Just thought I'd start a new topic, which probably won't get many replies... but here goes.

I went to the Sunday night Braves-Rangers (ESPN!) game at the Ballpark the weekend before last. As a Braves fan, and as a sidebar, how bad can the Rangers be? I know they have been struck with injuries, but still... ewwwie! Foul smell as I left that night...

Anyway, back to topic. The Ballpark grass was in horrible condition. I overheard from someone a few seats down that there was a marching band competition a few days/weeks before, which caused the grass to get torn up. Not sure (just moved to Dallas area 3 weeks ago, haven't caught up on things around here), but anyway, the point being--is it standard for teams to rent out their parks while the home team is on the road? Or has Tom Hicks spent too much money on A-Rod, Chan Ho Park, etc., to keep the field in playable condition? Surely the Texas heat hasn't caused the grass to die this early in the year? Or maybe Hicks has no control over conditions of the park?

Please offer up comments, particularly if someone can defend why the grass was in such horrible shape. I'd be ashamed to be paying $100+ million payroll for a team that plays horrible, and has a beautiful ballpark EXCEPT for the field itself!

My father lives in Phoenix and I seem to remember him telling me that when N-Sync did a show at BankOne Ballpark they tore up the field pretty badly; the stadium crew was scrambling to get it ready in time for the first home games of the season. I think this was in the spring of 2001.

Ballparks are often paid for with public money. And to spend hundreds of millions for 81 home games seems like a waste to me.

The SkyDome in Toronto is turf, but is used for baseball, football, concerts, trade shows, etc (used to be used for the Raptors, too). Of course it's not ideal for any of those things, but is adequate for many things.

I saw on the World Cup where there's a stadium in Japan where the entire natural grass field slides out the side of the dome stadium so that it can get natural sunlight. Seems with this systme you could have your choice of grass, turf, and concrete surfaces for whatever the event may be.

I know the Ballpark in Arlington hosted the Big Twelve Baseball Championship shortly before your game. With all the festivities around that, they left the turf in a terrible condition. Still, it should have been fixed to perfection before the Rangers returned.

It's pretty common for ballparks to be used for events other than the games the teams play, especially if the team doesn't own the facility or have a major say in who can rent it--or if it's an old multi-purpose stadium like the Vet with artificial turf. The Vet has had religious conventions and all kinds of concerts when the Phillies and Eagles aren't using it. There's some kind of event this weekend at Camden Yards while the Orioles are in San Francisco--and speaking of PacBell, a baseball park, didn't the XFL play there?

Yes, the XFL at Pac Bell Park was a huge mistake. It took quite a while to get the field back into pristine condition. The Rolling Stones are playing at Pac Bell Park November 8 (I've got tickets). Atleast baseball season is over by then.

The Ballpark in Arlington is one of my worst memories about living in Dallas. The heat on the lower levels can get to about 115 degrees. Absolutely miserable place. Outdoor stadiums have no place in Texas, something Houston figured out a long time ago.......

Safeco Field has been used for soccer and the Seattle Bowl, formerly the hula or aloha bowl. But will not be anymore since the new football stadium will be opened in about a month. I may see A-rod, Chan Ho-Park and the Rangers vs. the Cubs at Wrigley tonight. Still havent been to a game at Wrigley but will see one on Sunday for sure. Maybe the field conditions are because of the extreme Texas climate also.

I haven't been to a game this season but Ballpark's field is usually in tip top shape, there must have been something going on prior to the game. Have tickets when the Yankees come to town, Jeter and Mike Mussina (hope hes pitching that night, or Pettitte).
Try another game, the field should be fine, the heat is another matter. By the way, welcome to Dallas.

Thanks for the welcome!

Yeah, guess I sounded like a newbie when I was ranting in my original post. Of course I know that fields are used for other events, even if it is during the middle of baseball/football season, or whatever.

I had toured the Ballpark a couple of summers ago, and thought it was a beautiful place. The shoddy condition of the grass (no pun intended) just caught me off guard. And it really is a shame that the Rangers can't put a better team on the field. Yankees are the best team money can buy, Rangers are the worst.