Game #11.....Globe Life Field and the Texas Rangers

Globe Life Field is the home of the Texas Rangers. This stadium opened in 2020 to no fanfare. The first year was the year of the pandemic where baseball didn't start until July 24, 2020 and with no fans, so no one saw the new stadium until the World Series, which was played in a Neutral site for both of the teams (Texas Rangers were not in the World Series).

Globe Life Field took the place of Globe Life Park (which is still next door, now called Choctaw Stadium). Choctaw Stadium has been reconfigured for soccer and football. Globe Life Field is a retractable roof stadium to help with the intense heat of the summer in Texas. Construction began in September 2017 and was finished for the start of the 2020 MLB season. Unfortunately Covid happened and no one attended any games there until the World Series was held between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Tampa Bay Rays. The cost of the stadium was $1.1 billion. Outside the stadium is a ballpark village, similar to Busch Stadium. The ballpark village has a Texas Live! event center with restaurants, bars, retail, and a hotel plus additional buildings going up now. The stadium also sits next door to AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Since the stadium had only 2 years on it....not much notable events have happened in the stadium. There have been 2 no-hitters thrown at the park but not by a Texas Ranger. April 9, 2021, Joe Musgrove pitched the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history vs. the Texas Rangers and then on May 19, 2021, Corey Kluber then of the New York Yankees, threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers.

There is plenty of parking available around the stadium since the Dallas Cowboys stadium is there also, but might not have the parking available if both play on the same day (haven't researched if they do or not. Just an assumption it would be bad). Unfortunately there is no RV parking available at the stadium. We decided to stay at the local KOA RV park and it was about just 6 miles away for the stadium. We used Uber to get to the stadium. More expensive to return then it was to go to the game. Demand was higher at that point.

The Texas Ranger were able to give us complimentary tickets to the game as well as a stadium tour prior to the game. Unfortunately since it was a tour right before the game we were not allowed to go on the field or in the dugout. The stadium seating is very sloped up and down to get as many seats in to the stadium and get them as close to the field as possible. The field level is only accessible by those ticket holders. You come into the stadium on the 2nd level which is at street level. The field is 50 feet below street level. If you have a field level ticket, then you go downstairs to a special area that has restaurants that are either pay or included with your ticket. On field level there are some seating areas that are right next to the field and below the field level. They come with full food and small tv screens. These are like skybox seats but right on the field. They also have field level seating with food in the right and left field corners.

During our ballpark tour, the above is a painting of all the jerseys that the Ranger wear for home and away games. The interesting thing is that the Rangers are 1 of 2 teams that have the starting pitcher for that day decide which Jersey they will be wearing that game.

We were sitting in the 2nd level....which were very good seats also. Game #11 and no foul balls hit into our area. Just not sitting in the right sections. Our seating view below.

Concessions were readily available on our level. We got what was called the Texas Tater. It was a huge baked potato with everything on it and then brisket and BBQ sauce added to the top. This was the first time that we had ventured outside of the traditional ballpark cuisine. I will rate this dish very high as we both loved it. Now they did have all the other staples of a MLB stadium...peanuts, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, etc. Pricing was in line with all the other stadiums. Now I thought the Texas Tater was going to be like $20+ but it was $12. We had previously heard about it during our ballpark tour and we decided to get it.

First Pitch from Ranger Taylor Hearn to Angels Taylor Ward. The game started slow for the first 2 innings with only Corey Seager of the Rangers hitting a solo homer in the 1st inning. The 3rd inning for the Angels had Ward leading off with a solo homer and then after a walk to Mike Trout 2 batters later Anthony Rendon comes up and hits a 2 run homer to left. Angels take a 3-1 lead after 3. In the 4th the Rangers were able to tie the game up with a 2 run home run from Kole Calhoun. At this point both starting pitchers are now removed from the game and it goes to the bullpen for each team. The Rangers pen held up better by going 5 innings, giving up 6 hits, 2 earned runs, 2 walks, and striking out 11. The Angels on the other hand gave up 7 runs all in the 8th inning. Tepera was brought in to start the 8th and faced 5 hitters and all 5 reached base and eventually scored. Valdez was brought in to replace Tepera and he was able to get out of the inning but not before giving up 2 hits and 2 runs. Angels did score 1 in the top of the ninth but came up on the losing end 10-5. A home team win.

Overall I would give the stadium a B. Nothing too fancy about the place. We enjoyed our first ballpark tour and enjoyed that the stadium had a roof as it was a hot day when we went. It seems like retractable roof stadiums are pretty bland inside, and since this was our 3rd indoor stadium it's starting to seem that way.