PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2020

UNIQUE FIELD TURNS NEW PAGE FOR RANGERS

The $1.2 billion, retractable-roof in Arlington includes breakthrough climate control, sports lighting and electronics. Feature writer Steve Traiman gets insight from team, architect & key vendors.

ith Major League Globe Life Park home, heated up in 25 years, which led to overwhelming Wexpected to reopen a shortened the summer of 2015,” Rob Matwick, passage of a $500 million bond issue 82-game season around July 4, players Rangers Executive VP for Business in November 2016. Globe Life has will take the field to empty ballparks Operations, recalled for PS&AM. “The been a great naming rights partner with only TV available to satisfy Cordish Companies, a highly regarded, since 2014 and was pleased to homebound fans Baltimore-based sports anchor extend that agreement on the new When the MLB development firm, approached us as ballpark for another 25 years at $11 officially opened their $1.2 billion, the keystone anchor for its planned million annually.” retractable-roof in Texas LIVE project that would include a Matwick has been with the Rangers Arlington, Texas, this July, it will be major brand hotel, retail, restaurant and since 2008, joining after 21 seasons the successful result of a remarkable entertainment space. with the Astros and briefly 31-month construction timeline. “We immediately began talks with the with the . “Discussions on the new ballpark, city of Arlington as a 50-50 partner to Asked about the team’s major priorities across the road from our former keep the team in the city for another for the new stadium, he said: “Our

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venue in focus globe life field

StubHub Club on lower suite level

from the old Globe Life Park to inside to provide about 800 feet of walkable area. We’re really excited to get fans to experience that new feel and look. HKS vetted the other architects and with Manhattan Construction, our contractor, put together a great group of key vendors on the project team. “As the original opening day approached, we were very lucky to pick March 11 for a morning media open house with about 50 local radio, TV and print folks on hand. It started at 4 am for the early morning on-air folks, and after lunch – I did about an hour and a quarter with one-on-ones! We had a small lunch for the Mayor and Council for their tour, and then from two to six in the afternoon welcomed more than 3,000 excited season ticket holders and others from the community. “Response from media, fans and the All images courtesy of Texas Rangers & HKS community was very responsive and Globe Life Field North Plaza entrance it was very exciting for me to see the positive reaction to the many new primary goal was to mitigate the the roof closed. We challenged the amenities. It was a credit to HKS, weather effect and make the ballpark architects and they did a really nice Manhattan Construction and the entire operable 365 days a year. Premium job, so you don’t have to go very far to project team and our key owner’s rep, amenities for our fans was another find transparency in the roof. We had Jack Hill, my ‘best’ hire who joined our goal, including new club spaces, suites an EFTE surface on the roof and on staff in 2016 as project manager. His and boxes down both foul lines, some the east and west side walls, and they background includes The Ballpark in just 16 rows off the field. bridge the west side area between the Arlington and American Airlines Center upper concourse and outer wall for in . We may be the first major “A retractable roof was a given, not only more natural light. sports facility to be finished when it for air conditioning during the summer officially opens as in April our punch list “In selecting HKS as our primary months, but also heat for some of had about 15,000 items and now we’re architect, we felt they brought a those early April games and for fans to getting it knocked out! enjoy entertainment and other sporting creative standpoint to the table with “Driving home that night I put on events year-round. Pre-game amenities imagination. We didn’t want to replicate what we had before, but to keep an the NBA Dallas Mavericks game and were also improved with many more exciting Texas feel to the new building heard the Thunder-Jazz game was restrooms, a family room for nursing with a large amount of glass and delayed in Oklahoma City, due to this mothers, a sensory room for kids with transparency HKS showed in other new virus. I called John Blake, EVP of autism, and many concessions moved to projects. With a focus on the new main Communications, to have him get the the far side of all concourses. and upper concourses, Fred Ortiz, one details. By the time I got home and “Another key goal was to get more of the primary design architects, had a turned on the TV, I got Mavs’ owner natural light into the ballpark with great idea to turn the exterior arches Mark Cuban’s reaction to the NBA

