These area school districts will be using Globe Life Field for graduation ceremonies
Globe Life Field won’t be sitting empty until the 2020 MLB season begins.
The Mansfield and Burleson school districts announced on Friday evening that they will hold graduation ceremonies next month at the Texas Rangers’ new $1.2 billion ballpark.
Mansfield and its six high schools will graduate its seniors June 2 and 3, with three high schools each day. Burleson’s four high schools will host commencement ceremonies on June 6.
Both districts stressed that safety protocols that have been in place during the coronavirus pandemic will be required for the ceremonies, which will rate as the first events at Globe Life Field.
“While we look forward to celebrate our Class of 2020, our priority is the health of our students, families, trustees and staff,” Burleson superintendent Bret Jimerson said in a statement. “We will strictly adhere to safety protocols and enforce social-distancing guidelines.”
The Texas Education Agency said on Thursday that outdoor graduation ceremonies can begin statewide June 1. The retractable roof at Globe Life Field will be open, Jimerson said.
Irving, Rockwall and Forney have also said they will use Globe Life Field.
The graduations will mark the first events at Globe Life Field after the Chris Stapleton All-American Road Show on March 14 was postponed and later rescheduled for Nov. 21.
The Rangers were scheduled to play an exhibition game March 23 against the St. Louis Cardinals, but it was canceled in mid-March when MLB closed spring training and delayed Opening Day by two weeks.
Baseball remains shut down, though the expectation is that MLB will attempt to start its season in early July without fans in the stands.
The Mansfield and Burleson districts said that details about tickets for the ceremonies and safety protocols are pending. Burleson did not release a schedule for June 6, but Mansfield has scheduled its six ceremonies.
Mansfield Legacy’s ceremony is scheduled first, at 9:30 a.m. June 2. Summit is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. June 2, and Timberview caps the day at 7:30 p.m.
Lake Ridge will start at 9:30 a.m. June 3 and be followed by Mansfield at 2:30 p.m. and Frontier at 7:30 p.m.
This story was originally published May 8, 2020 at 6:25 PM.
