Baseball fans, get ready because the World Series is coming to Arlington, Texas! The new home of the Texas Rangers, Globe Life Field, will host the National League Division and Championship Series and the 116th World Series. Arlington will make history for the first time the sport’s championship will be played entirely at one site since 1944.
The 2020 Postseason is set to open with the American League’s inaugural Wild Card Series on Tuesday, September 29th and the National League’s first Wild Card Series openers are Wednesday, September 30th. All best-of-three Wild Card Series will be played at the regular season home ballparks of each league’s top four seeds. Then, beginning with the Division Series, Clubs will shift to neutral site locations for the duration of the 2020 Postseason due to health, safety and competitive considerations.
It seems like only yesterday construction of Globe Life Field was finished. Globe Life Field has committed to hosting two of the biggest sporting events of the year, the World Series and the Wrangler Rodeo, in its first year of opening. Arlington was a part of the World Series almost a decade ago in 2011 when Globe Life Park hosted games 3, 4 and 5 if the 2011 World Series. The 2011 World Series brought a national spotlight along with tourism to the community. While it is unsure whether fans will be in attendance, Globe Life Field hosting the World Series is still a major win for greater Arlington.
“I’m trying to focus on what we can do, and I can tell you this is the most excitement I’ve had in really eight or nine months here, because the National Finals Rodeo and then now to think about playoff baseball being here and then the World Series,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams.
“We built a fantastic building. It’s an opportunity for us to show it to more people, hopefully fans,” Texas Rangers’ executive vice president Rob Matwick said. “If not, the eyes of the nation, the eyes of the world will be on Arlington and Globe Life Field for the World Series.”
While baseball fans and community members are excited, the greater Arlington business community is also celebrating. Business owners like Randy Ford, president of J. Gilligan’s Bar, are looking forward to the increased publicity and visitors.
“Maybe their families will come, the press will come, the media will come,” Ford told NBC 5 in an interview. “Even if we don’t have the fans, at least there will be some publicity about Arlington, Texas so it will be positive no matter what.”
With all of the exciting events coming to our community, it is a great day to be in Arlington.
CLICK HERE to view the 2020 MLB Postseason schedule and press release.