The Texas Rangers and Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams confirmed plans to convert Globe Life Park to a variety of new uses should voters approve plans for a new retractable-roof ballpark in November’s elections.
The plan to save parts of Globe Life Park had been leaked last month, but today saw the first official confirmation of the plan, which potentially include Rangers office space, new structures for business incubators, and the conversion of the playing field to an amphitheater. The exterior wall of the ballpark would remain intact. From Ray Davis, Co-Chairman & Managing Partner of the Texas Rangers:
“It is the Rangers’ intent to preserve the beautiful exterior façade of Globe Life Park. We’ve been working closely with the Cordish Company to find ways to repurpose the building. The Centerfield Office Building is at capacity with tenants and we hope those companies will remain. Our existing retail store and the Hall of Fame space can both be used as retail spaces to support the development on the south side of Randol Mill Road. As plans for a new ballpark development evolve, we believe the interior of the ballpark could be refitted for another purpose while still providing options for additional development. We don’t need to have all of these answers today. However, I want to be clear that we can develop the solutions while still maintaining the aesthetic and character of this beautiful building.”
Williams confirmed the plans to WFAA:
“The concourses are what really fit well for retail, restaurant, convention center space and then you look at the field itself and it’s not hard to envision park and festival spaces that could be there,” said Mayor Williams.
The Hall of Fame Museum “could be repurposed for incubator-type offices which there is a high demand for now,” the mayor added. “It’s all conceptual now but the big push has been – and the Rangers said this in the original press conference — that they wanted time to be able to study the opportunities.”
Rendering courtesy of Populous.
RELATED STORIES: Rangers and Dallas Confirm Past Ballpark Talks; Proposed Rangers Ballpark Could Reshape Payroll; Globe Life Park Redevelopment Could Include Condos, Ampitheatre; Rangers: Adding Shaded Seating to Globe Life Park Just Wasn’t Feasible; Rangers Ballpark Measure on Fall Ballot; Rangers Ballpark Proposal Takes First Step Toward Ballot; Ballpark Proponents, Opponents Go to Work; Funding Details Emerge for New Rangers Ballpark; Council Unanimously Approves New Rangers Ballpark; Vote Up Next; New Rangers Ballpark: A Billion Dollars, 2021 Opening; New Retractable-Roof Ballpark on Tap for Texas Rangers; Construction delayed on Texas Live!; Will Entertainment Development Lead to New Rangers Ballpark?; Mixed-use development pitched for Globe Life Park