Texas Rangers nominated for 2012 Sports Business Award

The Texas Rangers are one of five nominees in the Sports Team of the Year category for the 2012 Sports Business Awards, presented by Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily.

The Rangers join the Boston Bruins (NHL), Dayton Dragons (Minor League Baseball/Midwest League), Sporting Kansas City (MLS), and Stewart-Haas Racing (NASCAR) as the five finalists for the award.

The winner will be announced at the SBJ/SBN Awards Ceremony this Wednesday evening at the New York Marriott Marquis at Times Square. There are 77 total nominees in 15 categories for the 2012 Sports Business Awards.

The Sports Business Awards recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the business of sports for the period from March 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. Sports teams in the major and minor leagues and U.S. national teams, in leagues whose central offices are located in North America, were eligible.

The Rangers set a single season home attendance record of 2,946,949 in 2011. The club has sold over 22,100 full season ticket equivalents for 2012, nearly 3,000 more than the previous high. In addition Texas completed a series of extensive upgrades to Rangers Ballpark in Arlington this past off-season with the construction of The Budweiser Bowtie at Vandergriff Plaza, Captain Morgan Club, Batters Eye Club, and Kids’ Zone.

In the first 20 home dates of 2012, the Rangers have attracted 869,393 fans, an average of 43,470 per date that ranks as the second highest in the major leagues behind Philadelphia (44,955). Of the 20 home dates, 13 have been sellouts, the third most ever in a season for the club (21 in 1994; 15 in 1998).