Arlington kicked-off Major League Baseball’s incredible All-Star Week with The Greater Arlington Chamber’s seventh annual Legends & Leaders presented by SFC, LLC. Continuing their seven year partnership with the Texas Rangers, this year’s attendees received the All-Star treatment. The line-up of event speakers included former Texas Rangers All-Stars Ivan “Pudge” Rodriquez, Ferguson Jenkins and Jim Sundberg, Voice of the Texas Rangers Chuck Morgan, and MLB’s Vice President of Special Events Jeremiah Yolkut.

“Our Entertainment District growth and development is a direct result of the powerful relationship Arlington has with the Texas Rangers and Major League Baseball,” Michael Jacobson, CEO & President at the Greater Arlington Chamber, said. “We couldn’t be more proud to host the All-Star Game this year and showcase our assets on a global stage.”

Adding to the legendary status of this event, the Chamber now holds the title of the first entity to host an event at the Arlington ISD Dr. Marcelo Cavazos Center for Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). With the signing of Texas House Bill 1825 last June, the uniquely positioned facility can now host events within the Entertainment District, home to three stadiums (two that seat 40,000+ spectators).

Before sitting down in the CVPA theater to hear from our speakers, attendees experienced a mini taste of Arlington with quintessential bites from well-known restaurants including Prince Lebanese Grill, Hurtado Barbecue, J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, and Arlington new-comer Cafe Americana. Desserts also paid homage to Arlington with local bakeries Buttermilk Sky Pie, Divalicious Delights, Grounds and Gold providing delightful confections. Arlington’s oldest standing restaurant, Candlelite Inn (1957) joined the party as the bartenders and earned the moniker as the first to serve alcohol in the facility. 

In the Leadership conversation moderated by John Rhadigan, anchor at Bally Sports Southwest, MLB’s Vice President of Special Events Jeremiah Yolkut shared that the All-Star Game is a unique opportunity for all 30 clubs to come together and celebrate baseball. 

“We’re able to connect with fans in a much different way than we can for the regular home games because we’re bringing all the best players to one location,” Yolkut said.

It takes years to put together an event like the 2024 All-Star Week, he said. In early 2020, Yolkut’s team received bids for ballparks to host the game, sparking the conversation. Over the next four years, MLB, the Rangers and the City of Arlington collaborated to create a momentous All-Star week experience. 

“Arlington allows fans to have a one-stop-shop experience. You come here, and you get it all,” Yolkut said. “I think it’s going to be hard to beat this Capital One All-Star Village because of the scale and the specialness of Globe Life. We’re excited to show the world and show the country exactly what’s happening here in Arlington.”

During the Legends panel, the audience was full of laughter and awe as they listened to some of baseball’s most legendary players. Former Texas Rangers All-Stars Ivan “Pudge” Rodriquez, Ferguson Jenkins and Jim Sundberg shared their personal experiences playing in the All-Star game moderated by a legend himself, Chuck Morgan, EVP for the Rangers and their in-ballpark announcer since 1983.

Three-time All-Star player Sundberg played catcher for 12 seasons with the Rangers. During his first All-Star game, Sundberg said it was a surreal moment to play with some of the greatest baseball players. Two memories stood out to him: throwing out Pete Rose and catching for Goose Gossage, who he said typically threw around 100 mph.

“He would throw one here and then he would throw one down here and then one over there and one over here,” Sundberg said. “I felt like a goalie, trying to knock it down. I was just thankful I caught the ball. That’s a night that stands out in my mind.”

Jenkins, a three-time All-Star player, was a Rangers pitcher for six seasons. He said his goal at every All-Star game was to have no hitters, but it was the 1971 All-Star Game in Detroit that stood out to him. 

“I lived about 60 miles from Detroit, so I needed to get 50 tickets for all my friends and relatives,” Jenkins said. “I don’t know how I did it, but I did it. I was asking everybody.”

14-time All-Star player Rodriquez played catcher 13 seasons with the Rangers. He shared that at each All-Star game he simply did what he does best: throw guys out.

“Well, three things,” Rodriquez said about his favorite All-Star memories. “Signing 500 baseballs in the clubhouse. I got a hit before they took me out of the game; and I threw Lenny Dykstra out at second by ten feet. That’s it.”

It was quite a kick-off to 2024 All-Star week. Arlington hosted most of the weekend’s events, including the Ken Griffy Jr. HBCU Swingman Classic of Friday, July 12; the MLB Futures Game and Celebrity Softball Game on Saturday, July 13; the Gatorade All-Star Workout and T-Mobile Homerun Derby on Monday, July 15; and, of course, the red-carpet walk and 2024 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. 

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In a special shoutout to all of our caterers, we wanted to highlight one of their delicious bites. 

• Prince Lebanese Grill’s Chicken Shawarma mini slider: pickles, garlic sauce, and their famous chicken shawarma on a 4-inch mini pita
• Hurtado Barbecue’s Texas Twinkie: large jalapeño, stuffed with chopped brisket, pimento cheese and cheddar, wrapped in bacon and smoked to perfection
• J. Gilligan’s Irish Nachos: natural cut cottage fries with skins, topped with melted cheddar cheese, bacon, chives, onions, tomatoes and jalapenos 
• Cafe Americana’s Chicken & Beef Empanadas: flavorful beef or chicken filling wrapped in a homemade pastry