Arlington schools say goodbye to UTA, hello to Globe Life Park for next 4-5 years
One of the most memorable games in Scott Peach’s coaching career came in 2018 when his Arlington Colts beat Arlington Lamar in the biggest game in city history.
Two 9-0 teams playing in the final regular-season game for the district championship.
It was just one of many games Peach won’t forget at UT Arlington’s Maverick Stadium.
After more than 30 years of playing high school football games at the 12,000-seat venue, the Arlington Independent School District will have a new home for at least the next four years.
In April, the Texas Rangers and AISD finalized an agreement to play 15 regular-season games at Globe Life Park, starting this fall. Globe Life Park had been the home of the XFL’s Dallas Renegades earlier this year until the league permanently suspended operations because of the coronavirus.
The stadium was converted to a multi-purpose facility with a synthetic grass surface after the Texas Rangers moved out following the end of the 2019 baseball season.
All six Arlington schools will have the chance to play at the park once.
“UTA has been our home field in my 17 years as Arlington head coach,” Peach said. “So many special moments there. My first victory against Midland Lee; the second round in 2012 against Abilene Cooper; two years ago against Lamar; and the first round of the playoffs that year against Weatherford. It’s a special place for us. We’ll miss it.”
Athletic director Eric White said that the district is in the works of having a new stadium on the campus of Martin High School (Glaspie Field) by 2024 or 2025. At the same time, renovations will begin at Wilemon Field (Sam Houston HS) and Cravens Field (Lamar HS). Glaspie will be the home field for Martin and Seguin; Wilemon will be home to Bowie and Sam Houston; and Cravens will be home to Arlington and Lamar.
White said the Texas Rangers and the school district will discuss further plans to include Globe Life Park in the future.
“UTA was a great partner and great host. We had a good long relationship with them. Nothing but gratitude for working along with us,” White said. “Globe Life Park will give us the opportunity for more fans with a few more seats. We’re very excited to kick off the football high school season there.”
The first week of the Class 6A and 5A season will feature three games at Globe Life Park: Lamar-Euless Trinity on Sept. 24; Arlington-Mansfield on Sept. 25; and Seguin-Fort Worth Wyatt on Sept. 26.
“This is an outstanding opportunity for our district at Globe Life Park,” superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos said in April. “We have always had an outstanding relationship with the Texas Rangers and this just adds another layer to that.”
Arlington is set to play at Globe Life Park seven times this season, including its first five games.
Martin will play there three times, including its homecoming against the Colts on Oct. 16.
“There was no other place like UTA. Hopping out of that bus to a crowd already there hours before to watch the game. Just the music and the lights get you pumped up,” Martin senior quarterback Zach Mundell said. “Playing at Globe Life Park is going to be a really cool experience and I can’t wait to get on the field and play.”
