RoughRiders announce installation of additional safety netting at Dr Pepper Ballpark
FRISCO, TEXAS (April 4, 2016) - The Frisco RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, in partnership with the City of Frisco, today announced plans to install additional protective netting at Dr Pepper Ballpark for the upcoming 2016 season and beyond. This significant fan safety enhancement will protect more than 2,000 additional seats from line drive foul balls and flying bats that could cause serious injury.
The existing home plate backstop will connect with additional netting that extends to the outfield end of both the first and third-base dugouts at a consistent height of 28 feet from field level. The new sections of netting over both dugouts-which combine to total over 150 feet of additional coverage-will be a thinner gauge than the existing backstop in order to provide the best possible optics for the design. The netting will be affixed to the front side of both dugouts.
In December 2015, at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced minimum recommendations for protective netting in all Major League and Minor League Baseball stadiums. Even before the recommendations, which Dr Pepper Ballpark was already in compliance with, the RoughRiders and the City of Frisco were working together to study the best options to protect fans seated closest to the action.
"Our management team, together with the City of Frisco, was extremely thorough, deliberate, and thoughtful in working with architects, safety experts, and our industry colleagues to select the height, length, and type of additional netting that offered what we felt was the most responsible balance between the viewing experience and protection," said RoughRiders Executive Vice President and General Manager Jason Dambach.
Last week, the team began contacting season ticket members to educate them on this important fan safety initiative at Dr Pepper Ballpark and invited them to interact with new netting prior to the Riders' Thursday, April 14 Home Opener.
"We recognize there are varying opinions about the height, length, style, and overall presence of protective netting," added Dambach. "Our initial feedback from season ticket holders has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive, and we look forward to hearing from more of our valued customers as we strive to provide the most fun, safe and family-friendly experience possible each night."
The RoughRiders will open their 2016 home schedule at Dr Pepper Ballpark on Thursday, April 14 and host 70 home dates through Labor Day, September 5. Tickets are available now online at RidersBaseball.com, via email at [email protected], over the phone at (972) 731-9200, or in-person at the RoughRiders Box Office.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 11 seasons (2005-2015). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg and Scott Sonju. The new ownership group has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements, from a completely new team identity to massive additions and upgrades to Dr Pepper Ballpark, including a giant new video board, sound system, sports bar, team store, improved food service and menu, and a complete overhaul of in-game entertainment. The improvements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco "Best Ballpark Renovation" of 2015 by Ballpark Digest in the under $6 million category. More than 130 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Gonzalez and Ian Kinsler. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Nathan Barnett at (972) 334-1976 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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