I am smiling practically every time I drive to work because, you see, I work at Globe Life Park. There was a time when I envisioned smiling even more on said trip, because there was a time when I envisioned being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame – and Globe Life Park is a pretty good off-ramp to take to Cooperstown.
Alas, my fastball reached 62 miles per hour when I was 15 and settled there, prompting this former sportswriter to concede to the notion that those who can, play ball, and those who can’t, write about those who can. I am still working on perfecting a knuckleball, but, given that my 6-year-old grandson took it out of the yard recently, I’m fairly certain I won’t make headlines as the oldest rookie in Major League Baseball history.
But that’s OK because, you see, I work at Globe Life Park.
When you work at Globe Life Park, you get to see Hall of Fame type development all around you. Take, for example, Texas Live!, which, for those keeping up with the construction at home, is about to open its doors for business.
Indeed, from Aug. 9-12, those of us who drive by the development will be able to drive to it for a grand opening befitting a state-of-the-art, $250 million entertainment complex that will feature 200,000 square feet of best-in-class local, regional and national dining and entertainment, as well as a 5,000-capacity outdoor event pavilion, Arlington Backyard. And that’s just what we’ll see on Opening Weekend. Additionally, a 14-story, 302-room luxury Live! by Loews – Arlington, TX hotel with a 35,000-square-foot Grand Event Center is under construction and will open in 2019.
The more current opening, the one next month, will have some highlights, including:
Thursday: A Grand Opening VIP party, a free concert by Toadies and Eleven Hundred Springs at Arlington Backyard and the openings of venues and restaurants such as Lockhart Smokehouse, PBR Texas, Troy’s, Sports & Social Arlington and a signature eatery by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.
Friday: An Official Texas Rangers Away Game Watch Party and a concert by Bleachers with Joywave at Arlington Backyard.
Saturday: Another Official Texas Rangers Away Game Watch Party and a concert by Kip Moore at Arlington Backyard.
Sunday: Family Fun Day with live music and entertainment, arts and crafts, moonwalks, face painters, jugglers, puppets, sports games, giveaways, and the proverbial more.
You can get all the details about this big event by visiting texas-live.com/grandopening. And when you get to Texas Live!, be sure to say hello. I’m the guy who’s smiling.
