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 Arlington Stadium
Arlington, TX
Throughout its 28
years of existence Arlington Stadium was known as the hottest place to
play baseball. Plans for a new stadium to serve the Dallas-Fort Worth
area began in 1959. Owners of the local franchise hoped to attract a
Continental League franchise. In fall 1959 voters approved a
bond to build a new stadium. It was constructed on a 137
acre tract of land near the Six Flags amusement park. Final touches
to the ballpark were not completed until opening day. Originally
named Turnpike Stadium, it was home of the Double A Texas Spurs as
they played the first game at the stadium on April 23, 1965. The
stadium had 10,600 seats, and the playing field was 40 feet below
the parking area enabling it to be enlarged to have a seating capacity of
50,000. One tier of stands stretched from the first base dugout to
the third base dugout. A grassy knoll was on both sides of the
stands. The first of many expansions came in 1970
when the capacity was increased to 20,000. Grandstands were added
down both the first and third base sides. Major League Baseball came
to Arlington in 1971 when the Washington Senators moved to the
area. The team was renamed the Texas Rangers and Turnpike Stadium
was renamed Arlington Stadium because Turnpike Stadium was thought
to be an inappropriate name for a major league stadium. With MLB
coming to Arlington, the capacity of the stadium increased for a
second time to 35,649. The seating bowl was enclosed as the
grandstands were extended into centerfield. A large scoreboard, part
that was in the shape of Texas, was behind the stands in left
field. The last addition to Arlington Stadium occurred in 1978 when the
upper deck was added, bringing the capacity to 41,284. The upper
deck was very small and was located mainly behind home plate.
Arlington Stadium remained basically the same
until it closed. It was the hottest stadium in baseball as almost all
the Rangers' home games, even Sunday games, were played at night due
to the summer heat and humidity. By the 1990s, the Texas Rangers
decided to build a new ballpark.
Ameriquest Field was built just a couple hundred yards away from
Arlington Stadium. The last game played at Arlington Stadium was on
October 3, 1993. Arlington Stadium was demolished in 1994.
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- Tenant:
Texas Rangers
- Capacity:
10,500 (original), 43,521 (final)
- Surface:
Grass
- Cost:
$1.9 Million, $19 Million (expansions)
- Opened:
April 21, 1972 (MLB)
- Closed:
October 3, 1993
- Demolished:
1993
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