Let's go Rangers
Jeter's last at bat in Ranger's stadium (Globe Life? I never call it by the sponsor name) was not great...actually his whole game was not great, but when a legend leaves the sport, everyone is respectful. Even if he plays for the Yankees.
Even I, who have banned myself from v.Yankee games to control cortisol and rage levels, stood with the biggest crowd the stadium has seen since Opening Day to send Jeter off. It was quiet, and not overdone.
Baseball has been bleak this year for the Rangers. Plagued by injuries, they are just doing their best to make it through the rest of the season.
I have been meaning to write advice when going to a game for people who don't go often. Some insider tips if you will. Now is a great time to try a game, especially if you've wanted to try taking a child, because tickets are readily available (I've tried to GIVE tickets away this year) and the games are not crowded. It's like the good ol' days when you could get there 30 minutes before a game started, buy tickets and make it to your seat before The National Anthem. (good 'ol days = they sucked).
What we've learned over our past years:
1. You can and should bring in your own food and drink. We have a designated game cooler and bring Nalgene bottles of water and dinner. The cooler has to be collapsible and you cannot bring in glass or aluminum. You're probably not allowed to bring actual metal forks or spoons either, but we kind of hide it under all of our stuff.
Food we've brought in is mostly Jersey Mike's sandwiches, some Chick-Fil-A, some homemade meals from home in plastic containers and we really went all out for Jeter's last game and brought in Mi Cocina's...like the whole to-go bag with our entree, chips, salsa, and wrapped tortillas. You can bring in to-go drinks and your own dessert...as long as it's all plastic, paper, or Styrofoam. You will be the envy of those around you as they find themselves eating ballpark chicken tenders and pizza. Our entire Mi Cocina dinner was for sure cheaper than the two meals and drinks the couple next to us ordered.
Unless you just want to spend a fortune on ballpark food that will later make you feel ill, you should refrain. None of it is that good. I like a ballpark hot dog as much as the next person, but only like two bites of it. I've learned that those two desired bites are not worth $4.50. When I saw a person bring down a helmet full of nachos this year for the first time, I had a physical gagging reflex.
1a. If you're bringing a child, bring lots of snacks. Food keeps them entertained and it will keep them from asking for food there...unless the cotton candy man walks down your aisle, then you're screwed. I thought Alex actually enjoyed baseball until one night he ran out of food and was like, "go home now?"
Excellent.
2. Children under 2 are free and there is no enforcement of this rule. The catch: They have to sit on your lap because they don't have a ticket to a seat. This is only a problem with crowded games (which has happened 5% this year)...otherwise there are always open seats around and your kid can sit there. The Rangers know you're not going to sneak your 4-year-old into a Yankees game in July and have them sit on your lap the whole time. Alex is definitely 3, but has had his own seat for every game we've taken him to this year except one. And thankfully that was back in April, when it was still cool.
2a. Small kids hate sitting at baseball games. It is entertaining for awhile with the snacks,chants, music and TV, but I always see one parent (mom) walking their baby on the concourses or letting them walk up and down the aisles. Don't expect to stay. When we take Alex, we leave in the third inning. It's best for everyone. Do not buy premiere seats for $100 a piece and make your poor kid stay to get your money's worth. It's not happening.
2b. I'm not going to judge you if you bring electronics to keep them entertained, but I feel like that cheapens the whole ballgame experience. I once saw an older boy play on his Gameboy the whole time. And I get it, he wasn't into it and he was forced to come, but it just made me sad.
I saw a woman once reading her Kindle the whole time. That was funny. Watch out for foul balls to the face!
Try to talk about anything! What they're doing, people watching, what they're wearing...!
Maybe V finds watching games with me dull. How many times do I have to tell him about the A's poor choice to wear white cleats with their gray travel uniforms. It's seriously terrible. Why not black cleats? It just doesn't make sense. I've thought about writing them about this many times.
