Globe Life Field: a Ballpark for a New Era Ben Ludeman/Texas Rangers Kelly Gavin/Texas Rangers (5) Gavin/Texas Kelly
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GLOBE LIFE FIELD: A BALLPARK FOR A NEW ERA BEN LUDEMAN/TEXAS RANGERS KELLY GAVIN/TEXAS RANGERS (5) GAVIN/TEXAS KELLY OCTOBER 19-25, 2020 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 15 GLOBE LIFE FIELD: A BALLPARK FOR A NEW ERA Texas Rangers Enter an Exciting New Era in Arlington KELLY GAVIN/TEXAS RANGERS GAVIN/TEXAS KELLY fter almost half a century in Arlington, the Texas Rangers opened the citizens of Arlington voted to continue A their new home in 2020 — the $1.2 billion Globe Life Field. With a a half cent sales tax (the same funding footprint of 1.8 million square feet on 13 acres, Globe Life Field enjoys a used for Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium) prime spot in Arlington, adjacent to Texas Live!, the multi-use to pay for the city’s portion of the funding. entertainment center, to its immediate north; across the street from the “The team had already received proposals Rangers’ old ballpark, Globe Life Park; and east of the NFL Dallas from other cities to build a retractable roof Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. ballpark and we wanted to make sure they Through a joint arrangement with the Rangers and the City of stayed in Arlington,” said Arlington Mayor Arlington, both parties committed $500 million for the ballpark, while the Jeff Williams. “The Rangers are part of the Rangers covered everything over $1 billion. fabric of Arlington and are one of our best Even though the Rangers’ lease at Globe Life Park didn’t expire until economic engines.” 2024, the City of Arlington reached out to the team in 2015 to start Globe Life Field was selected to host RANGERS GAVIN/TEXAS KELLY discussions on a new ballpark. The following year, the team and city every game of the 2020 National League Championship Series and started moving forward on the ballpark’s vision and, by November 2016, World Series with a limited amount of fans present. Texas Through The Rangers paid homage to their issues could be discovered in the former home, Globe Life Park, with development phase. “BIM allowed us and Through the wide use of red brick on the see how everything would fit into From its large-scale welcoming entrances and throughout the con- place before we even started the front porches at the main entrances courses. The brick arches in left field construction,” said Greg McClure, to the brick arches in left field, to its are turned 90-degrees, framing the senior vice president at Manhattan use of steel, limestone and brick, the north concourse, and providing stun- Construction. design of Globe Life Field was ning views to the Texas Live! plaza It took more than 10,000 people inspired by various elements and and Globe Life Park. working more than 6.2 million hours time periods in Texas’ history. “The Much of the material used in the to build Globe Life Park. Despite all inspiration for the porch area came construction was locally sourced in the advanced technology used, from the big porches on ranch Texas. “We wanted to make it feel Manhattan Construction took advan- houses and prairie houses in old time like it’s a community project,” said tage of a more basic approach in Texas,” said Jack Hill, the Rangers’ Hill. “The more you can involve the communicating with all of the sub- senior vice president of project RANGERS GAVIN/TEXAS KELLY community, the better. It’s important contractors — a system known as development. for us to support local businesses as pull planning. Dozens of multi-col- “The Rangers wanted to convey a parks and cater to the diverse nature much as possible.” ored sticky notes containing individ- feeling of being in your own back- of the Rangers’ fan base and how Manhattan Construction took ual tasks were affixed by subcontrac- yard, where you feel relaxed and the sport is evolving.” “Globe Life advantage of Building Information tors to the correct day on huge plan- comfortable, surrounded by family Field looks towards the future while Modeling (BIM), a 3D model that ning calendars on the construction and friends,” said Greg Whittemore, remembering the past,” added Whit- shows the ballpark’s construction in office walls. It was a visual way of project manager at HKS, the proj- temore. virtual form. The ballpark is essentially communicating the construction ect’s architect. “We wanted something a little “built” for the first time in the BIM pro- plan and determining if there were “We wanted to take Major League more modern looking, but we wanted gram before it is physically built on any problems with the sequence Baseball to another level,” said Fred to make sure we incorporated some site. This helped the team save and flow. “Pull planning takes the Ortiz, senior designer for HKS, “to