Arlington Stadium stood in Arlington, Texas, as the home of the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993. Originally opened on April 23, 1965 as Turnpike Stadium, a minor-league facility built for $1.9 million to house the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs, it was expanded and renamed after Major League Baseball’s Washington Senators relocated to Texas in 1972.
Over nearly three decades, the open-air ballpark grew from an initial capacity of about 10,600 to more than 43,500 seats, absorbing expansion after expansion as the Rangers franchise took root in North Texas. Without a roof or much shade, the stadium became infamous among players and fans alike for the brutal Texas summer heat before it closed in October 1993 and was demolished the following year to make way for the Ballpark in Arlington.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Texas Rangers (MLB, 1972–1993); Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs (Texas League, 1965–1971)
- Location: Arlington, Texas
- Opened: April 23, 1965 (as Turnpike Stadium)
- Closed/Demolished: Closed October 3, 1993; demolished in 1994
- Capacity: About 43,521 in its final seasons (1991–1993)
- Original Capacity: About 10,600 at opening in 1965
- Notable Fact: First MLB ballpark to sell nachos, in 1974
From Minor-League Field to Rangers Ballpark
The stadium began life as Turnpike Stadium, a modest facility built to attract a major league franchise to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That bet paid off in 1972, when the Washington Senators relocated to become the Texas Rangers and the venue was renamed Arlington Stadium. The park was expanded repeatedly over the following two decades, eventually seating more than 43,000 fans by the early 1990s.
Because it was never enclosed, Arlington Stadium earned a lasting reputation as one of the hottest venues in the majors, with summer game-time temperatures on the field regularly soaring past 100 degrees. Fans and players endured the heat for standout moments, including Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th career strikeout and a perfect game thrown by Mike Witt in 1984.
Closing Day and Legacy
Arlington Stadium hosted its final Rangers game on October 3, 1993, with Hall of Famer George Brett recording the ballpark’s last hit. The venue was torn down in 1994 to clear the site for its successor, the Ballpark in Arlington, which opened next door in 1994. Pieces of the old stadium, including its foul poles and home plate, were transferred to the new ballpark as a link between the franchise’s two North Texas homes.
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Arlington Stadium FAQs
What team played at Arlington Stadium?
The Texas Rangers played their home games at Arlington Stadium from 1972 until the ballpark closed in October 1993. It also hosted the minor-league Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs from 1965 to 1971, when it was known as Turnpike Stadium.
Why was Arlington Stadium known for its heat?
The ballpark had no roof or significant overhead shade, so summer day games in Arlington, Texas regularly saw on-field temperatures exceed 100 degrees, earning it a reputation as one of the hottest venues in Major League Baseball.
What replaced Arlington Stadium?
The Ballpark in Arlington (later known by other names, including Globe Life Park) opened in 1994 on an adjacent site after Arlington Stadium was demolished, with some elements of the old park incorporated into the new one.
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Photo: Jerry Reuss / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.