I obviously dont think the team will leave the area, but if they did there would be very few people who care. The attendance would be better if the stadium was in an urban setting in downtown Dallas. The destination attractions to be built around the Ballpark never materialized (in 15 years) and with the econmoic conditions they wont anytime soon. The place is too far to go from Collin county (especially on a week night with kids). Also many (up that way) would rather go to Frisco and see a game in a great environment at better prices. Additionally, the last piece (winning) would help and that will never happen here on a consistent basis - so the attendance result is predictable.

I'd hate to see DFW lose a major league baseball team, and guys like Galloway and their "Loserville" cries need to go somewhere like Atlanta or Detroit (or the place where the guy with the horns and pitchfork conducts his business), where one or more of their sports teams are in the tank more often than not. The Metroplex certainly deserves a baseball team, but any time I hear comments from Ranger leadership about how X or Z needs to step up to the plate, I think, 'Yeah, you too.'

I'm at a loss as to how one can be a Rangers fan (nothing personal, I'm not calling names or anything). A baseball fan, yes, but a Rangers fan? What kind of commitment is there to the team in Arlington? OK, a few decent years in the 90s, and then bang, back to the doormat. I could understand if ownership said "We know we're terrible, but we're trying, and here's what we're trying to do to get back on track." Gang, the -Rays- were just in the World Series. Go back to 1961 (the year the Rangers entered the league as the Senators) and then take a look at how the expansion teams since then have fared.

There's no character here, and please, I really don't want to hear how Tom Hicks is losing money (I've been wondering when we'll start hearing how we have to bail out the sports teams.). Love the Mavs, hate the Mavs, but at least Mark Cuban put a face on the franchise when he bought it, and Hicks just can't seem to pull that off.

I wrote the guts of this on a Rangers blog when the "Michael Young's going to third or else" debacle was going on. Hopefully, that was just a bump in the road, but at the time, I marvelled that the Rangers were slapping the face of the franchise, and pushing him towards the attitude that Texeira had in his last days here (leaving me to wonder when Josh Hamilton would be dealt to the Yankees for some magic beans). Ultimately, though, what IS the goal in Arlington? "Wait till NEXT year, as we just traded one of our big guns for some prospects." OK, next year and the year after that happen: Most of those prospects disappear like an 80s one-hit wonder, and maybe one or two develop. What happens? Suddenly those prospects become trade bait, and the prospect revolving door game kicks in again. "Just wait till NEXT year, folks, we're rebuilding again. Check out the changes we made to the Ballpark!"

Fooey. Who wants to root for a revolving door? I go to Fort Worth and watch the Cats for my baseball fix. I once drove to Oklahoma City, parked, got a ticket in row G behind home plate, watched a great game, and drove home, all for less money (including gas) than I'd have spent on a trip to Arlington. I remember watching Gary Matthews, Jr. and Adrian Gonzalez, thinking "Boy, these guys are going to be good when they hit the big leagues." You know the rest.

It would be sad to see them leave for sure. I'd miss them for a while, but honestly, I think a lot of folks would forget a bout them after a while. It took a long time for their previous incarnation, the Washington Senators, to be replaced by the Nationals.

I think it would be a sad day in the DFW area if the rangers were to leave.. i think the lack of support comes from the fact that NOTHING is being done or least it seems NOTHING is being done to improve the team.. Nolan says hold on till next year.. but REALLY.. ANOTHER YEAR of the same.. I hate it for the guys on the team who aren't getting any younger, but are fabulous infielders! they can't go out and hit 15 every night to save the team.. we need pitching.. we need it NOW.. not next year.. and to Not try anything to improve the team is a slap in the fans face.. HICKS's has the gralls to say you come and we'll build it.. hello.. that's not how it works.. you build it and we'll come.. I would SOOOOOOOO love to see an owner that actually gives a rip about the team. a mark cuban type that although they might be a crazy fan..they will do try anything to win..

