Arlington, Metroplex critical to reported concept for launching MLB’s 2020 season
Major League Baseball is intent on playing this season despite time lost because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the latest idea could be a baseball boon for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
CBS Sports reported Monday that Arlington is one of three sites in a proposed plan that would also create hubs in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Fla., and Phoenix, and take advantage of the multiple ballparks in those three regions to conduct the 2020 MLB season.
A source told the Star-Telegram that the three-state idea is one of at least three being explored by MLB.
But there might be a catch: MLB could ship the Rangers to another site to avoid them having a competitive advantage of playing its games at home.
The Metroplex has at least seven potential ballparks: Globe Life Field, the new home of the Texas Rangers with retractable roof; Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco that houses the Rangers’ Double A affiliate; college ballparks at TCU, Texas-Arlington and Dallas Baptist; and independent-league facilities in Grand Prairie and Cleburne.
The weather typically remains warm through October, which could see regular-season baseball as teams try to play as much of their 162-game schedule as possible.
Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, while an undesirable venue, is a domed ballpark, and Chase Field in Phoenix has a retractable roof. Both cities have spring-training ballparks and college facilities that could also be used.
Gov. Greg Abbott has expressed a desire to bring professional sports back to Texas as part of the state’s economic recovery plan. Houston could also be another logical hub by utilizing the Astros’ retractable-roof home at Minute Maid Park, an independent-league ballpark in Sugar Land and college venues at Houston and Rice.
CBS Sports’ report also mentions that the relative proximity between Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth and St. Petersburg and Miami, the home of the Marlins’ retractable-roof stadium, and multiple spring training and college venues could make for easy travel.
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that baseball does not have plans, but rather ideas they are considering. Nothing has moved beyond the preliminary stage, though the Arizona Plan gained steam earlier this month.
Under that plan, all 30 MLB teams would head to the Phoenix area, where 10 training facilities play host to 15 teams each spring. There are also two viable college sites in the area. Some players seemed skeptical because personnel would be required to stay at their hotel when not at the ballpark.
Games would be played without fans.
The CBS report did not contain those specifics, but Manfred has also said that MLB would play only once the health crisis has been contained and if games could be played safely.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 10:46 PM.
