It’s a “sliding into home” kind of day for Girls on Wheels at Riders Field.
Vicki Baker
Frisco RoughRiders are part of the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, a partnership that continues to this day. The team debuted in 2003, being named after the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War, which was future President Theodore Roosevelt’s claim to fame. The regiment was nicknamed “The Rough Riders” by the American press.
Riders Field, the team’s home, won multiple awards and garnered praise for its design, feel, and amenities: Texas Construction award for Best Architectural Design, Best Sports and Entertainment Project, and Best New Ballpark in the Country by BaseballParks.com. Girls on Wheels (Vicki Baker, Karen Dipietro, Cassie Richardson, and Nancy Burns) got to go behind the scenes to tour this unique ballpark with the chance to see areas the average fan doesn’t get access to at a game and to some spots we didn’t even know existed!
The pavilions surrounding the concourses give it a “coastal Galveston” feel. A dirt trail on the outer concourse weaves through trees, simulating a park within a park. The stadium has a capacity of 10,316; 8,000 seats inside plus 2,316 in the general admission area located on the outfield grass berm. The field is real grass.
Bullpens are built into the stands on either side, which allows fans to feel closer to the on-field action. Twenty-six luxury suites are spread throughout the ballpark. Upgrades during the span of its lifetime included a state-of-the-art HD video board, new sound system, revamped team store, and a 174-foot Lazy River. A playground for kids ages 5 to 10 sits opposite near left field.
A more intimate view of the inner workings of the ballpark and team facilities took us through a labyrinth of hallways into rooms seldom seen by the general public. There’s a video room equipped with motion capture cameras and software to display advanced metrics and biomechanics to improve every facet of what goes into making great players; a press box furnished with radio booths for both home and visiting teams and a television booth; a locker room providing television and stereo equipment; a recruiting lounge showcasing trophies and awards; a kitchen supplied with nutritional foods; a training room complete with weights and exercise machines; a rehabilitation and physical therapy room providing ice machine, taping tables, and whirlpools; and an equipment room storing uniforms and equipment with on-site laundry facilities.
With a bevy of unique features and amenities, Riders Field is widely recognized as one of the best ballparks in Minor League Baseball and offers a little bit of everything for fans. Now that Girls on Wheels have toured the stadium through and through, we need to take in a game and cheer on the Frisco RoughRiders. And for an added note, more than 140 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz, as well as Rangers stars Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor, and Nomar Mazara. Play Ball!