Play Ball! Experience America’s favorite pastime at a Texas Rangers game

By BRANDY CRUZ | Photos courtesy of the TEXAS RANGERS, RICHARD RODRIQUEZ and KAREENA RAMBOCUS

Everything’s bigger in Texas and that includes baseball. At Arlington’s Globe Life Field, the Texas Rangers deliver more than just nine innings — they deliver an experience steeped in tradition, athleticism and dazzling Texas flair.

“From the second you walk into Globe Life Field you are going to see a team and organization full of passion and a drive to deliver an amazing experience both on the field and in the park,” said Chris DeRuyscher, vice president of Ballpark Entertainment. “This Rangers team is always going to compete and fight until the end because that is a part of their DNA.”

The full Texas Rangers experience begins well before that first pitch to see the 2023 World Series champions in action. Fans make the pilgrimage hours beforehand to see the iconic Nolan Ryan statue standing right outside Globe Life Field or to visit the Rangers Hall of Fame.

But once inside the 40,300-seat stadium, the energy is electrifying with the crack of the bat, roaring applause and Rangers spirit. Although the stadium itself is astonishing, DeRuyscher said you will want to find your seats before pre-game.

“In pregame, you’ll want to make sure you’re in your seats to hear the iconic voice of Chuck Morgan declare that, ‘It’s baseball time in Texas!’”

He also said the remarkable thing about Globe Life Field is there are no bad seats, which he declared to be unique in Major League Baseball. There are field suites that literally have fans feet from the field, watching the action at eye level.

“However, because of the ballpark’s vertical nature, almost all of the seats feel like you are on top of the action looking down, versus feeling far away like at some other stadiums,” DeRuyscher said. “I enjoy the feel of seats in the upper deck in left field because you literally feel like you’re floating above the action. I haven’t had that experience anywhere else.”

Of course, good food and a cold drink is a must on game day. This season, more than a dozen new menu items have been added to a diverse lineup. Some exciting menu items include The Boomstick Burrito, Hot Dawwg Triple Play, Blue Mint Thai Crazy Drunken Noodles and more. The ever-classic American hot dog can’t be beat at a baseball game.

For those worried about enjoying a game during extreme Texas heat in the middle of summer, DeRuyscher said it’s always 72 degrees at Globe Life Field. The stadium has the world’s largest single retractable roof, allowing the inside to be a mild 72 degrees with the roof closed.

“No matter the date of the game, we can give you the optimal weather situation, it’s either 72 and sunny outside or it’s 72 and sunny inside. And because we can control the weather, we can focus on the rest of the ballpark experience and make it the best in professional sports. That is our goal every game,” he said. “It is Ballpark Entertainment’s sole goal to make sure that all fans have a great time regardless of the outcome on the field. We know that fans have a choice on where they spend their entertainment dollars so we want to provide the best videos, music, and entertainment that we can, and we feel we do that night in and night out.”

For a complete Texas Rangers experience, some of the “can’t miss” things to watch out for include performances by the Six Shooters, regarded as the best dance team in professional baseball; the ever-popular Golden Chick Dot Race, a live, interactive game in the middle of the sixth inning; and singing Take Me Out To The Ballgame in the seventh inning stretch, followed by the crowd-stomping favorite Cotton-Eyed Joe.

“Our organization is one of the most passionate in professional sports. From top to bottom, we strive to be the best in all aspects and if we’re not, we keep working until we are. That being said, that passion translates to the team on the field and everything else that happens in the ballpark. Again, if we don’t get something right, we’ll keep working until we do,” DeRuyscher said. “So, I can easily say the best thing about attending a Rangers game is … everything! When you the fan spend your time here at Globe Life Field, you can rest assured that you will experience special moments both on the field and in the stands. There is literally something for everyone and I believe that it will hook you, make you a fan, and leave you wanting to come back for more.”