The following is something I wrote to the Rangers last summer.....true story.......so, would I care if they left? Why should I, they don't care about the fans at all......here is the true story:
Against my better judgment (Aug 19th), I accepted a ticket to a Ranger game from a friend.......sitting behind the right handed hitters just next to home plate - up 28 rows......The reason I am telling you this is because.......................
I had the distinct displeasure of watching our center fielder and left fielder let a fly drop in between them in the 8-run 7th.....(THE JOKE)..."I immediately called a hooker for each of them and recommended unprotected sex with the hooker, because on this night, neither of them were gonna catch ANYTHING"............it was little league BS.......
When the skies opened up a little in the 8th inning, most of the area around us vacated.........there probably weren't 200 people in the lower sections...........so we moved down to about row 6..........only ones in the row.....no one in front for 4 rows,,,and no one behind us, a little drizzle still coming down,............when a Ranger's (usher) came by to tell us we couldn't sit there........We explained where we were sitting and that with no one staying for the last inning, we figured it would be ok.............She decided that we should sit no closer than row 14 since it was half way down from 28 (huh?).......then we watched as she brought a security cop down to "evict" 6 members of a family from a row near the dugout that was also vacated.....Really? its not like more than a few hundred people still gave a fly ball........NOW THE RANT....................
On a night when the '11 losses in 13 games' Rangers' continued to flounder, when the other team batted around in the 7th, when your outfielders play "you've got it" with fly balls, and it rains......I was so Frikkin glad that the Ranger's organization decided to make sure our fan experience would make us want to stay away from the overpriced place..........I guess empty seats look better on TV, than wet fans, hanging in there till the bitter end...........and yes, I sent a version of this off to the Rangers.....
The Ranger's response was that they have to protect the season ticket holders rights to those seats...They were not kind about it either. Any other organization would have used the opportunity to sell all of us season tickets so that we could enjoy the view all season long. The Rangers response simply ensured that I would not return to the ballpark....and I love sports!!!!!!!!!!!!!thanks, Statman

Statman,
that is an awful story, and the worst part is I believe every word. The Rangers suck... apparently they inherited this from W. To my knowledge, there is never anything exciting happening at the ballpark. No cool give-aways... no cool bobbleheads or anything like that. It is not an affordable evening, the marketing sucks. No one wants to wear Ranger gear. That ought to tell the marketing folks they don't have a clue. I would not care if the Rangers left town, except that I am sure it would make all things in Arlington more expensive. The bigger question of course, is would any city want the Rangers? I doubt it... I believe they are in a long term lease with the city of Arlington, so they won't be leaving anytime soon anyway. Hicks couldn't afford to sell them if he wanted to, I doubt there are many buyers out there.

Big Tex, thanks for the love and support. Why don't you call into the show every once in awhile? I could use some comedy.

Some great comments. Gary, that's an amazing story. My producer Josh Harvey told me a similar story today (he blogged about it at wfaa.com/sports as well). A group of loud Ranger fans last night were almost ejected, FOR CHEERING LOUDLY. No cursing, no fighting. Just cheering. The fan-friendly part of the game seems to have vanished. Sadly, your experience does not appear to be an exception.

Dee, I completely relate to what you said. The problem with saying "wait until next year" is that things change in baseball so much. "Next year" is one year closer to free agency for these guys, one year closer to losing someone to the Yankees or Red Sox. Completely agree with you. The fans need to see progress NOW. I hope we do.

I'm a Rangers fan because of the simple fact they have never gone all the way and probably never will. If you enjoy the game and the fun of going out to the ballpark it doesn't matter if they win or lose, just so long as you enjoy the game. Yeah, you want your team to win, but those of you who aren't fans because the team loses are nothing more than pathetic losers yourselves. Take them for what they're worth and enjoy them for who they are. Prices aren't even that expensive for games at all with all the specials they run and the BOGO offers you get from Dr. Pepper each year. Grow up people.

It killed me to pay $6.75 for a beer. I've paid less for drinks at strip clubs. And no more Miller Lite? Are you kidding me?

After the traffic & parking debacle on Opening Day, I am less incented to travel to Arlington for a game. Just wait until Jerry's stadium opens and there are multiple events in both locations (plus 6 Flags).

Would I care, yes. Would I want it to happen, No. I completely agree with sentiment being expressed by everyone. We are tired of waiting for next year. We are tired of driving miles to Arlington to watch sub-par pitching and sub-par firlding and sub-par base running. However, if the team had been relocated to Dallas then I along with many otehrs would attend games and would have a much higher opinion of the team. In addition, another issue that really gets me mad is that for some inane reason the Rangers are stuck in the AL West. Why? Who knows other than baseball deemed it best for the game and to hell with the fans. We are the 5th largest TV market and if you want to watch the Rangers play a division opponent on the road the game generally ends around mid-night. That is a good way to build fan loyalty! We are the only team that plays division opponents more than 1 time-zone difference. What that tells me is that even baseball cares about the local DFW fans and so why should we give a flip about the Rangers?

No. I haven't been to see the Rangers since they were at Arlington Stadium, and even then didn't pay for the tickets. Loved baseball growing up in the 60's-70's (Big Red Machine in Cincy fan even living here in N. Texas) but after the strikes and the current attitude of players/management throughout MLB I couldn't care less.

I am gonna go with Paul on this one. Maybe people are "fair weather fans" around here, but that's because it has been 10 years since the team was good. If you're looking for long-term support in comparison to the Cubbies, you're not going to find that in Arlington. The team has not been here that long and is not nearly as rich in history as the Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers, or Red Sox. You people need to watch the game. There are things to get excited about down in the minors, but the metroplex is too impatient. That's how the team got so bad in the first place... ownership tried to make short-term success instead of building a strong foundation. Give them the time to make a team you want to go to the Ballpark and see.

