On Friday afternoon, the Texas Rangers announced that they would be building a new $1 billion, retractable roof ballpark in the Dallas suburb of Arlington.
The announcement is a surprise for a few reasons. One, there has been no rumors or speculation that the baseball club was looking to build a new home. Two, the Rangers’ current stadium, Globe Life Park in Arlington, only opened in 1994.
The Star-Telegram reports that the $1 billion cost will be split equally between the city and the Rangers, and that the agreement will keep the team in Arlington until 2054. The tax dollars will come from a half-cent sales tax, a 2% hotel occupancy tax, and a 5% car rental tax. The proposal requires voter approval on November 8.
JUST IN: Early renderings of new Rangers ballpark https://t.co/Hu4mxd4Mn3 pic.twitter.com/taBfCz5HQt
— SportsDayDFW (@SportsDayDFW) May 20, 2016
The retractable roof and air conditioning system would be a game-changer for the players and fans. Temperatures in Arlington regularly reach the mid-90s and triple digits during the summer.
Construction on the new park could begin as soon as late 2017, and the rangers may move in before their lease at Globe Life Park expires in 2023.
This fall, construction will begin on the $200 million Texas Live! The seven-acre development will serve the current and proposed ballparks, and it will have 100,000 sf of restaurant, bar, and retail space, 35,000 sf of convention space, and a 300-bed luxury hotel.
Related Stories
| Feb 26, 2014
Billie Jean King National Tennis Center serving up three-phase expansion
The project includes the construction of two new stadiums and a retractable roof over the existing Arthur Ashe Stadium.
| Feb 14, 2014
First look: Kentucky's Rupp Arena to get re-clad as part of $310M makeover
Rupp Arena will get a 40-foot high glass façade and a new concourse, but will retain many of its iconic design elements.
| Feb 14, 2014
Crowdsourced Placemaking: How people will help shape architecture
The rise of mobile devices and social media, coupled with the use of advanced survey tools and interactive mapping apps, has created a powerful conduit through which Building Teams can capture real-time data on the public. For the first time, the masses can have a real say in how the built environment around them is formed—that is, if Building Teams are willing to listen.
| Feb 11, 2014
World's first suspended bicycle roundabout [slideshow]
Located in the Netherlands, the project was designed to promote a healthier lifestyle.
| Feb 6, 2014
New Hampshire metal building awes visitors
Visitors to the Keene Family YMCA in New Hampshire are often surprised by what they encounter. Liz Coppola calls it the “wow factor.” “Literally, there’s jaw dropping,” says Coppola, director of financial and program development for the Keene Family YMCA.
| Jan 29, 2014
Hotel, retail, recreation sectors to lead growth in 2014
AIA's Consensus Construction Forecast, a survey of the nation’s leading construction forecasters, is projecting that spending will see a 5.8% increase in 2014, led by the hotel, retail, and amusement/recreation sectors.
| Jan 29, 2014
Notre Dame to expand football stadium in largest project in school history
The $400 million Campus Crossroads Project will add more than 750,000 sf of academic, student life, and athletic space in three new buildings attached to the school's iconic football stadium.
| Jan 28, 2014
16 awe-inspiring interior designs from around the world [slideshow]
The International Interior Design Association released the winners of its 4th Annual Global Excellence Awards. Here's a recap of the winning projects.
| Jan 28, 2014
Big Ten Conference opens swanky HQ and museum [slideshow]
The new mixed-use headquarters includes a museum, broadcast studios, conference facilities, office spaces, and, oh yeah, a Brazilian steakhouse.
| Jan 27, 2014
A climber's dream: Rock climbing hall planned near Iran's highest peak
Forget the rock climbing wall. A developer in Iran is building a rock climbing hall. That's right, an entire building dedicated to the sport, with more than 48,000 sf of program space.