29. Globe Life Park
Globe Life Park opened in 1994, a scant six years prior to Minute Main Park. During those six years the art of building ballparks advanced, and you can definitely tell when you compare the two parks. I was not impressed.
The location probably shouldn't be held against it. The predecessor park for the Texas Rangers was also in the suburban hellscape that is Arlington. You have no choice but to drive to this park, and the drive looks like every other suburb in the world. Aside from Jerry's World across the parking lot there is nothing to indicate which of a thousand American suburbs you are in. To be fair, every inch of highway between San Antonio and Arlinton was basically identical; the only way I could tell if from suburban Ohio was that the chain restaurants were different.
The park itself is pretty bleah. It opened the same year as The Jake but has none of its charm. Contrary to the glowing description in the Rangers wiki article, the Rangers Hall of Fame was basically a spare room with some posters of great players in it when I walked through. The statue of Nolan Ryan is nice, but it is buried between some concession stands in the center field concourse. The scoreboard is nothing special, and the food options are pedestrian. I did like the roofed home run porch in right field.
Worst of all is the heat. I intentionally purchased tickets in left field just past the third base line so I would be in the shade. Unfortunately, my seat was still in the sun for the first hour of the game. It was unbearably hot, so I stood in the shade of the entrance tunnel. I can't imagine what an afternoon game in August must be like. For the early part of the game I chatted with the usher, who was a retired gent who was very envious of my baseball travel. Once the sun shifted enough I took a vacant handicapped seat at the top of the row.
It also wasn't much of a game. The Rangers got no offense aside from a home run from likely future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre. Cole Hamels was knocked around badly in his first loss of the season; the Pirates ended up scoring seven of their nine runs on four home runs to win the first game of their rare interleague visit to Texas.
The Rangers now want to build a domed park, which I understand given the heat. Building another park a scant 25 years after the first one opened seems pretty stupid, but if it happens I guess I'll go back to Arlington to knock it off the list. Otherwise, I'm in no hurry to return to Arlington. Give me Houston, Austin or San Antonio any day.
Park Rankings
RankParkTeamFirst Visit# Visits (at time of article)
1 Marlins ParkMiami MarlinsMay 23, 20141
2 Wrigley FieldChicago CubsApril 23, 20042
3 PNC ParkPittsburgh PiratesSeptember 25, 20042
4 Jacobs FieldCleveland IndiansApril 17, 199963
5 Miller ParkMilwaukee BrewersApril 24, 20041
6 Camden YardsBaltimore OriolesJune 22, 20121
7 Kauffman StadiumKansas City RoyalsJune 9, 20131
8 Petco ParkSan Diego PadresApril 27, 20151
9 Yankee Stadium (original)New York YankeesJuly 28, 20061
10 Minute Maid ParkHouston AstrosMay 21, 20161
11 Chase FieldArizona DiamondbacksApril 25, 20151
12 Safeco FieldSeattle MarinersAugust 25, 20141
13 Coors FieldColorado RockiesApril 20, 20151
14 Comerica ParkDetroit TigersJuly 31, 20041
15 Target FieldMinnesota TwinsJuly 25, 20141
16 Turner FieldAtlanta BravesMay 5, 20071
17 Busch Stadium IIISt. Louis CardinalsAugust 8, 20131
18 Nationals ParkWashington NationalsJune 21, 20121
19 Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphia PhilliesJune 23, 20121
20 Citi FieldNew York MetsJune 24, 20121
21Globe Life ParkTexas RangersMay 27, 20161
22 Rogers CentreToronto Blue JaysMay 21, 20051
23 Cinergy FieldCincinnati RedsAugust 8, 19984
24 Yankee Stadium (sequel)New York YankeesJune 25, 20121
25 The MetrodomeMinnesota TwinsJune 22, 19923
26 Shea StadiumNew York MetsJuly 24, 20061
27 Great American Ball ParkCincinnati RedsMay 9, 20041
28 U.S. Cellular FieldChicago White SoxApril 25, 20041
29 Tropicana FieldTampa Bay RaysMay 21, 20141
Background: Prologue Memory Interlude
Original Series End
The location probably shouldn't be held against it. The predecessor park for the Texas Rangers was also in the suburban hellscape that is Arlington. You have no choice but to drive to this park, and the drive looks like every other suburb in the world. Aside from Jerry's World across the parking lot there is nothing to indicate which of a thousand American suburbs you are in. To be fair, every inch of highway between San Antonio and Arlinton was basically identical; the only way I could tell if from suburban Ohio was that the chain restaurants were different.
