How to get to Globe Life Field to watch the Texas Rangers in the World Series

Your favorite team made the World Series: Yay! Navigating highways and thousands of other fans trying to get to the ballpark? Not so yay.

Whatever method of transportation you use to get to Globe Life Field, where the Texas Rangers will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series Friday and Saturday, you will probably have to sit through some traffic in the area surrounding the stadium. However, there are a few things you should know to make your journey in and out Arlington as seamless as possible:

1. Leave early. Traffic will pile up fast and parking spaces will fill up even faster, so leave yourself plenty of time to get to your seats.
2. Read the Rangers’ guest guide. The same rules apply for playoff games as they do for regular-season games with two major exceptions. Parking lots open four hours before the first pitch at 7:03 p.m., and ballpark gates open three hours beforehand.
3. Plan out your route and where you want to park in advance to avoid getting stuck circling the ballpark. View the Rangers’ parking map here.

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind as you head to the ballpark this weekend.

Getting to the ballpark

Arlington is the largest city in the United States without mass public transit, so you will probably have to drive into the stadium, which sits by the intersection of I-30 and Highway 360. City traffic engineer Chris Funches recommends that people coming from west of the ballpark take I-30 to Collins Road for the easiest entry into the entertainment district, and those coming from the east take Highway 360 to Division Street.

The Arlington department of public works collaborate closely with the Texas Department of Transportation to ensure that any construction projects and lane closures are opened during Rangers games. Just in case, though, those coming from the Fort Worth area should be on the lookout for potential frontage road and interchange closures in stretches of I-20, I-820 and Highway 287 around Lake Arlington, part of the Southeast Connector project.

Depending on where you live, you may have to take a toll road to the get to the ballpark. The North Texas Tollway Authority advises drivers to leave early and allow for extra travel time, keeping in mind that gameday traffic will blend with usual rush-hour traffic Friday evening, according to a spokesperson. This is also sound advice for people not taking toll roads. More traffic brings a greater chance of accidents; NTTA offers free roadside assistance for anyone on a North Texas toll road.

All drivers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area should note that rain and thunderstorms are possible Friday and Saturday. With Globe Life Field’s retractable roof, the rain shouldn’t impact game start times, but come prepared with ponchos or umbrellas to walk from your parking spot to the ballpark gates.

Parking at Globe Life

The stadium seats about 40,000 people, and the game is already completely sold out, according to a team spokesperson. Add in the people attending watch parties at the Texas Live! entertainment district by the stadium, and there will be thousands of cars competing for spots.

The Rangers sold prepaid parking, but that, too, has already sold out. There will still be plenty of parking available that can be paid for at entry using a credit card. Cash will not be accepted at Rangers lots.

Carpooling is a good way to keep parking costs down as well as stay safe. At the start of the season, the Rangers extended alcohol sales through the eighth inning, but carpooling and naming a designated driver can ensure that you and your crew make it home safely after the game.

Tailgating is allowed at all Rangers parking lots except for Lots A, B, and T directly surrounding the stadium. The guest guide outlines what is and isn’t permitted at Rangers tailgates.

There will also be unofficial lots around the ballpark. Note that local ordinances prevent any parking in the residential areas surrounding the entertainment district. As a tip, if you plan on parking in an off-site lot and walking a long ways to the ballpark anyway, try to find a lot near a highway on-ramp to avoid the traffic surrounding the ballpark.

There are also alternative ways into the entertainment district. J. Gilligan’s, a downtown Arlington sports bar, offers a shuttle to and from the ballpark and has a discounted $15 ticket price for the World Series. If you’re staying at a hotel near the entertainment district, you may be able to ride the Arlington Trolley for a small fee. Be warned, though, that riders must display a pass issued by a participating hotel and may be asked to show their room key for entry onto the trolley.

There are designated pick-up and drop-off spots for the J. Gilligan’s shuttle, the trolley and rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, so make sure to check where you need to go after the game. Arlington public works has upped the amount of traffic signage around the ballpark, Funches said, so follow the signs to wherever you need to go.