Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 49

Thursday April 3 2003 1 Star-Telegram wwwstar-telegramcom 1 7X1 BASEBALL A whole new ballgame Inside these parks baseball fans can catch a home run of fun wave of entertainment-grabbing stadiums Round Dell Diamond has a carnival swimming pool and hot tub in right field A Class A franchise in Dayton Ohio has a park filled with 30 luxury suites and a smoke-breathing red-eyed dragon Buffalo holds a full house every Friday night with a fireworks display The trend toward developing attractions that bring fans through the turnstiles rather than the game kicked into high gear over the past decade Oriole Park at Camden Yards opened in 1992 and there has been a trickle-down effect to the minor leagues for designs that attract customers architects love working with the minor leagues because they are a little bit more willing to try new said HKS project manager Craig Stockwell whose Dallas-based architecture firm oversaw Round Dell Diamond Dr Pepper7 Up Ballpark and Miller Park park in Frisco allowed us to put the actual bullpens in the stands and not something a big-league club would allow you to do able to do neat things that we otherwise The minor-league teams seem to be more willing because they believe such family-oriented developments will draw fans have star Miller said have guys no one has ever heard of So got to do something different We have to Mandalay Sports Entertainment has played a vital role in that The corporation which is best known for putting out movies and casinos has ownership over three teams: the Las Vegas 51s the Dayton (Ohio) Dragons and Frisco While Mandalay approves the stadium attractions that are built the organization also works with teams to make sure the theme parks are essentially entertaining fans first and playing baseball second got a Class-A team and we get people in the seats for every Dayton executive vice president Eric Deutsch said are not all there to just watch The RoughRiders are using the same strategy Build an attraction and people will come I looked at the blueprints I thought this would be a great McCall said better than Damien Pierce (817) 548-5442 dpiercestar-telegramcom By DAMIEN PIERCE STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER During a night game last season Round Rock general manager Jay Miller realized his dream He was standing on Dell concourse watching the Express the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros when he was approached by a fan She confessed her hatred for marathon pitch counts agonizingly slow innings and pedestrian baseball games Miller have been more thrilled told me she had been to 30 games that Miller said enjoyed going because it was like she was at a social event and a baseball game broke out what people love about these new minor-league parks You have to be a baseball fan to enjoy going to a minor-league baseball Indeed the minor-league diamond has become an amusement park When the Texas League season begins today Dr Pepper fl Up Park will become the latest addition to ongoing construction of minor-league attractions game is already sold out The new yard in Frisco home to the RoughRiders who are the Double-A affiliate is surrounded by Minor-league fields have become amusement spectacles and Frisco's Dr Pepper7 Up Ballpark is the latest addition three houses of suites that have the colonial feel There is a gravel trail wrapping around the stadium which is essentially a park within a park There are swing sets for kids a playground and a 240-foot-long-by-7-foot-high video board on the right outfield wall The high-definition outfield video screens and bullpens in the stands are believed to be firsts for baseball The $30 million venture was designed by architect David Schwartz who fashioned The Ballpark in Arlington and American Airlines Center Minor leagues are no longer the same ballfields they were even five years ago become an experience not taking away from baseball because baseball is a great Frisco general manager Mike McCall said just providing entertainment and giving something to everyone There are party decks for the grownups and there is a fun zone for kids Anyone can have fun in this The new stadium in Frisco is merely a new piece in a STAR TELEGRAMRODGER MALUSQK Seats are part of the allure for watching RoughRiders games at Dr' Pepper7 Up Ballpark in Frisco home of the Rangers' Double-A affiliate 1 1 1 1 1 1 i ii 1 1 ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ii 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ri iy Park profile Name: Dr Pepper7 Up Ballpark Where: Frisco Team: Frisco RoughRiders Double-A Texas Rangers affiliate League: Texas League which includes the Tulsa Drillers Wichita Wranglers El Paso Diablos