Texas Rangers expand access to alcohol as pitch clock speeds up action and games
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More fans are able to buy alcohol from their seats at Globe Life Field after the Texas Rangers expanded access as a result of the faster games that come with the pitch clock.
The sales have been expanded to the lower bowl. Last year, the service was available only to premium seating. The Rangers made the move so fans wouldn’t miss any action because of the faster play.
Like last season, alcohol is sold until the end of the eighth inning or two and a half hours from the start of the game.
Last season the average Rangers game took three hours and five minutes, this season the average is two hours and 36 minutes according to Baseball Reference.
The Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks and Minnesota Twins have extended alcohol sales because of the pitch clock.
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm was on the “Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast,” and argued teams should be limiting sales to the sixth inning because of how much faster the game is going instead of allowing it into the eighth.
“The reason we stopped it in the seventh before was to give our fans time to sober up and drive home safe, correct?” Strahm said. “So now with a faster pace game, and me just being a man of common sense, if the game is going to finish quicker, would we not move the beer sales back to the sixth inning to give our fans time to sober up and drive home?
Strahm continued saying it put those attending the game at greater risk.
The Rangers said they had several programs in place to deter drinking and driving.
One is the Designated Driver Good Sport Program, which offers incentives and discounts to fans for being designated drivers.
The Rangers also have R.A.P.P. (Responsible, Alcohol Policy Patrol) that roam the park to watch for and assist fans who have had too much to drink.
The Rangers have also added a rideshare location on the corner of Stadium Drive and East Randol Mill Road in an effort to make it easier for fans to depart from the stadium after the game.
