ARLINGTON, Texas — The crowds of baseball fans aren’t taking over Globe Life Field and Choctaw Stadium yet, but signs that let you know they’re coming are all over the Arlington Entertainment District.
“It hasn't happened in a long, long time that the defending World Series Champ is then followed with the All-Star Game and being the host,” said Texas Rangers Executive VP of Business Operations Rob Matwick.
It’s a unique circumstance, and the Rangers and the city are welcoming it with open arms.
“It's been very beneficial for us and for Major League Baseball,” said Matwick.
The game hasn’t been played in North Texas since 1995 and preparations started last year, long before the Rangers’ World Series run.
“We sent a team out to Seattle and we had an opportunity to go out there with our partners and fire department with Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers as well as public works just to make sure that we were looking at this appropriately,” said Arlington PD Deputy Chief Leo Daniels.
They found that their biggest challenge is the same one they face each time they host a large-scale event.
“The traffic is going to be an issue and a concern,” said Daniels.
So, they’ll be relying heavily on the city’s traffic management center.
“If there are any issues, if there's any signals that need to be adjusted, we can adjust those on the fly,” said Keith Brooks Arlington’s public works director.
During the All-Star events, they’ll use the reversible lanes on Division and Collins. Drivers can also expect some road closures.
“The road Six Flags, we'll have that closed from basically stadium drive all the way to Nolan Ryan,” said Brooks. “And then the major closure on Randall Mill Rd. Basically from Ballpark Way or Stadium Drive all the way to AT&T.”
Rideshare users will have designated pickup and drop-off areas. Organizers say parking will look a lot like how it did for the World Series.
“We try to keep all of our parking consistent with what we've done with postseason last year,” said Mike Healy, the Rangers’ EVP of Venue Operations and Guest Experience. “In addition to what we've done for our regular season and concerts at Globe Life Field.”
The other big concern is keeping people safe in the Texas heat. They have a heat mitigation plan in place that includes cooling stations, free water, and extra first aid locations.