Midland Rock-Hounds Arkansas Travelers Round Rock Express San Antonio Missions Opener 7 tonight vs Tulsa Drillers (sold out) Minor-league baseball teams in Fort Worth-Dallas: Two (Fort Worth Cats RoughRiders) Park theme: A park within a park Cost $30 million "T0 Capacity 11000 Suites: 30 Characteristics: There are 244 trees located around the park A gravel trail snakes around the park The team will play on TifSport a hybrid Bermuda grass The field is 330 feet to left 410 feet to center and 322 feet to right The bullpens are built inside the stands the first- and third-base lines There is a 240-foot long 7-foot high screen video board stretching along the? right-field wall A 26-foot wide 20-foot' high video board in center field will dis- -on 1 Ticket prices: $5 general admission play replays There is a restaurantbar to $50 behind home plate located in the suites behind home plate I Write Off the Car Not the Kid FORT ACADEMY NOTES 2 (817) 444-5437 Make a difference in the future of North Texas Donate your vehicle today! www texascarforkids org TAX DFDl CTtO FRFF TOWlG ZJ Dale 1anifli and Alumnus Tejada wants deal before season ends 1 'CTT-v 4 Jr V- 'A? -'7 777 1 -V 4 7 -v 7 7a 3 You could win $50000 and a Sports Fantasy Package Tonight I PPPat Grand Prairie fS I v-- ji 3 Pi np i Includes Tickets to: Dallas Mavericks Playoff Game I EDS Byron Nelson Championship Bank of America Colonial Golf Tournament An opportunity to witness the photo shoot for the 2004 Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Team Photo courtesy of ftS IjSVZl Plus Other Great Prizes $1000 Nciman Marcus Shopping Spree A Spa Package at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas A Weekend at The Mansion on Tlirtle Creek THp to the 2003 Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Santa Anita Park $500 Mutucl Voucher Tomorrow FROM WIRE REPORTS Miguel Tejada said Wednesday he wants a new contract from the Oakland Athletics before the end of the season or he will become a free agent going to stay here I want to wait until after the season for a said the reigning American League MVP who hit a three-run homer in the third inning against Seattle on Wednesday night owner Steve Schott has said the club make a multiyear offer to the star shortstop and that he Tejada with talk of a one-year contract If agent approaches the team with a contract proposal for more than one year it would be considered Schott said But agents have asked the team to make the first offer never intended to slam the door on Miguel Schott told the San Francisco Chronicle Briefly Philadelphia manager Larry Bowa was suspended for one game and fined for inciting the benches to clear during a spring training game against Toronto Bowa was to miss game against Florida but the Phillies said he appealed the suspension and will have a hearing Tuesday Damion Easley signed with Tampa Bay five days after becoming the most expensive player cut loose in baseball history when Detroit released him with $143 million still owed on his contract Mike shortstop-record streaks of 110 games and 543 chances without an error ended against the Yankees Bordick making his first start for Toronto allowed Bubba grounder to tip off his glove for an error in the third inning The House Energy and Commerce Committee sent letters to baseball commissioner Bud Sclig and union head Donald Fehr requesting documents about ephedra use in the sport Congress is investigating dietary supplements containing ephedra and baseball has come under scrutiny since the death of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler in February A coroner said ephedra contributed to death from heatstroke The Astros will offer active and retired military personnel and their dependents discounted tickets to Sunday home games this season a Si a 5 I i 4 1 A Tonight April 3 Sunday April 6 4 7 i Live racing mums to Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie tonight Thursday April 3 Help kick off our 2003 Thoitmghbred Season by joining us for our Opening Weekend jonight through Sunday April 6 1 7-l 4 3 Tonight yu could win a Sports Fantasy Package and other great prizes! Plus1 pall of Fame Jockey Pat Day will be available jof a special autograph Session before the races tonight April 3 at pat i' A SPECIAL EVENTS Day theUlOlfSI RIVER IWMl I14M lif IMi SUNDAY Gates Open 4 1:30 am First Race 1:35 pan lONIGHT i Gates Open 4t30pm 1 i First Race Watch Wager Willie Willie Nelson returns to Lone Star Park for our first concert of the season immediately following the races on Friday April 4 Admission is $3 until 9 pm and $10 after 9 pm The Horses Arc Ready Are You 1 iii- One mile north of L30 on Belt Line Road ioncMaipaiUom $3 GLncnil Admission (972) 263 RACL (800) 795-RACt i i'-f 7 i-WLiua.