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Time to update or tear down RBIA?

Ebbsfleet_united_logo_tiny by pbpsean on

When I think about the lack of a roof, the fear of pitchers to come here and that there are things I don't like about RBIA, I find myself asking... should RBIA go under a major foul pole to foul pole outfield reconstruction and major scoreboard and sound update or should the Rangers just build a new retractable stadium?

In a reconstruction I would tear down EVERYTHING in the outfield (the office building, the left field seats (all levels) back to the foul pole, tear down the bleachers, tear down the bullpens and get rid of the home run porch in right field.)

I would remove a few rows of seating and move the home bullpen down the 1st base side and include an air conditioned extension to the air conditioned Rangers dugout. I would leave the visitors bullpen in a reconfigure left field setup.

I would move the fences back 10 feet from left to the right-center alley, then back 20 feet from the RF alley to the right field foul pole and create a symetrical outfield wall that is 10 feet high.  In rebuilding outfield seating I would include a nicer looking Arlington Stadium-like bleacher setup.

The out of town scoreboard would go INSIDE the left field wall.

What would like changed in the structure of RBIA and do you think it would help at all as far as helping the pitchers?

 

Poll
What would choose if it was your money?
Major outfield reconstruction of RBIA
4 votes
Major scoreboard and audio updating
38 votes
BOTH of the above
20 votes
Build a new retractable roof stadium
45 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs | Comment 114 comments

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Payment?

How exactly do you plan on paying for these renovations? Arlington is paying some mucho taxes for the Cowboys stadium and they aren’t going to sign off on any improvements to RBiA that the city will deem unnecessary.

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Aug 20, 2008 4:21 PM CDT   0 recs

This is a stadium...

…that is only 15 years old. You don’t tear down or completely renovate a 15 year old stadium. That’s not realistic.

by Adam J. Morris on Aug 20, 2008 4:22 PM CDT   0 recs

not realistic

but still probably the only solution is to build a new stadium with a roof. The Ballpark definitely needs a new Scoreboard and video system though, its pitiful compared to most other parks. Also, making the park a bit bigger wouldn’t hurt to at least help the pitching out a little.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Aug 20, 2008 4:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree on screens

The should update the screens. Going from what the Cowboys are going to have to the RBIA screens is a huge drop off.

by mattrpav on Aug 20, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Detroit

Didn’t Detroit move the outfield further out after their new stadium was built? There is some room to do minor movement of the wall, but re-configuring the home bullpen would be problematic.

by mattrpav on Aug 20, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no

they moved it closer

by tangiers on Aug 20, 2008 4:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the pathetic part about the 15 year old stadium

is that its really needed to be completely renovated for 5+ seasons.

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 20, 2008 4:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the stadium is absolutley great

the only thing is the heat…if this stadium was in Baltimore it would be considered one the best in the league…

to me, abortion is not a religious issue, it's a common sense one...

by Longhorn on Aug 20, 2008 4:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

There aren’t many better looking ballparks

"Well, the Dallas Mavericks got beat by the New Orleans Hornets last night ending their season. Word is that someone on the team is dating Jessica Simpson." - Jay Leno

LSB facebook group ---->>> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=33345329288

by hinduplaya on Aug 20, 2008 5:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

the walls are all different colors, the video board is circa close to 15 years old, the winds blow the ball out of the park more than most

its hots a hell, humid as hell, and no1 on earth want to sit in the left field seats

but otherwise…

its one of the best in the league.

honestly, the park looks like they havent spent a dime upgrading the thing in well over a decade.

any landlord will tell you, if you dont maintain you property it goes to shit really quick. the city of Arlington gave a stadium to hicks, and he hasnt spent crap on it since.

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 21, 2008 11:24 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Poll sucks

There’s no option for “none of the above.”

he’s still hitting better than Saltalasuckia—while playing vastly superior defense...Athos

by Escher on Aug 20, 2008 4:29 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 20, 2008 4:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

what he said

by sam in so cal on Aug 20, 2008 7:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I've said this before and I will say it again

There is no need for a roof. It was just as hot in 96, 98 and 99 when the Rangers went to the playoffs. The Braves don’t have a roof and look how good they have been. The Rangers need to develope pitchers from with in and if a top FA pitchers comes here fine but winning and Nolan here will help with that.

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 20, 2008 4:35 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 4:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+ 1

You got that right Boomer1!!

