Rangers, Astros To Play Preseason Games In Alamodome
SAN ANTONIO (CBSDFW.COM/AP) -- The Texas Rangers are bringing baseball back to San Antonio.
Organizing officials said Friday the AL West rivals will play exhibition games at the Alamodome on March 28-29.
"The Rangers are very happy to be returning to San Antonio and Big League Weekend in 2014," Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said. "Ryan-Sanders Baseball put on a first-class event in 2013 and did an amazing job in converting the Alamodome into a Major League Baseball facility. The reception we received playing before the tremendous fans of the San Antonio area was outstanding, and we look forward to another great series."
Texas played the San Diego Padres twice there last March, the first baseball games in the building that previously hosted NFL games, the NCAA Final Four and NBA finals. More than 75,000 fans came out to watch the venue's first baseball event in the building's 20-year history.
A customized 133,000 square-foot AstroTurf field was built for the facility. The right-field pole is only about 280 feet from home plate, with a 16-foot-high wall is in right field.
"Seeing the Alamodome transform into a baseball field showed just how diverse the building is. We are thrilled to again have the opportunity to host two MLB teams in San Antonio," convention and sports facilities director Michael Sawaya said.
The Alamodome will undergo a few modifications this year to improve the experience. The bullpens were previously hidden by tunnels; they will be brought out onto the first- and third-base lines. Additional lighting will also be added for the outfield corners.
Ryan-Sanders Baseball, the organizing group established in part by Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, said there will also be exhibition games in the Alamodome in 2015.
Ryan resigned last month as CEO of the Rangers.
(©2013 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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