Image courtesy of TexasRangers.com
By Chris Kautz
I've been going to Ranger games since my parents first took me to old Arlington Stadium in the mid 80s, and I've been attending games at the Ballpark in Arlington since it opened in 1994. Over the years, I've been to a few sellout games. I've been to opening day games, Yankee and Red Sox games, Fourth of July games, and playoff games. It's not unusual for any team, even a losing one, to sell out those types of games. Until recently, those were the only games the Rangers sold out.
I've been going to Ranger games since my parents first took me to old Arlington Stadium in the mid 80s, and I've been attending games at the Ballpark in Arlington since it opened in 1994. Over the years, I've been to a few sellout games. I've been to opening day games, Yankee and Red Sox games, Fourth of July games, and playoff games. It's not unusual for any team, even a losing one, to sell out those types of games. Until recently, those were the only games the Rangers sold out.
On May 17th, I went to the see the Rangers take on the Oakland A's. So did 47,181 other people. It was a day game...on a Thursday...that wasn't a holiday...while school was still in session...against Oakland...in May. That's not exactly what anybody would call a high profile game, or one that you would expect to be sold out. It was though.
Things have definitely changed. Back to back American League pennants have a way of bringing people to the ballpark. So do Yu Darvish strikeouts, Elvis Andrus defensive exhibitions, and Josh Hamilton tape measure homeruns. Adrian Beltre has something to do with it, and so do Ian Kinsler, Mike Napoli, and Nelson Cruz. The Rangers have a lot of players worth going to see, and people are doing just that.
As much as I'd like to think the Rangers are turning DFW into a "baseball town", the truth is that many of the people that are suddenly showing up in Arlington will leave just as suddenly when the winning stops (which it will). That's okay, though. Right now they're showing up, wearing the gear, screaming their heads off, and leaving their money at the ballpark. That can only be good for both the present and future of the ball club. Not all of them will leave, though. Some will fall in love with the smell of the grass, the crack of the bat, and the in-game entertainment stylings of the great Chuck Morgan. They will be the next generation of fans. They will be the ones that take their kids to the ballpark, just as my parents did, to see a team that may or not be any good.
Filling the seats at the ballpark is an exciting thing. It makes for a great atmosphere, helps the team financially, and builds the fan base for the future. It is undoubtedly the greatest time ever to be a Ranger fan.
Things have definitely changed. Back to back American League pennants have a way of bringing people to the ballpark. So do Yu Darvish strikeouts, Elvis Andrus defensive exhibitions, and Josh Hamilton tape measure homeruns. Adrian Beltre has something to do with it, and so do Ian Kinsler, Mike Napoli, and Nelson Cruz. The Rangers have a lot of players worth going to see, and people are doing just that.
As much as I'd like to think the Rangers are turning DFW into a "baseball town", the truth is that many of the people that are suddenly showing up in Arlington will leave just as suddenly when the winning stops (which it will). That's okay, though. Right now they're showing up, wearing the gear, screaming their heads off, and leaving their money at the ballpark. That can only be good for both the present and future of the ball club. Not all of them will leave, though. Some will fall in love with the smell of the grass, the crack of the bat, and the in-game entertainment stylings of the great Chuck Morgan. They will be the next generation of fans. They will be the ones that take their kids to the ballpark, just as my parents did, to see a team that may or not be any good.
Filling the seats at the ballpark is an exciting thing. It makes for a great atmosphere, helps the team financially, and builds the fan base for the future. It is undoubtedly the greatest time ever to be a Ranger fan.
Chris Kautz is a Senior Staff Writer for ShutDowninning. He can be reached at Chris.Kautz@ShutDowninning.com or on Twitter @SDIChris.
