Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg Says He's For The Fans
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - When Chuck Greenberg became CEO and managing partner of the Texas Rangers, many North Texans asked the same question: What's a Pittsburgh sports attorney doing running the team?
Greenberg found success in Pittsburgh after he helped turn around the once bankrupt Pittsburgh Penguins. He was also the successful owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates' AA affiliate, the Altoona Curve and Class A Myrtle Beach team.
Pointing up to his new office at the Ballpark in Arlington, Greenberg smiled and said, "it's a room with a view." He seems to have a clear vision of where he plans to steer the once fledgling Texas Rangers ball club.
Greenberg said he isn't like most North Texas sports franchise owners.
"It's an honor to just be mentioned in the company of them, but you know my own style is I am a very hands on … I am very passionate … but I don't interfere," Greenberg said.
Greenberg has earned a reputation as a champion of the fans.
That reputation is upheld at the ballpark where fans are already seeing cheaper concession and parking prices. However, he said rumors of a stadium cooling system are nothing more than that – just rumors.
He said the technology isn't there but there will be upgrades to the ballpark in the way of "bells and whistles."
A fan of the game since he was a child, owning a major league team is a dream come true, he said.
"I idolized Roberto Clemente. I was always talking baseball trivia with my uncle," Greenberg said. "I was always going to games with my parents, my brothers, my grandmother and my great aunt."
Greenberg loved Pittsburgh Pirate great Clemente so much he named his youngest son after him. Well, almost.
"I had a deal with my wife that if we had three boys I could name the third one after him. (My wife) said she would keep her word but 'Roberto Greenberg'?," he joked.
They ended up settling on Walker -- Roberto Clemente's last name, -- which became their youngest child's middle name.
Greenberg said his family would be putting down roots in North Texas but decided it was too hard to choose between Dallas and Fort Worth.
"Westlake. We decided to maintain neutrality," Greenberg said.
He said so far his favorite restaurants are Humperdink's in Arlington, Kenichi in Dallas and Del Frisco's in Fort Worth.
He said he is a huge fan of North Texas now and hopes Cliff Lee feels the same.
Greenberg said he has not discussed dollar amounts with Lee or his agent but they are willing and ready to throw out a number that will make him stay.
"We have a whole lot of things to offer and now we know the next thing we are going to have to do is offer cash," he said.
