Rangers Ballpark and the rest of the city of Arlington are getting ready to be in the spotlight for a second straight year.
Wednesday morning, crews at the Ballpark are putting up five Fall Classic 2011 World Series banners with the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals logos at each of the ballpark's entrances.
Beginning Thursday, construction will begin on a tent to host post-game receptions. Media will be set up there, so there will be a lot of foot traffic during the World Series.
All of the national media coverage is bringing big bucks to the city's tourism industry. The new Arlington Visitors Guide revealed Wednesday morning at the annual Convention & Visitors Bureau meeting shows cover models Rangers owner Nolan Ryan and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones as "Texas Giants" on the Texas Giant roller coaster at Six Flags.
Last year's tourism spending in Arlington was a 8.4-percent increase over 2008. During that same period, overall tourism in the U.S. declined by 6.4 percent.
"'The Rangers Ballpark in Arlington' is said over and over again [in media], and that's great for us. I've got people around the country who are sending emails and texts just congratulating us and just so happy about what's happening in Arlington," said Jay Burress, CVB president.
More decorations will be put up Thursday inside and outside the ballpark. Each team's logo will be installed below postseason street banners throughout the Arlington entertainment district. Each dugout top will be covered with the World Series logos.
