my trip to Texas..... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

habernac · 05-17-2005, 07:42 PM

Went to Dallas for a week or so, volunteered for the Byron Nelson Classic (that's another thread.....) and got to see my first games at the Ballpark in Arlington (yeah, its called Ameriquest Field or something now, but I like the old name)

Went to 3 games in all, caught 2 against the Indians on the weekend and the Monday nighter against the Tigers. I gotta gice the Texans one thing, they sure are polite. Had no problems meeting people at the game to talk baseball (went by myself for the weekend games).

Got there early Saturday, about an hour before game time. The freeways there are brutal, lots of construction, traffic tie ups. Pull up to the stadium and they want $20 for parking?!?? Yeah, right.....found some more reasonable parking and headed for the field.

Man, is this place ever impressive when you're walking up! It is absolutely gigantic! You walk through the gates and into the belly of the place and you're surrounded by good old fashioned ball park sights and smells. Why isn't this place mentioned in the same breath as Camden Yards or Jacobs Field?

The retired numbers are there, Nolan Ryan's 34 and of course Jackie Robinson's 42. Late manager Johnny Oates' 26 is also on the left field fence. There are also flags flying for Ryan, Gaylord Perry and Fergie Jenkins, the only Rangers in the Hall of Fame. They also have a great scoreboard and that neat patch of grass over center filed where the kids fight over home run balls. It didn't take long for Alfonso Soriano to hit his first of the night there, much to the chagrin of one die hard Rangers fan. He doesn't like him because he used to be a Yankee. It was pretty funny listening to him bad mouth Soriano's defense. Every time that happened, Alfonso would hit another one (2 on the night, nice treat!)

Kenny Rogers got his golden glove award before the game and Chuck Norris threw out the cermonial first pitch, even taking the time to warm up with the rest of the Rangers before the game. Very cool.

All in all, a good time. I would recommend to anyone who gets out there to check out a game. Beautiful stadium. A little out of the way, but nice friendly people. But take the local's advice and catch the bus from Hooters to save parking $$$$

Well, thats 3 stadiums down and 27 more to go!

Displaced Flames fan · 05-18-2005, 06:42 PM

What are the other 2 you've been to Habby?

I've seen games @ Royals Stadium and whatever the Angels stadium is called now.

Baseball is a good game to watch live.

I'd MUCH rather watch football on TV, though every once in a while the thrill of being at an NFL game is a must. (been to games at Arrowhead, Jack Murphy, Mile High and the LA Colliseum).

Hockey is great live too, of course. (McNichols, Saddledome, LA Forum and Arrowhead Pond)

The NBA is pretty boring either way. (LA Forum, wherever the Clippers used to play in downtown LA).

The best sports atmospheres for me, however, were College games. A basketball game in a place like Allen Fieldhouse is an unbelievable experience. Watched OU and K-State play football in '85 when K-State was horrible and it was an unbelievable atmosphere.

habernac · 05-18-2005, 08:42 PM

Actually, when I think about it again, I have 28 more to go. I've been to Camden Yards (sat thorugh the 2nd longest rain delay in team history before an ordinary game against Texas) and Veteran's Stadium in Philly (lucky enough to see Kevin Millwood's no hitter against Bonds' Giants, the last one thrown before they turned it into a parking lot). So I need to go to the new Philly stadium.

Never been to any basketball or footbal games. I'll have to arrange a trip to Seattle one of these days, I think the atmosphere would be alot of fun. My sis was lucky enough to go to the national championship game in Tempe in '99, 100+ thousand as the Vols won (forget who they played, Tee Martin was the QB for Tennesse tho)

Hockey is the best to watch live of course. I've seen games at Northlands in Edmonton, The Saddledome of course, and The Forum (the last game played there) and Bell Centres in Montreal.

flames_1987 · 05-18-2005, 08:48 PM

That sounds like a great time. There is nothing like a baseball game, and everything that comes with it!

