After Dan posed his question Monday about whether we’d prefer early-morning or late-night games at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the official D Magazine Twitter account proposed that the real solution was to build a retractable roof stadium in downtown Dallas.
Some of our Twitter followers endorsed the idea. Patrick Kennedy said he’d put it in Fair Park, rather than downtown proper. Others said the Rangers have a beautiful ballpark already, in a great location, so no need to waste money.
Now Bud Kennedy of the Star-Telegram notes that a group paid to put up a billboard along I-30 asking for baseball to be brought to Dallas. Kennedy’s response is that Dallas lost its chance to have the Rangers decades ago, and why can’t Dallas just share its Major League team with Fort Worth anyway? But I feel like developer Craig Schenkel, who helped fund the billboard:
“Houston put their team right downtown where there’s some atmosphere,” he said. “For all I care, the Rangers could move to Fort Worth. That downtown is cool. I’d just prefer they be in my city.”
The Astros’ Minute Maid Park is a huge improvement over their previous home, the Astrodome. As much as I believe that baseball was meant to be played outdoors, I also believe that games are much more enjoyable to watch when the temperature isn’t 95 degrees-plus. I get out to Rangers Ballpark five or six times a year, at least, so I know what of I sweat.
And anyone who’s been to Wrigley Field or Fenway Park can’t help but laugh when a fan refers to Rangers Ballpark as “beautiful.” No stadium surrounded by nothing but a sea of parking lots (as many are) truly has a right to that adjective.
