Texas Rangers: They Want a New Stadium, But Is It Rational?
By Josh Schwam
The Texas Rangers have a perfectly functional stadium, yet they want a new one. Should they get it?
The Texas Rangers lead the American League Central by a substantial margin and are one of the best teams in baseball. The Rangers want a new stadium, and they want it bad. That said, they have a fully functional stadium that is completely paid off through 2024.
The Tampa Bay Rays have a stadium that is often regarded as the worst in baseball. The loud echo of the dome, the poor concession area and more make the team want a new stadium desperately.
Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas is a much better ballpark than Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field. However, both teams have a significant amount of time left on their leases (Tampa Bay can leave after 2018, but that is not guaranteed). There is one main difference between the two teams’ situations with their stadiums: Tampa Bay actually needs a stadium, while Texas wants one.
There have been threats and concerns that the Rangers will move if they do not get a new stadium. This is an extremely cowardly move by the organization because when they do not get what they want, they cry and run away. It makes no sense according to Arlington native William Busby, as quoted in the Dallas Morning News: “When you have a stadium that is 22 years old and is already paid off and everybody loves it, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.”
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Another reason why this is an extremely low blow by the Rangers organization is that they know how much the city benefits from them economically. The city of Arlington would experience a drastic economic drop-off if the Rangers left, and fans are not happy about it. “Without them, we are going to lose about $70 million in economic benefits,” Steve Cavender told the Morning News. “It’s good for the city, and this is one of those times when you don’t call their bluff.”
The Tampa Bay Rays are fighting to stay in the St. Petersburg, Florida area. Another way they are different from Texas is the sense that the Rangers think they know what is best for them, while Tampa Bay is thinking about how to best go about their new stadium. This means Texas is going to go wherever they get the most money to build a new stadium.
The Rangers are going all-out for this new stadium. Twenty Arlington residents declined the ballpark proposal, while fewer than half of that spoke in favor. All things considered, the city council voted 7-0 to approve the ordinance.
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A second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for August 9, where it is expected to again be approved. If it is approved, a special election will happen on November 8, where Arlington residents will hit the polls and decide whether or not to give the Rangers $800 million to build something they already have.