45 PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2020

shutting down. When MLB shut down March 12, I called Sean Decker of our staff and our promoter Live Nation, about postponing the highly anticipated Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson concert that was to officially open the ballpark on March 14, and we now hope to present them in the fall or winter.” Dream role The architecture project that brought HKS architect Fred Ortiz back to Texas is a dream role: senior designer of the new Panoramic view of seating bowl shows Globe Life Field for the Texas Rangers. two of three "floating" Featuring a retractable roof for climate Daktronics Video Boards control, seats that are closer to the field and open views from the concourse, “The roof was the project team’s rain delays. It’s more functional and the new ballpark is a far cry from the biggest challenge,” Ortiz told PS&AM. comfortable for fans if the summer barebones where “Structural engineer game time temperature is 107 degrees Ortiz spent summer nights in college played the key role in creating the at first pitch. And there are no missed watching former Rangers Rubén Sierra, largest single-panel retractable roof concerts or family shows due to snow, Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez and in all sports venues – 7 acres of rain or thunderstorms.” play ball. coverage with the largest span of Ortiz said HKS also worked with four Ortiz is not just designing a sports 650ft. Something that large was well local architectural firms -VLK , VAI facility, but a home to the team he has worth the effort as with ME Engineers Architects, SDS Architecture and EJEX, watched since college, and building providing MEP services, their climate – all assisting with documentation another landmark for the city that control system allowed the Rangers to Inc. started his architectural career. (He create a truly multi-purpose venue. of the project. earned his architectural degree from the “There is no need to have to cancel “They were fantastic partners to University of Texas at Arlington.) events due to weather. There are no have as part of the overall team

Northeast aerial view with roof open

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venue in structure and an important part of the the home you were in and are leaving… focus project’s success. but it’s a chance to go to a new space globe “We were able to keep to the tight with more amenities, things you may life field 31-month construction timetable with have felt you were missing. For HKS, it no major weather or other problems. was a chance to create a memorable The roof and framing did leave the experience for fans of all ages. There a new model for sports venue single- bowl space open to the elements for an will be a dynamic for Rangers’ fans panel retractable roofs.” looking at where they were before in almost two-year period. So, there may Sharma is a Principal with Walter P the old ballpark and where they are have been some minor flooding along Moore, with over 15 years of experience now. A park with an iconic Texas feel…a the way inside, but this was minimal… in delivering successful projects in a much higher level of transparency… and planned for. There were no just-in- variety of sectors including sports, and a connectivity to the Texas LIVE time delivery problems with key Texas- healthcare, aviation, commercial, entertainment district. specific materials - brick, granite and cultural facilities, parking structures, limestone all embody a unique Texas "To build something for the City of and education. feel and theme. Precast was used to Arlington, where I went to school and Her many notable sports projects emulate large blocks of stone. where I spent so many years of my life, include: , it's like contributing to something bigger. Protective Stadium “It was a great experience for HKS and Birmingham, AL; Fiserv Forum, contractor Manhattan Construction I feel very blessed and honoured to be part of an architectural firm that has , WI; Gaylord Family working together with a very supportive Oklahoma Memorial Stadium expansion, project team. We were together with the opportunity to work on a project like Globe Life Field." Norman; Texas A&M University the Rangers from day one collaborating, Kyle Field redevelopment, College expressing ideas. And with Jack Hill as Retractable roof Station; Daytona Rising, Daytona the key team contact, we were able to Beach, FL; BBVA Compass Dynamo understand the Rangers’ vision to craft As structural engineer for Globe Life Stadium, Houston; KFC Yum! Center, Field, was responsible a solution that elevates the team brand. Walter P Moore Louisville, KY; and , for major elements including the The result is the first next-generation Indianapolis, IN. ballpark for MLB. retractable roof and the lower arena bowl. As the bowl Project Manager, Sharma “For Rangers’ fans, it will be a special noted for PS&AM: “I led all aspects Jeff Jansing, a firm Principal, is both feeling when they see a new building of structural engineering such as overall and roof Project Manager, open up...similar to when you move conceptualising the design solution, with long experience in structural from one house to another. You loved comparative analysis of structural engineering analysis and design of a systems, pricing the schematic design diverse group of project types, including options, parametric modelling of sports, healthcare, aviation, performing structure, detailing the connections, arts, parking garages, municipal, and outlining staged construction analysis hospitality. He joined the firm in 2004 and coordinating with architecture as after receiving his Bachelor of Science well as other disciplines. and Master of Engineering degrees from Texas A&M University. “I also spearheaded the integration of structural systems with the unique As the overall Project Manager, Jeff architectural design features such told PS&AM: “One of my primary as multi-story, cantilevered trusses responsibilities included interfacing with supporting the bowl; 100-ft-tall arches the HKS Architects’ Project Manager, lining up the 1,000-ft wide north Greg Whittemore, and the Ranger’s entrance; balcony seating between the on-site liaison, Jack Hill, to understand arches; sloped framing defining the two the desired vision and goals for the 360-degree concourses; the structural overall project. Internally, my primary function was to keep the structural back-up for the Daktronics scoreboards engineering teams for both the roof that appear to float above the and bowl to remain aligned throughout concourse; and the Texas porches that the aggressive project design and welcome the fans into the ballpark.” construction schedule. Safety systems “I also collaborated closely with Shruti Lauren Berry, Associate Principal- Sharma, our bowl Project Manager, to Mechanical, has been with ME Engineers offer insight and provide resources to for nine years and prior to that was in ensure that all project objectives were health care. met. As the roof Project Manager, I also provided ongoing guidance and insight As project manager for Globe Life Field, into the design process and directed the she noted for PS&AM: “In the past 10 day-to-day efforts of the roof design years we have teamed with the Rangers team. I collaborated directly with the for a handful of renovations at Globe roof design team and architect to Life Park, including the new concession ensure that architectural features and stand for the famous Boomstick, the materials were properly integrated world’s largest baseball bat-sized hot into the overall roof design, resulting in dog! We had worked with HKS on the