3. You can move down. If you buy $10 cheap seats, hang out until the 4th or 5th inning and scope out the new place you want to move down on the lower deck. Just stay out of view of cameras and of course the front front because I've heard season ticket holders don't go to many of their games, but they do not want to see you in their seats. You will know the seats are owned because they have name plates on the seat. It was always hard for me to move down because of my strong moral conscience but just act like you belong. Especially this year in an empty stadium on a Tuesday night game against the Orioles, no one is going to ask questions.
4. Learn to keep score. I think that's why I like baseball so much. It's a really relaxing activity that's easy to master and keeps you engaged in the game. You start to see the strategy and mechanics of the game. Well, I don't...but V gives me a running commentary as we go.
But as you might imagine since bringing Alex to games, I have not kept score except once this year. He's kind of a score sheet messer upper.
5. Parking. Link to website and printable map
It's daunting to get around game days if you've never tried. They block off a lot of roads and funnel people through desired routes (or in many of our early experiences...undesired routes). Parking lot D is where you want to be. It's the easiest to get out of post game. People can't get back to Road to Six Flags or Ballpark Way due to road closures, so if you're in Lot D, it's one of the only lots that funnels back that way. You can get back to 30 or 360 fairly easily. Lot G is your best second bet, but I hope your shoes are comfortable. Anything looks close when it's big...talking about stadiums that is...
And at the beginning of the game, the left turn from Ballpark Way onto Road to Six flags is a double turn. No need to try and get all the way left. It leaves the second left turn open and more traffic behind. V will run your ass over in a fit of rage if you try to turn into the outer left lane from the inner left turn lane.
That being said, the right hand turn back onto Ballpark Way from Road to Six Flags is also a double turn because you have to go that way. There is literally nowhere else they will let you go.
Parking is $15 in this lot and that will piss you off. I got nothing to make you feel better. It is what it is. If you need a parking pass this year, we have many left over. Just ask.
#5 is really pointless to say, but I feel it's my responsibility because seriously, V=enraged. I just don't want to die.
In the fall when football season happens at the same time baseball season is ending, that's a whole other (how come we say, "whole nother"?) animal. Just expect to be sitting in traffic mad.
Why not 2015?
Even I, who have banned myself from v.Yankee games to control cortisol and rage levels, stood with the biggest crowd the stadium has seen since Opening Day to send Jeter off. It was quiet, and not overdone.
Baseball has been bleak this year for the Rangers. Plagued by injuries, they are just doing their best to make it through the rest of the season.
I have been meaning to write advice when going to a game for people who don't go often. Some insider tips if you will. Now is a great time to try a game, especially if you've wanted to try taking a child, because tickets are readily available (I've tried to GIVE tickets away this year) and the games are not crowded. It's like the good ol' days when you could get there 30 minutes before a game started, buy tickets and make it to your seat before The National Anthem. (good 'ol days = they sucked).
What we've learned over our past years:
1. You can and should bring in your own food and drink. We have a designated game cooler and bring Nalgene bottles of water and dinner. The cooler has to be collapsible and you cannot bring in glass or aluminum. You're probably not allowed to bring actual metal forks or spoons either, but we kind of hide it under all of our stuff.
Food we've brought in is mostly Jersey Mike's sandwiches, some Chick-Fil-A, some homemade meals from home in plastic containers and we really went all out for Jeter's last game and brought in Mi Cocina's...like the whole to-go bag with our entree, chips, salsa, and wrapped tortillas. You can bring in to-go drinks and your own dessert...as long as it's all plastic, paper, or Styrofoam. You will be the envy of those around you as they find themselves eating ballpark chicken tenders and pizza. Our entire Mi Cocina dinner was for sure cheaper than the two meals and drinks the couple next to us ordered.
Unless you just want to spend a fortune on ballpark food that will later make you feel ill, you should refrain. None of it is that good. I like a ballpark hot dog as much as the next person, but only like two bites of it. I've learned that those two desired bites are not worth $4.50. When I saw a person bring down a helmet full of nachos this year for the first time, I had a physical gagging reflex.
 |
| Gross |
1a. If you're bringing a child, bring lots of snacks. Food keeps them entertained and it will keep them from asking for food there...unless the cotton candy man walks down your aisle, then you're screwed. I thought Alex actually enjoyed baseball until one night he ran out of food and was like, "go home now?"