"Well you didn't tell me that you were a Rangers fan" the psychiatrist says to his patient. "That explains a lot!"

by LAMuscleFag on Aug 20, 2008 10:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree from the standpoint of competitiveness of the team

but it probably has something to do with attendance figures. I used to go to 20+ games a season when I was in high school and living in Plano. Even when I went to college in Abilene I still hit about 15 a year…needless to say, attending Ranger baseball in person has always been a high priority. But now, as I only live 3 hours away in OKC, a HUGE reason we haven’t been yet is because it’s hot as balls outside. The huge difference, you ask? Now I have to think about my wife bitching about the heat AND my 4 month old son being out in it. If it wasn’t 100+ throughout the meat of the season, we’d be taking in a lot more games, and I bet a lot more families would be too.

Man I miss my single days…..

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 21, 2008 2:27 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

attendance

Not to be mean, but it sounds like your lack of attendance is a personal problem. It’s not any hotter now that is was 8 years ago and I’m sorry but the Rangers can’t build a retractable freaking roof just because your wife bitches about the heat.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 21, 2008 8:33 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree

that it is a personal problem, I am certainly not advocating they update RBiA with a roof…just offering an explanation of how the heat affects the team from an attendance perspective. I know lots of people still in the metroplex that don’t go to summer games anymore because they have families with young kids and they don’t want their little fellas out in that oppressive heat.

If we all made decisions based on what my wife bitches about, we’d never run out of work.

"Does this effectively hide my thunder?"

by Bob Loblaw on Aug 21, 2008 4:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Actually it is hotter

NWS offers comma delimmitted (sp?) files chock full of data. Go forth and download.

Even though I’m single with no kids I can see where a lot of people wouldn’t want to sit out in that shit. In fact I’ve only been to a few games so far this year. Now that the weather’s reasonable it actually sounds like fun.

But, no, retrofitting a retractable roof isn’t really an option. I’d venture to guess such would cost more than the ballpark did in the first place, not to mention they have no place to play during construction and climate control for a roof like that would cost an absolute fortune to operate. Not doable.

by Black Francis on Aug 21, 2008 8:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, outside of building a glorified Airplane hanger

around the ballpark, or a giant Tent, its just not doable. You need some amount of structure to tie a convertible roof to.

If you wanted to do that, you’d be better off building a new stadium, and listening to the Arlington taxpayers scream.

Anyone know how long the current lease runs? I’d be surprised if it were coming up anytime soon.

What's the secret to a long life? "I masturbate a lot"-Ernest Borgnine. http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/08/14/icymi-ernest-borgnine-reveals-his-secret-for-everlasting-youth/#onepage

by DJCahill on Aug 22, 2008 10:05 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is true

after visiting several other ballparks a few weeks ago, it became evident that weather plays a huge role in attendance.

by Anonymous New Guy on Aug 21, 2008 9:08 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

As a citizen of Arlington

Reading this makes me want to have a coronary.

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 20, 2008 4:36 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 20, 2008 4:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+2

I feel your pain. But look at the jewel you got from the Cowboys. Remember you paid only 325 million for an iconic structure costing over $1.1 billion! Arlington will receive MUCH more than $325 million from the stadium in the long run.

Plus, RBIA was paid off way early… look at Reunion Arena. tearing it down while still owing on the thing.

Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!

by pbpsean on Aug 20, 2008 4:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Doesn't matter

if Jerry World is a good deal. That doesn’t mean the city is going to pay more on a park they just recently paid off.

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 20, 2008 4:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

jewel you say?

Maybe it is just the part of me that is against handouts for the obscenely wealthy but that stadium makes me want to throw up every time I see it.

by bushe on Aug 21, 2008 7:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

if you could insure that over 800 Million bucks was gonna be invested in your city

does that change your mind?

iits not like the iron workers are getting shipped in from minnasota or that the glass is being shipped from china. all that stuff is being manufactured or installed by local workers.

i love how conservatives are against any form of government subsidy but at the same point huge proponents of trickle down economics. having your cake while eating it too?

naw!!!!

"I’m sure you’ve seen Kiker before but I’ll just reiterate that the kid is mean on the mound. He is only 5’10’’ but he is an intimidator. He looks like he hates hitters. He has the juice for pressure situations."
-Jason Parks on Jul 22, 2008 10:08 PM

by Jayslick on Aug 21, 2008 11:29 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

so

by this logic since I’m using Arlington workers I should be able to get the city to pay for half of my siding bill too? Hand outs to sports teams to fill your city with day laborers strikes me as a bit of a waste. Seems you could get a manufacturing center or cooperate office for less, probably a lot less. But just to sound crotchety I don’t like the way it looks either, too big, too “new age”

Also I love your political assumptions…

by bushe on Aug 21, 2008 3:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

a huge canopy

surely it can be done…

to me, abortion is not a religious issue, it's a common sense one...

by Longhorn on Aug 20, 2008 4:37 PM CDT   0 recs

Another questions

What kind of lease do the Rangers have with Arlington? Can they even thin of moving if another city built them a place?