As for the parking be 20 bucks, that sounds brutal, especially when your use to the 5 buck parking at the dome. Neither compare to this summer when in California finding out parking at Staples Centre is 65 bucks!

habernac · 05-18-2005, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fotze@May 18 2005, 08:45 PM
Baseball Sucks! Just kidding. Good times. Why are you down there anyway? Is it just for fun or for bidness?

business/fun. Volunteered for the PGA Byron Nelson golf classic. Good times.

CaramonLS · 05-18-2005, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by flames_1987@May 19 2005, 02:48 AM
That sounds like a great time. There is nothing like a baseball game, and everything that comes with it!

As for the parking be 20 bucks, that sounds brutal, especially when your use to the 5 buck parking at the dome. Neither compare to this summer when in California finding out parking at Staples Centre is 65 bucks!

FYI dude, they jacked the prices up for area around Saddledome parking. Since the Casino expanded, theres no real reason to keep providing 5$ parking, so all the little guys jumped it up to 10.

When I took in a yankee's game a few years ago, it was 20$ to park in some dudes driveway.

JiriHrdina · 05-18-2005, 09:56 PM

Great stuff Habernac. One of my dreams is to do a road trip across the US hitting as many ball parks as I could. I've only been to Skydome which isn't a great park but the Jays are my team. I've also been to Yankee Stadium which is pure magic, even if you're not a Yanks fan. I've heard great things about the Rangers' Ballpark.

Gugstanley · 05-20-2005, 08:41 AM

That is one ball park I haven't been to yet. Every time I was scheduled to go to Dallas it got cancelled. As luck will has it I get to check out Turner Field very soon.

Maritime Q-Scout · 05-27-2005, 09:32 PM

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You're talking to the BIGGEST (and probably only) Rangers fan in Canada. (or maybe I'm the biggest because I'm the only)

How was Ameriquest Ballpark at Arlington? It looks to be an amazing place.

Wranglers110 · 05-27-2005, 10:06 PM

Hey, I used to live in Dallas and went to the Ballpark all the time! I loved it and am thinking about going back just to catch a few games. I've gotten too used to the "dry" heat of the Vegas desert, though, I'm really dreading the prospect of walking through that thick humid Texas air.

habernac · 05-27-2005, 10:57 PM

It was pretty sweet, MQ. Nice, old-time feel to it, great sight lines. I was happy with everything except the ridiculous price of parking in the area.

Skoch · 05-28-2005, 11:13 AM

yea baseball is awesome to watch live. Ive been to skydome (Rogers center) lots of times..and seen a yankees game at yankee stadium when i was down in New york. and of course Burns and foothills park here in calgary to watch the Cannons and now the Vipers.

North East Goon · 06-01-2005, 01:33 PM

I love going to Baseball games as well. I have been to Angels Stadium (or whatever it's called now), Dodger Stadium, Skydome, The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis (Which is just like B.C Place in Vancouver) and the old Seattle Kingdome.

Resolute 14 · 06-01-2005, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by habernac@May 18 2005, 07:42 PM
Never been to any basketball or footbal games. I'll have to arrange a trip to Seattle one of these days, I think the atmosphere would be alot of fun. My sis was lucky enough to go to the national championship game in Tempe in '99, 100+ thousand as the Vols won (forget who they played, Tee Martin was the QB for Tennesse tho)

Seattle has an amazing ballpark, and beyond that, the city is an awesome place to visit. You definitely should go, especially since it is close enough that it could be done as a four day long weekend trip. Leave early enough, and you can get into Seattle in time for a game, spend two days exploring the city, drive back.

Just be warned, parking in Safeco is also $20. I just got onto a bus in Tukwila that stopped two blocks away from Safeco. $20 or $1.50? hmm...

I also went to Tropicana Field last year. Not a great ballpark, but servicable at least. Booing Bonds was fun, and a nice way to let off some frustration after watching the Flames lose. If it wasnt for that game 7 trip to Tampa, I would have gone to both Toronto and Montreal for ball games last summer.

Another good place to go watch a ball game is Winnipeg. CanWest Global Field is the best ballpark in Canada, and they pack the place for the Goldeyes.

Hockeywise, just the Saddledome, Rexall and St. Pete Times Forum.