USRT Texas 2007: Day Two!
Wow… did our second day down here in Texas turn out to be a memorable adventure.
We pointed the car south from Arlington in the late morning, getting into Austin about 3PM. We made a few calls, got settled into the hotel and then made our way through some stifling traffic up to Round Rock and the Dell Diamond, home of the AAA Round Rock Express.
The stadium is located about 4 miles east of the interstate, and after passing a couple of plazas and housing subdivisions, the stadium sits amidst … corn fields. Yes, like something out of “Field of Dreams”, this beautiful ballpark rises out of empty fields as far as the eye can see.
As we walked around and took photos of the exterior, we got the sense that we were in for a treat - the beautiful gold limestone facade and wood and brick accents makes this venue feel like some sort of hunting lodge. Right from the time we pulled into the parking lot, the staff and employees made us feel welcome. Gee, what a surprise! Another does of that amazing Texas hospitality.
The team’s ownership group is headed by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, and his sons and other partners are hand on involved with the team. Our affable host Seamus Gallivan (read separate story down below) introduced us to President Jay Miller and many of his coworkers, and everyone was great to us, as was team PR Director Avery Holton, who arranged for media passes.
The game was delayed almost three hours as a freakish storm hit the area, but we used the time to hang out and talk to staffers and fans and folks up in the pressbox. Our Buffalo Bisons are in a desperate race for a playoff spot in the International League, and throughout the night Buffalo News reporter Mike Harrington was text messaging updates from Frontier Field in Rochester. But then the updates stopped (Mike was probably racing to do his story), and that left us scrambling to get the scores. So we asked one of the Round Rock beat writers in the press box if he would be so kind as to pull up the scores. He jokingly replied, “Ahh so you want the AAA J.V. scores eh?”. Hey thems fighting words!!! So I replied, hey watch the AAA World Series this year we’ll see who has the last laugh. He gives me the zinger “Oh yeah? Like Toledo last September?!” Ouch! But hey, I will let I.L. President Randy Mobley know that I stood up for the honor of our league and wouldn’t let these smarmy P.C.L. guys push us around!
The game started late, ended late, and ended up with the New Orleans Zephyrs winning 3-0, on the back of two home runs and allowing just two base hits. For the Express, it has been a down year, and they are way out of the running for the division pennant.
Overall, a fabulous ballpark experience, a jewel of a stadium, friendly and hands on staff, great food selection, nice amenities including an expansive play area in centerfield, a party deck with pool and jacuzzi hot tub adjacent, and a place we would be glad to return to and to recommend to anybody as a must visit!