Go Cubbies and Go Rangers!

by pbpsean on Aug 20, 2008 4:47 PM CDT   0 recs

ugh

Yeah, this is what this organization needs. The chaos associated with teams threatening to move. That always works wonders for teams and fans.

by JBImaknee on Aug 20, 2008 5:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It is paid off

But why move there is nothing wrong with it.

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 20, 2008 5:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not a chance

the current structure gets a roof. Either they build a big ugly tent over it, or build a new ballpark.

What's the secret to a long life? "I masturbate a lot"-Ernest Borgnine. http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/08/14/icymi-ernest-borgnine-reveals-his-secret-for-everlasting-youth/#onepage

by DJCahill on Aug 20, 2008 4:48 PM CDT   0 recs

The roof...

would be a benefit how? There aren’t an enormous amount of day games out there. For the roof to help the way people want it to, they would just need to build a whole new stadium. I like Longhorn’s idea. Put a damn canopy over it, made of taffy.

The idea of A/C in the home dugout and bullpen is fabulous.

Really though, instead of moving the fences back, why not move the entire field back? By this, I mean, shorten the backstop. This would make the field “longer” without costing much money and costing the stadium seats (that are greatly unfilled anyway.)

If/when Andrus, Borbon et al get up here, there are larger alleys for their hits to get lost in and now some of those doubles could be triples and the Rangers have a better chance at longer innings.

"But the major difference is where Showalter tried to overthink everything Washington at times seems like he isn't thinking at all. " - rentz

by hillcrest on Aug 20, 2008 4:54 PM CDT   0 recs

If you pull homeplate back ...

then your foul poles would be Fenway Park type close.

by northtexan95 on Aug 20, 2008 5:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

good ideas

but i dont think realistically there is gonna be a roof, when it rarely rains here

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 20, 2008 4:55 PM CDT   0 recs

Right, it's unrealistic

because it rarely rains…

forget that it’s only 15 years old or anything like that…

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 5:00 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

dude what the fuck is your problem?

if you didnt notice the domes are in areas where it rains. Seattle, Houston, Tampa Bay

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 20, 2008 6:04 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yeah, it rains

all the time in Arizona, good point.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 6:39 PM CDT to parent up   1 recs

ok, one place.

your a complete dumbass if you think the domes arent mainly used to prevent rain or it being really cold.

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 20, 2008 6:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

TWO ACCOUNTS?

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 20, 2008 7:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

no, you are

you think domes dont block rain

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 20, 2008 9:07 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

You have me confused with another poster named Dirk Diggler

and even then you have huge reading comprehension problems.

Trust me.

You are the freaking worst.

I’ve seen some real punch-in-the-dick noobs come through this board during my tenure here, but you make even the worst of them look like cool glass of butt-naked Jessica Alba on hot summer day. Which is to say that you are the worst.

You. Are. The. Worst.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 21, 2008 1:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

hey diggler

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 21, 2008 1:23 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

so im the best? i win?

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 21, 2008 1:33 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why be a troll?

I’ve really often wondered this. What is that prompts a doltish individual such as yourself to spend his time perusing a board like this spouting off intentionally dumb shit just to make the conversation here worse? What makes one want to become a troll? Is there a process to it? A learning curve? And what do you get out of it?

I’m super cereal.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 21, 2008 1:38 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Im not a troll despite what you may think

you go around here replying to my comments with stuipid things such as “you are the worst” so if you wanna be a bitchthen im gonna be a bitch to you.

actually, you are probably a troll with the things you say in your comments

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 21, 2008 1:43 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

So then you really think you add to the level of baseball discourse around here?

Most of the shit you say is so catastrophically dumb I just figured it was shtick.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 21, 2008 1:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

yep, i give a different perspective

Feliz and Hurley. The 1-2 punch of the future

by Steal Home on Aug 21, 2008 1:57 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What is your prospective, exactly?

Sum it up for me, please.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 21, 2008 2:20 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Give me a break man

Are you really that dense?

It’s unrealistic for a lot of reasons, least of which is that it doesn’t rain as much as Seattle or Houston…

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 7:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

AJM?

Can we get an IP block on this idiot?

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 11:16 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

doesnt add jack shit to the board … but thinks he knows everything

its like our own randy galloway!