Excellent.
2. Children under 2 are free and there is no enforcement of this rule. The catch: They have to sit on your lap because they don't have a ticket to a seat. This is only a problem with crowded games (which has happened 5% this year)...otherwise there are always open seats around and your kid can sit there. The Rangers know you're not going to sneak your 4-year-old into a Yankees game in July and have them sit on your lap the whole time. Alex is definitely 3, but has had his own seat for every game we've taken him to this year except one. And thankfully that was back in April, when it was still cool.
2a. Small kids hate sitting at baseball games. It is entertaining for awhile with the snacks,chants, music and TV, but I always see one parent (mom) walking their baby on the concourses or letting them walk up and down the aisles. Don't expect to stay. When we take Alex, we leave in the third inning. It's best for everyone. Do not buy premiere seats for $100 a piece and make your poor kid stay to get your money's worth. It's not happening.
2b. I'm not going to judge you if you bring electronics to keep them entertained, but I feel like that cheapens the whole ballgame experience. I once saw an older boy play on his Gameboy the whole time. And I get it, he wasn't into it and he was forced to come, but it just made me sad.
I saw a woman once reading her Kindle the whole time. That was funny. Watch out for foul balls to the face!
Try to talk about anything! What they're doing, people watching, what they're wearing...!
Maybe V finds watching games with me dull. How many times do I have to tell him about the A's poor choice to wear white cleats with their gray travel uniforms. It's seriously terrible. Why not black cleats? It just doesn't make sense. I've thought about writing them about this many times.
 |
| white shoes with white pants, great! white shoes with gray aways? no. |
3. You can move down. If you buy $10 cheap seats, hang out until the 4th or 5th inning and scope out the new place you want to move down on the lower deck. Just stay out of view of cameras and of course the front front because I've heard season ticket holders don't go to many of their games, but they do not want to see you in their seats. You will know the seats are owned because they have name plates on the seat. It was always hard for me to move down because of my strong moral conscience but just act like you belong. Especially this year in an empty stadium on a Tuesday night game against the Orioles, no one is going to ask questions.
4. Learn to keep score. I think that's why I like baseball so much. It's a really relaxing activity that's easy to master and keeps you engaged in the game. You start to see the strategy and mechanics of the game. Well, I don't...but V gives me a running commentary as we go.
But as you might imagine since bringing Alex to games, I have not kept score except once this year. He's kind of a score sheet messer upper.
5. Parking. Link to website and printable map
It's daunting to get around game days if you've never tried. They block off a lot of roads and funnel people through desired routes (or in many of our early experiences...undesired routes). Parking lot D is where you want to be. It's the easiest to get out of post game. People can't get back to Road to Six Flags or Ballpark Way due to road closures, so if you're in Lot D, it's one of the only lots that funnels back that way. You can get back to 30 or 360 fairly easily. Lot G is your best second bet, but I hope your shoes are comfortable. Anything looks close when it's big...talking about stadiums that is...
And at the beginning of the game, the left turn from Ballpark Way onto Road to Six flags is a double turn. No need to try and get all the way left. It leaves the second left turn open and more traffic behind. V will run your ass over in a fit of rage if you try to turn into the outer left lane from the inner left turn lane.
That being said, the right hand turn back onto Ballpark Way from Road to Six Flags is also a double turn because you have to go that way. There is literally nowhere else they will let you go.
Parking is $15 in this lot and that will piss you off. I got nothing to make you feel better. It is what it is. If you need a parking pass this year, we have many left over. Just ask.
#5 is really pointless to say, but I feel it's my responsibility because seriously, V=enraged. I just don't want to die.
In the fall when football season happens at the same time baseball season is ending, that's a whole other (how come we say, "whole nother"?) animal. Just expect to be sitting in traffic mad.
Why not 2015?
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