The park itself is pretty bleah. It opened the same year as The Jake but has none of its charm. Contrary to the glowing description in the Rangers wiki article, the Rangers Hall of Fame was basically a spare room with some posters of great players in it when I walked through. The statue of Nolan Ryan is nice, but it is buried between some concession stands in the center field concourse. The scoreboard is nothing special, and the food options are pedestrian. I did like the roofed home run porch in right field.
Worst of all is the heat. I intentionally purchased tickets in left field just past the third base line so I would be in the shade. Unfortunately, my seat was still in the sun for the first hour of the game. It was unbearably hot, so I stood in the shade of the entrance tunnel. I can't imagine what an afternoon game in August must be like. For the early part of the game I chatted with the usher, who was a retired gent who was very envious of my baseball travel. Once the sun shifted enough I took a vacant handicapped seat at the top of the row.
It also wasn't much of a game. The Rangers got no offense aside from a home run from likely future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre. Cole Hamels was knocked around badly in his first loss of the season; the Pirates ended up scoring seven of their nine runs on four home runs to win the first game of their rare interleague visit to Texas.
The Rangers now want to build a domed park, which I understand given the heat. Building another park a scant 25 years after the first one opened seems pretty stupid, but if it happens I guess I'll go back to Arlington to knock it off the list. Otherwise, I'm in no hurry to return to Arlington. Give me Houston, Austin or San Antonio any day.
Park Rankings
RankParkTeamFirst Visit# Visits (at time of article)
1 Marlins ParkMiami MarlinsMay 23, 20141
2 Wrigley FieldChicago CubsApril 23, 20042
3 PNC ParkPittsburgh PiratesSeptember 25, 20042
4 Jacobs FieldCleveland IndiansApril 17, 199963
5 Miller ParkMilwaukee BrewersApril 24, 20041
6 Camden YardsBaltimore OriolesJune 22, 20121
7 Kauffman StadiumKansas City RoyalsJune 9, 20131
8 Petco ParkSan Diego PadresApril 27, 20151
9 Yankee Stadium (original)New York YankeesJuly 28, 20061
10 Minute Maid ParkHouston AstrosMay 21, 20161
11 Chase FieldArizona DiamondbacksApril 25, 20151
12 Safeco FieldSeattle MarinersAugust 25, 20141
13 Coors FieldColorado RockiesApril 20, 20151
14 Comerica ParkDetroit TigersJuly 31, 20041
15 Target FieldMinnesota TwinsJuly 25, 20141
16 Turner FieldAtlanta BravesMay 5, 20071
17 Busch Stadium IIISt. Louis CardinalsAugust 8, 20131
18 Nationals ParkWashington NationalsJune 21, 20121
19 Citizens Bank ParkPhiladelphia PhilliesJune 23, 20121
20 Citi FieldNew York MetsJune 24, 20121
21Globe Life ParkTexas RangersMay 27, 20161
22 Rogers CentreToronto Blue JaysMay 21, 20051
23 Cinergy FieldCincinnati RedsAugust 8, 19984
24 Yankee Stadium (sequel)New York YankeesJune 25, 20121
25 The MetrodomeMinnesota TwinsJune 22, 19923
26 Shea StadiumNew York MetsJuly 24, 20061
27 Great American Ball ParkCincinnati RedsMay 9, 20041
28 U.S. Cellular FieldChicago White SoxApril 25, 20041
29 Tropicana FieldTampa Bay RaysMay 21, 20141
Background: Prologue Memory Interlude
Original Series End