The Texas Rangers break ground on Sept. 28 on their sleek, new $1.1 billion, retractable-roof ballpark that is set to open in 2020.
On Sept. 21, the Rangers and HKS Inc. gave fans a peek at new design renderings of what officials called a “next-generation ballpark.”
The new ballpark, which is being built as a public-private partnership between the City of Arlington and the Rangers, will not only be the team’s new home but also a multipurpose sports and entertainment venue that will include capabilities for hosting high school, college and international sports as well as entertainment tours.
HKS served as architect of record on the The Ballpark in Arlington (now Globe Life Park in Arlington), which opened in 1994 and also designed nearby AT&T Stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. Other area projects designed by HKS include TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium, UNT’s Apogee Stadium and College Park Center at UTA.
“For us, the new Texas Rangers Ballpark development is very special. It carries its own rich identity based on a combination of tradition, heritage, character and ambition that will ultimately represent itself as the premier destination in North Texas,” said HKS’ Bryan Trubey, executive vice president and principal designer on the project earlier this year. “We are delighted to be part of this exciting new development that will impact not only the Texas Rangers and their fans, but the city of Arlington and the entire region for many years to come.”
The design for the new ballpark, which will be built on what is now a team parking lot south of Randol Mill Road, will include a retractable roof for climate control and shelter for fans during the hot summer months. The new venue will be coupled with the Texas Live! , a public-private partnership between the City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers and The Cordish Companies. It is a $250 million world-class dining, entertainment and hospitality district nestled between Globe Life Park and the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium in the heart of Arlington.
Globe Life Field is expected to open in time for the start of the 2020 Major League Baseball season.
The master agreement for this public-private partnership calls for a 50-50 split between the Texas Rangers and the City of Arlington, with the city’s financial contribution capped at $500 million. Arlington’s ballpark bonds to finance the project were approved by voters in a city referendum on November 8. The Texas Rangers’ 30-year lease on the city-owned Globe Life Park in Arlington was set to end in 2024. With the new master agreement, the Rangers’ partnership with Arlington extends until January 1, 2054.
HKS’s ballpark portfolio includes Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; U.S. Cellular Field renovations in Chicago, Illinois; and Dodger Stadium renovations in Los Angeles, California. The firm is also well-known for its designs of the new NFL U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and the Indianapolis Colts’ Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
More information is available at texasrangers.com/Arlington.