In regards to traffic issues on Opening Day, that's always a bad day. I got there at 10 when the gates opened and traffic was not bad. Getting out was a mess, but what do you expect? 68,000 people trying to get out of any place is going to be slow. AND you wanna move it Dallas? Yeah, that makes traffic better. Great choice. Plus, if you are planning something to go to immediately after a game then you're not appreciating the simplicity and escape that the Ballpark can provide from the rest of your stressful lives.

I am a die-hard fan. I don't get excited over the Astros, it's the Rangers that put a little bounce in my step. People want to like this team, and they're just understandably tired of waiting. But must you really exile a team for going through a rough patch? C'mon... this team is on the upswing. Patience is key.

Will the Rangers leave? Will they ever contend? Honestly, who cares? The Rangers are an afterthought in this market, largely because they fail to perform predictably. Baseball pennants are won with pitching and defense, yet the Rangers religiously occupy the cellar in statistical categories for those two qualities. As I write this, Texas is 27th of 30 teams in ESPN's broad "Team Pitching" ranking, and bottom five in most major fielding categories, too. Who wants to go watch that?!?

The season's too long, and the bulk of it takes place in a far-away blast furnace in which the team regularly wilts. Oh and just as the fumbling/bumbling reaches its peak, football season cranks up.

Bottom line is this - there is no baseball tradition here. There won't be, either, because baseball has never mattered here. I won't drive 21 miles to the BPA, fork over $50-$100 for poor-quality entertainment. Nothing compels me to do that.

So the challenge for the Rangers' brain trust is simple (well, after figuring out how to become solvent again...); build a fan base and make people care about the baseball team. Do something to compel people to come to the Ballpark. There are three routes to the goal: 1) Reduce prices to make the product quality vs. perceived value a more palatable ratio ($6.75 beverages? Really?), 2) Find players - good players - that intrigue the public and attract people to their field (Josh Hamilton seems to be one of those types...but you need many, many more), or 3) Move somewhere where people already care. Best of luck with that, too.

Frankly, I don't think anyone in the Rangers' organization wants to do #1 or #2. And I don't think anyone cares to receive a transplanted 'team' with no tradition and less success.

Los Angeles dumped the Raiders and the Rams and didn't care. DFW may (and probably should) 'invite' the Rangers to leave town and go find someone who cares. We'll live without them - heck, most of us who live here barely acknowledge their existence anyway.

d

Just because you don't care about baseball Dave doesn't mean nobody else does. I know for a fact that my whole extended family and I are avid Ranger fans. I also know a lot of other people that are. Just because they don't win doesn't mean they don't have fans. It takes me over an hour to get to the ballpark (CD I'm from Collin County too and it doesn't bother me one bit) but you know what? I go out there many times every season and it's worth the money every time. Now do I wish they would make things cheaper? Ya, of course, who doesn't? But honestly just because you don't like the Rangers doesn't mean nobody else does and it certinaly doesn't mean that nobody acknowledges their existance because that simply is NOT true at all. The Rangers have always been a big part of Texas and they always will be. They are not going anywhere. Plus if you really did know anything, you would know that we have one of the top ranked farm systems in all of major league baseball. We ARE finally getting the "good players" you are looking for. Patience is key. Good things are coming for the Rangers, it's just ganna take another year or two.
The Rangers aren't done with Texas yet, and I know for a fact most Texans aren't ready to give up on the Rangers yet either. Like Rebecca said, I don't get excited about the Astros (other than Pudge being on there now), I get excited about the Rangers. Even when they lose I see progress, I see things changing. If you are a true fan of ANY team in ANY sport, you stick with them through good and bad times. Cowboys aren't doing too hott, Mavericks aren't the best team, are you going to stop liking them because they aren't the best? Chances are, probably not, and if you do stop liking them because of that, then you aren't a true fan.
Baseball is not all about winning. It's about the joy of the game, the excitement, and the values it teaches children. While I will admit some players have messed up with steroids and stuff, not much of that has happened in Texas and Ranger Ballpark still proves to be a GREAT place for family bonding. And once again, I will admit the Rough Rider games are awesome. Nice stadium, good prices, and good baseball, but there is simply nothing like walking into the Ballpark in Arlington and hearing Chuck Morgan announcing the starting line up.. Even if they aren't always the best players. Texas is starting to make the changes necessary to become a better team, and even if they aren't at that point right now, there are signs of improvement, whether they win or not.
None of this is meant to be rude to anyone, but as a long time Ranger fan, I felt obligated to say something in defense of my team. If the team isn't ready to give up yet, we shouldn't be either.
GO RANGERS!