features that would be reminiscent of money and keep the project on steer away from retro-looking ball- the old ballpark,” said Hill. schedule as potential construction SEE GLOBE LIFE FIELD, PAGE 18 16 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 19-25, 2020 GLOBE LIFE FIELD: A BALLPARK FOR A NEW ERA A Crowning Achievement Globe Life Field is a game-changer for baseball and a fitting host of this year’s Fall Classic. Congratulations to the Texas Rangers, whose thoughtfulness to reimagining the fan and player experience is evident in every detail. Delaware North was with you from day one at The Ballpark in Arlington, and we’re honored to be your food and retail partner from the ground up at Globe Life Field. DelawareNorth.com | A Global Leader in Hospitality and Entertainment ©2020 Delaware North OCTOBER 19-25, 2020 SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION I SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL 17 HQCORP_SBJ_Oct2020_Ad.indd 1 10/9/20 9:44 AM GLOBE LIFE FIELD: A BALLPARK FOR A NEW ERA GLOBE LIFE FIELD, FROM PAGE 16 scheduling aspect of the project to the trades and crafts that are actu- ally doing the work,” said McClure. “It almost turned it into a competition and helped the construction stay on schedule.” “HKS and Manhattan Construction were great partners,” said Hill. “They treated this as a community project. BATTING A THOUSAND I think they took extra pride in being THE able to say they worked on this ULTIMATE PLAYING unique facility.” EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AREAS Climate Controlled OF THE FIELD Comfort Despite the Texas Heat MANHATTAN CONSTRUCTION MANHATTAN Although the retractable roof has Manhattan Construction’s use of pull planning aided communication among the been one of the most anticipated subcontractors. features of Globe Life Field, the In addition to the ability to air building,” said Matwick. After Rangers didn’t want to make it the condition the ballpark, the roof researching the options, the team focal point of their new home. “Ray eliminates the threat of rainouts or chose a synthetic grass surface from Davis and our ownership group rain delays. “Clouds covering the Shaw Sports Turf. wanted the new ballpark to be Metroplex or the threat of rain, light- The surface is designed to feel about baseball,” said Hill. “They ening or wind used to kill walk-up and play like natural grass. “Our goal wanted the focus to be on the archi- sales,” said Paige Farragut, the was to develop, not just the best arti- tecture, the arches, natural stone Rangers’ senior vice president of ficial surface, but the best playing and on the stadium itself, not on the ticket sales. surface in baseball,” said Chuck roof.” McClurg, executive vice president of Shaw Sports Turf. Shaw conducted extensive research with its internal “Our goal was to develop, not just the research and development team, industry partners and the kinesiology best artificial surface, but the best playing department at Auburn University to understand the elements that make surface in baseball.” a great playing surface. This group tested and measured seven metrics CHUCK McCLURG in three categories, which ultimately led to the selection of Geofill® as Executive Vice President I Shaw Sports Turf the infill. The all-natural infill, com- prised of coconut husks and fibers, forms a firm surface similar to natural Innovative Synthetic soil, with lower energy rebound levels The Rangers were functional in that mimic high-performance natu- their roof plans, wanting to provide Surface Plays Like ral grass. fans relief from the intense Texas Natural Grass The synthetic surface will allow summer heat. Yet it was important to more games to be played with the Based on the design of the allow natural light to shine through, roof open. Since the turf doesn’t retractable roof and the large win- so the Rangers chose ETFE (Ethylene need natural sunlight, the roof can dows, construction on Globe Life tetrafluoroethylene) to cover 130,000 be closed and the AC running to Field began with the intent to use a square feet of the ballpark. The 223 cool the building up until 15 minutes natural grass surface. “But, we knew it transparent fabric panels allow sun- before game time. Then, that light to enter the building. would be a challenge to grow grass The intent was to provide fans consistently in a retractable roof SEE GLOBE LIFE FIELD, PAGE 20 with an outdoor environment even when the roof is closed. “We’ve paid careful attention to get as much natural light into the building,” said Rob Matwick, the Rangers’ executive vice president of business opera- tions. “At night, the ballpark will glow due to the light inside being seen through the translucent roof,” said Ortiz. Globe Life Field features the larg- est single panel retractable roof, which weighs 19,000 tons and needs 20 electric motors to move.