College football could be staged at Globe Life Field, as the Texas Rangers have had conversations with Texas Tech about potential football games at the ballpark.
The forthcoming retractable-roof venue has been planned to not only be a new home for the Rangers, but a ballpark that could bring other Major League Baseball events to Arlington–including World Baseball Classic contests and an All-Star Game. Non-baseball events could be in the offing as well, with college football reportedly being one of the possibilities for the facility.
Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt has confirmed that university officials and the Rangers have engaged in “exploratory conversations” regarding the ballpark’s potential staging of a college football series. Nothing is set in stone at this point, but Hocutt said that the Rangers had invited Texas Tech officials into the discussion. More from The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:
Hocutt said he was not part of the discussion, but two of his athletic department staff sat down last week with Rangers representatives at the Rangers’ invitation.
“Obviously, our baseball team has played here in Arlington before,” Hocutt said, “and we hope that continues to be an opportunity in the future. They wanted to brainstorm about what would go into a potential football series in their new ballpark.
“All that being said, (Tech-Baylor at AT&T Stadium) has been a great neutral-site game for Texas Tech. Our fan base here is tremendous. I was appreciative of our attendance (Saturday) from our fans, and you heard the (players) talk about how special it is to play in this stadium. This is the best football stadium in the country, and the opportunity to come in here is just a great experience for the team as well as for our fans.”
Tech and Baylor have one year remaining on a four-year contract to play at AT&T Stadium. Hocutt said his position hasn’t changed: During even-numbered years, when Tech-Baylor would have otherwise been a Red Raiders’ home game on Thanksgiving weekend, he prefers to play in Arlington because of the smaller crowd possible on a holiday weekend in Lubbock.
College football has become a solid offseason event for many ballparks, with Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium among the slate of facilities hosting NCAA action this year. SunTrust Park, the new home of the Atlanta Braves that debuted earlier this year, already has a game scheduled for 2018.
Ground was broken for Globe Life Field this year. The new home of the Rangers is slated to open for the 2020 season.
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