ARLINGTON, Texas — The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is coming to the Rangers' Globe Life Field in Arlington this summer. And that's just the beginning of big events and openings in the sprawling Arlington Entertainment District, which will also play host to nine World Cup games in 2026 and the NCAA men's basketball Final Four in 2030.
With all that in mind, the Arlington city council on Tuesday night will discuss and consider more renovations to Choctaw Stadium, the Rangers' former stadium that still sits across the street from Globe Life Field.
Choctaw is home to high school and United Football League (previously the XFL) games, as well as retail and office space. Now, the Rangers and Arlington city officials want to renovate more space at the stadium "to more fully activate its street frontage," and also increase the city's public safety presence in the area.
The proposed renovations also call for more parking in the area, particularly for the planned opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum next year.
The renovations would happen through an agreement between the Rangers and the city, with the city providing funding around $4.2 million and the Rangers covering the rest. The full cost of the project has not been disclosed, though the city documents say the Rangers have already spent around $7.8 million on retail development at Choctaw Stadium, including the buildout of a Starbucks coffee shop.
The additional renovations and upgrades would include:
- 1,500 square feet inside Choctaw Stadium that faces Randol Mill Road and will serve as a storefront presence for the Arlington Police Department
- 1,500 square feet inside Choctaw Stadium that will serve as temporary housing for Arlington Fire Station 8, which is under renovation
- A valet parking lane along Nolan Ryan Expressway next to Choctaw Stadium
- 6,000 square feet of renovations within Choctaw Stadium for "new leasable, commercial space," according to the council documents
- Parking rights for the Medal of Honor Museum for up to 200 spaces, as-needed, in Parking Lots F, G, M, and/or N for 10 years
The city documents did not give a timetable on when the renovations would begin, though they'd presumably be within the next year. The MLB All-Star Game is slated for July 16, the One Rangers Way apartments across from Choctaw will open late this year, and the National Medal of Honor Museum will open in March 2025. All three, as well as the upcoming World Cup, were mentioned in the documents as reasons for the investment in renovations and parking.
The Arlington city council will discuss the renovations at its 6:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday.