After two seasons of COVID and disappointment, Texas Rangers aim to reconnect with fans
For the first time in five years, genuine optimism feels like a legitimate emotion surrounding the Texas Rangers.
The team that lost more than 100 games last season has revamped its roster with a series of big-time acquisitions that have the players, the coaching staff and front office executives entering 2022 with expectations not felt since the start of 2017, which turned out to be the first of five consecutive losing seasons. That run culminated with 102 losses in 2021, their most since 1973.
Everyone involved is confident that was the bottom, and this season, which begins at 6:07 p.m. Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre, will signal a real turnaround.
The optimism, however, isn’t only about the on-field talent. The club is excited — and relieved — to be hosting a full 81-game schedule at Globe Life Field, without the overwhelming COVID-19 concerns that were in place last season.
Yes, the Rangers were wide open for fans in 2021 despite the lingering pandemic issues, way ahead of the rest of the league. But the cloud was still hovering over the season, if only for individual fans who shied away from big crowds, or for the limitations and restrictions still in place that has prevented the club from truly loosening its collar for the $1.2 billion stadium that opened in silence in 2020.
“The past few years have been tough,” Rangers executive vice president of business operations Rob Matwick said. “Needless to say, it has been a long grind over the past two years.”
Monday’s 3:05 p.m. home opener against the Colorado Rockies at Globe Life Field might, in some ways, feel like another first-ever opening day at the stadium, even though it will be the third. The 2020 home opener was played sans fans because of the pandemic. Last year’s home opener was a sellout, but the pandemic still required some mask protocols and extra cleaning and disinfecting by ballpark crews.
The Rangers and Globe Life Field staffs are breathing a sigh of relief, Matwick said, that the specter of COVID is dissipating.
“I know our fans are looking forward to that. Our players are looking forward to that,” he said. “Just connecting. The past two years have been a total disconnect with our customers, our players and the staff. It has been difficult. It’s been hard for everybody.”
MLB restrictions the past two seasons have kept fans and players from interacting as closely as they did before the pandemic, with the young outstretched arms of autograph seekers prevented from reaching their heroes.
“I can’t wait to let our players go out and play in front of our home fans,” said manager Chris Woodward, who is starting his fourth season with the Rangers. “We have a ton of excitement internally about our team, and I know there’s been a lot of buzz about it from the fan perspective. Our fans are everything to us. Getting in front of our home peeps and hearing the crowd and the noise. It presents an excitement about this team and where we’re headed. Can’t wait.”
What’s new at the ballpark?
The Texas Rangers Hall of Fame plaques have been moved from inside to outside the northeast entrance of Globe Life Field, near the Neftali Feliz/Bengie Molina and Tom Vandergriff statues.
The All You Can Eat seating area has been moved to left field between Sections 27-33 from the south side in an effort to give those fans better views of the field. The club received feedback from fans that the previous location was too removed from the action.
The space previously housing the All You Can Eat area has been turned into a sit down restaurant called 421 Food Hall, which includes a special section for season-ticket holders. The name pays tribute to the date of the first MLB game played in Arlington on April 21, 1972.
Adjacent to the 421 Food Hall is the Hall Ball Bar, which will offer a lounge atmosphere and specialty drinks.
Perhaps the most intriguing new concession option (at least on the weekends) will be the Rangers’ Arlington Eats idea. Each weekend series, local restaurants will set up shop at a portable kiosk offering their food to fans near Section 101 in left field.
“There’s a lot of great restaurants [in the area] and we wanted to feature that,” said Casey Rapp, Delaware North’s general manager at Globe Life Field. “When people come from out town, who want a little Texas flair, we wanted to have that.”
Globe Life Field bag policy
There has been no change to the bag policy at Globe Life Field. All bags and purses must be soft sided and no larger than 16x16x8 inches. Backpacks are not allowed, except for single-compartment drawstring bags that are no bigger than the size previously listed. There are exceptions are for large bags used for medical reasons or for manufactured diaper bags that accompany infants and young children. All bags are subject to search before entering the ballpark.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at https://www.mlb.com/rangers/tickets or in person at the main ticket office located on the southeast side of Globe Life Field. The office is open on game days and non-game days. All other ticket offices open 90 minutes prior to first pitch and close 45 minutes after first pitch. The hours for the Southeast Ticket Office are as follows:
Game days
▪ Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. until three hours after first pitch
▪ Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m. until end of game
▪ Saturday night: 10 a.m. until three hours after first pitch
▪ Sunday night: Noon until end of game
Non-game days
▪ Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
▪ Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
▪ Sunday: closed
Getting to/from the game and parking
Fans looking to purchase single-game parking passes can buy them online at https://www.mlb.com/rangers/tickets/parking-passes up to one hour before the game. One you’ve selected the link for your desired game or games, choose the lot that you want and then purchase. Your parking pass can be accessed through your My Rangers Tickets account. And if you download the MLB Ballpark app, you can access your parking pass from your smart phone. Parking fees range from $15 To $35. (Buses cost $50 and RVs cost $100.) Lots open two hours before day games and two and a half hours before night games. And here’s an incentive for Lexus owners: parking is complementary in Lot W, but you will need a special decal that you can get from your Dallas-Fort Worth Lexus dealership.
Tailgating will not be permitted during the 2022 season, and there is no valet service.
Those looking for ride share services, whether they be taxis or other providers can find cars in the northbound lanes of Nolan Ryan Expressway, between Randol Mill and Road to Six Flags (north of the Trolleys) and on the north side of Choctaw Stadium.
Trolley service to Globe Life Field may be available for those staying in a hotel located within Arlington’s entertainment district. Drop-off and pick-up are in the northbound lanes of Nolan Ryan Expressway, between Randol Mill Rd. and Road to Six Flags. Service begins two and half hours pregame and ends 30 minutes postgame. For more information, including a list of participating hotels, please visit Arlingtontrolley.com or call 817-461-8600.
This story was originally published April 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
