The Stadium Rundown - January 8, 2018

We're back with another Stadium Rundown! This week, we're looking at the quick start to construction of the Texas Rangers new ballpark, approval of the Raiders new home in Las Vegas making some progress, and discussions in Charlotte about a new football stadium.

Globe Life Field

Globe Life Field - Arlington, TX Globe Life Field - Arlington, TX


So, the Texas Rangers decided that they needed to move out of 20+ year old Globe Life Park (which in my opinion is still in really good shape) for the other side of the parking lot and the underwhelmingly named, "Globe Life Field". So far the fans are impressed with the renderings, not so impressed with the name and you can clearly see the similarities with the Safeco Field roof design. In fact, the roof was the big argument for why the club needed a new ballpark. Fans and players both complained of the open air during the Texas summer months provided an unbearable place to play and watch a game.

The renderings were unveiled at the end of September 2017 and approved in October. Over the last month construction started out of nowhere and digging has begun on the new ballpark. If you want to watch, you can check out the construction camera and see the progress as it goes up.

The Rangers are expected to move in for the start of the 2020 season with a capacity of 41,000.


Las Vegas Raiders Stadium

Las Vegas Raiders Stadium                    

Las Vegas Raiders Stadium


We've known for a while now that the Raiders are leaving the aging dump known as the Oakland Coliseum for a new home in Sin City. What we learned this week is that County Commissioners in Clark County Nevada and the Raiders have come to an agreement regarding a key part of the funding for the stadium.

The Raiders have agreed to pay for the infrastructure and public safety facilities at and around the vicinity of the stadium, such as work on sidewalks, streets, a walking bridge to connect the stadium to Mandalay Bay and even pay for a stadium jail (hello Veterans Stadium!).

The Raiders will be moving into this 65,000 seat venue in time for the 2020 season.  Where they play the next two seasons is still to be determined.


New Panthers Stadium?

BOA Stadium - Charlotte, NC                          

BOA Stadium - Charlotte, NC - James Willamore per Creative Commons


Soon to be former Panthers owner Jerry Richardson has been in the news lately. If you want to read about that, I'm sure you can find more than enough analysis over at our good friend, Google. Long story short, Richardson will be selling the team as soon as the Panthers season is over, which leads to the discussion about the future of Bank of America Stadium.

BOA Stadium opened in 1996 when the Panthers joined in the NFL and it lacks a lot of the luxury box amenities that many newer stadiums. There's a lot of questions about building a new stadium in uptown Charlotte. Who will pay for it? Will it even fit? Would new ownership even want a new stadium?

We'll find out as soon as the sale goes through...


That's all for this week. See you next week!

-D.J.


This post was proofread by Grammarly