47 PANSTADIA & ARENA MANAGEMENT 2ND QUARTER 2020 Creating A new Possible

Typical field level Field Suite looking toward design and construction team that Daktronics displays main right-field Daktronics Video Board built AT&T Stadium for the NFL Dallas Globe Life Field features eight new Cowboys, and on earlier Globe Life displays using 3-in-1 LED, Surface- Park renovations. Mount Device (SMD) technology from globe life field Daktronics, Project Manager Brent “We’ve worked with Trane on other Project Team and Fact File major sports projects, as Trane Dunkel told PS&AM. provided the chillers and air handling "We designed, manufactured and Location Arlington, Texas units on our first sports job, Denver’s installed the displays to enhance the Construction Cost $1.2 billion for the MLB Colorado event experience with visual technology Owner City of Arlington and Rockies. Trane and other manufactures accounting for more than 8.8 million MLB Texas Rangers. play an integral role in providing LEDs to engage audiences throughout Operator MLB Texas Rangers assistance and education on the latest the ballpark. Additionally, more than Capacity 40,300 products and advancements in HVAC. 1,450 LCDs were integrated throughout ME Engineers’ sports lighting design the venue to connect with viewers via Architect HKS Inc., Architect of Record; VLK, VAI and specifications allowed multiple an IPTV system. The largest display - Architects, SDS manufactures to bid, with Musco and main scoreboard - in right field is Architecture, EJEX, Inc., selected. ME has worked with Musco on 58-ft-high by 150-ft-wide (8,700ft� ) Associate Architects many sports lighting projects. and features 15-millimeter line spacing." General Contractor Manhattan “Our key priorities on overall MEP Daktronics President and CEO Reece Construction design, based on the Rangers direction, Kurtenbach added: “This main video Structural Engineer Walter P Moore were first and foremost the systems display is beyond HD resolution, using Services Engineer ME Engineers that support the life safety of fans the latest SMD technology that is Video Boards/ Daktronics -- emergency power and smoke increasingly becoming standard in Electronics control to name a few. Next, 9,000 these large displays. Our other displays Landscape SWA Architects tons of cooling uses a lot of energy in the bowl and an IPTV network of Architect so we had to utilise the most efficient displays throughout the stadium create F&B Concessionaire Delaware North systems while balancing the cost a comprehensive solution to deliver an SportService of construction. immersive experience for Rangers’ fans. Major Tenants MLB Texas Rangers PERFORMANCE “While there’s no doubt the latest “These technologies, powered by an Amenities in technology allowed us meet the innovative broadcast-quality control 238,000ft2 retractable roof; Live Nation as 300 14 5 425 rigorous timeline, it wouldn’t have system and service expertise, will take concert partner; Over 4,200 Club Seats; 71 INNOVATION long-term & 37 nightly event Suites; three been possible without the talented the new home of the Texas Rangers to SPORT OFFICES OLYMPIC MM YEARLY Field Level & two lower Level Clubs including individuals that HKS and each team another level of game-day experience.” FACILITIES WORLDWIDE GAMES SPECTATORS the Lexus Home Plate Club, field-level Evan EXPERIENCE member brought to the table – and a Matwick summed up: “We’re very Williams Lounge & Germania Insurance trusted relationship between the design thankful we can play games this year Lounge, left-field upper level Karbach Brewing and construction teams. Constant even without fans, and to do it safely Sky Porch, online ticket provider StubHub collaboration with all the project team with continually testing players and key Lounge & Balcones Distilling's lower suite members allowed us to react quickly to staff. With our loyal fans able to watch level Balcones Speakeasy Club; keystone of CHENNAI CHICAGO COLORADO SPRINGS DALLAS DENVER DOHA HOUSTON the building design, to provide a great on TV, we look forward to at least a new Texas LIVE! project with a Live! by Loews Hotel, retail and restaurants. KANSAS CITY LONDON LONDON SOUTH NEW YORK TUCSON new modern ballpark.” limited season in our new ballpark.” n www.me-engineers.com 48 VENUE IN FOCUS GLOBE LIFE FIELD