

All parking lots will open at 2 p.m.

Globe Life Field Entrances will open to the public at 4 p.m.

Red carpet event, July 16

The participants in the All-Star Game will arrive in Arlington early for the Game and be honored with a special red carpet walk to the stadium, from 1-2:30 p.m.

Fans can come to Texas Live! and watch the players, coaches and celebrities arrive for Tuesday’s festivities. MLB Network will provide complete live coverage for fans to watch the game’s stars arrive.

The Game, July 16

Globe Life Field will be the scene for the pinnacle event. First pitch is expected around 7:05 p.m.

If you can’t get there, the game will be broadcast on FOX.

If you are lucky enough to secure a ticket, know that a special bag policy will be in place for the game.

Bags must be equal to or smaller than 16”x 16” x 8”. This size requirement also applies to any single compartment drawstring bags. Coolers will not be allowed in.

Exceptions can be made for those with medical exemptions or manufactured diaper bags accompanied with infants or young children.

Going? General public parking will be available in Lots B,C,D, E, L, M, N,Q,V,W.

All parking lots will open at 2 p.m.

Globe Life Field Entrances will open to the public at 4 p.m.

Staff writer Madison Sikes contributed to this story.