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 21, 2008 7:36 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i remeber when the stadium opened up that the video screen was state of the art, and haven't they updated the sound system at least once since then.

i know chuck morgan was talking last year or the year before about trying to get the jumbotron updated and adding more screens around the ballpark. wonder what happend to all that.

by jas003 on Aug 20, 2008 5:05 PM CDT   0 recs

RBiA's videoboard and audio setup is embarrasing.

well, not really, but the videoboard is in dire need of a replacement. and i think it should be done.

sure id like a new stadium or roof, but thats not realistic. its not that old and adding a roof has been explored before.

the preceding post is not nearly as negative or insulting as you think it is

by DSheppard on Aug 20, 2008 5:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Pretty sure

Chuck Morgan said the team is aware of it, and hope to address it soon.

Plaschke: Scioscia, the former Dodgers catcher, is the model manager who has created an atmosphere of winning.
Junior:It's that simple. Mike Scioscia brings a Glade Plug-In labeled "Winning™" into the clubhouse and everyone who breathes it in gains 15 points in average.

by TheBZA on Aug 20, 2008 6:25 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Uh, what?

Why in the world would RBIA need to be updated or torn down? It’s a fine stadium. In fact, I’d call it one of the more underrated stadiums in baseball.

Name the stadiums that are absolutely better.
Fenway (almost solely on tradition)
Yankee (tradition and being a pretty damn good stadium)
Wrigley (tradition)
PNC Park
Camden
New Busch
Nationals Park
Um…I think that’s it. I honestly don’t think I’m missing any stadiums that are undoubtedly better than RBIA.

Now, name the stadiums that are absolutely worse:
Minute Maid
Turner Field
Pro Player
Oakland Coliseum
Petco
Metrodome
Rogers Centre (probably)
Shea
Tropicana
I think that’s it.

The thing is, RBIA falls in that “good” stadium echelon. Is it awesome? No, probably not. But it’s good. It’s there with stadiums like Great American Ballpark (which I happen to like, though some don’t), Safeco, Kaufman, U.S. Cellular (which I happen dislike, though some do like it), AT&T Park, Chavez Ravine, Chase, et al.

So, to answer your question, that’s asinine.

"One man, five scoops." -- shroomer

by ghtd36 on Aug 20, 2008 5:51 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

"Would you mind walking a time or two so I could drive in some runs"? Milton Bradley

by boomer1 on Aug 20, 2008 5:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Have you been to all those stadiums?

I’ve never been to Petco or Minute Made… are they really worse? PETCO always looked kind of nice on TV and I’d take MM over TBPiA just for the convert-A-dome alone. And notice that of the 7 other stadiums you listed 4 or 5 are slated to be replaced by brand new sparkling much better stadiums in the next few years (Oakland, Minny, NYM, TB, Miami[?])

I think the gist of his statement was that the ballpark needs something to make it easier on pitchers here, or at least to effect the perception pitchers around the league have of it just being a freaking bear to pitch here.

I don’t think anyone thinks the park is a shit hole or sucks to watch a game in.

It’s a very nice park to watch a game in.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Aug 20, 2008 7:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Petco is a great stadium

I’ve been to about 5 or 6 games there. Honestly, I like it better than RBiA.

It’s got a great view of downtown. Great sitelines — no bad seats. The food is exponentially better than what you get at the ballpark. I don’t understand how you can place Petco in the “worst” category…

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Aug 20, 2008 7:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+ 1

I’ve been several times.. you’re right!

It’s all around better and you’re not sweating your balls off while you watch the game.

The food is better, sitelines wayyy better and it’s in a great location.

There is no comparison to RBIA as far as the overall experience goes. NEXT!!

"Well you didn't tell me that you were a Rangers fan" the psychiatrist says to his patient. "That explains a lot!"

by LAMuscleFag on Aug 20, 2008 10:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gotta put AT&T on that best list

It’s the best stadium of the 11 I’ve been to.

Yankee Stadium is a great place to watch a game, but the actual stadium is a toilet.

by robert_d_wilfong on Aug 21, 2008 10:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Nationals Park<<RBiA

Went there this summer. It’s nice, but doesn’t have nearly the character of RBiA. For being so new, I was surprised at how bland the Nationals stadium is. OTOH, my TV is bigger than the RBiA videoscreen, and an unreasonably high percentage of seats have no view of it. They not only need a bigger video board, they need another one on the opposite side of the field.

by 3hacks on Aug 20, 2008 7:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i agree

nats park is NICE (but its also new)

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Aug 21, 2008 7:37 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

you forgot AT&T Park

Consistently ranked in the top 3

Dreaming of 2009

by RangerMoto on Aug 20, 2008 8:35 PM CDT to parent up