The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers are set to compete in an unexpected World Series starting this Friday.
In the American League Players, the Rangers secured the 5th seed. Meanwhile, in the National League, the Diamondbacks claimed the position of the sixth and last seed.
The Rangers' Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, will host Games 1, 2, and, if required, Games 6 and 7.
The Diamondbacks' Chase Field in Phoenix will host Games 3, 4, and 5. The fifth game will take place only if it's required.
In the upcoming World Series, both competing teams will have stadiums with roofs. This is a first in World Series history. However, it's not the first time a World Series has been played exclusively in a roofed stadium. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers competed at the Rangers' covered stadium.
On July 24, 2020, the Rangers participated in their inaugural regular season baseball match at the stadium.
The stadium's name is derived from the Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, as they have secured the naming rights until 2048. On the field, the farthest point measures 410 feet. The centerfield stands at 407 feet. The right field line is marked at 326 feet, and the left field line is slightly longer at 329 feet.
The stadium will be the venue for the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Previously, events like the National Finals Rodeo and a college football match between Army and Air Force were held there. Additionally, it's been a location for several music performances by artists such as Metallica, "Laga Gaga", Def Leppard and Motley Crue, Elton John, the Jonas Brothers, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The seating capacity of the stadium stands at 40,300.
The playing area uses artificial turf, while the inner section and the alerting path are made of clay. The construction budget for "Globe Life Field" was around $1.2 billion.
Both the Diamondbacks' and the Rangers' stadiums have been venues for a World Series. However, it was in 2001 when the Diamondbacks not only hosted but also emerged victorious in that World Series at their stadium.
The Diamondbacks started their regular games at the stadium on March 31, 1998. Initially, the stadium was known as Bank One Ballpark. However, in 2005, after a merger between Bank One and JP Morgan Chase & Co., it was renamed Chase Field. This name will stay for 30 years from the stadium's opening.
The distance to centerfield is 407 feet. The left field measures 220 feet, while the right field is 335 feet. Both left center and right center have a distance of 376 feet. Additionally, Chase Field was the venue for the "2011 MLB All-Star Game."
The venue has been the site for various events. College football bowl matches, World Baseball Classic games, and women's college basketball matches have taken place there. Additionally, it's been a spot for several concerts featuring artists like Black Sabbath, NSYNC, Kenny Chesney, "Billy Joes", Bad Bunny, Elton John, Pink, and Guns N' Roses. The seating capacity of this stadium stands at 48,519.
Chase Field has switched its playing surface from natural grass to artificial turf. The stadium's construction had a cost of $364 million.