Arlington, Texas –The Texas Rangers today announced details for the team’s 2024 season opener with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, March 28 at 6:39 p.m. It will be the defending World Series Champions fifth opener at Globe Life Field and 53rd overall since the franchise moved to Arlington for the 1972 season. The game will be an exclusive National telecast on ESPN.

Information for the season opener:

TICKET AVAILABILITY: As of Monday morning, only scattered singles and standing room tickets remain for the 2024 home opener with the Cubs. There are reserved seats remaining for the final two games of the season-opening series with Chicago on Saturday, March 30 at 6:05 p.m. and Sunday, March 31 at 1:35 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at rangers.com, by calling 972-RANGERS and at the Globe Life Field box office, which is located adjacent to the Southeast entrance.

THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP BANNER: For the first time in franchise history, a World Series Championship banner will hang in the Rangers’ home ballpark. The 2023 World Series Championship Banner, which measures 20 feet in height and 30 feet in width, will be located adjacent to the Globe Life Field right field video board and will be unveiled from the park’s roof support prior to Thursday’s game.

The pregame ceremony will also include a formal on-field presentation of The Commissioner’s Trophy, which the Rangers received from Major League Baseball for winning the 2023 World Series.

CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH: The first pitch of the 2024 season will pay homage to the fans of the Texas Rangers, who have supported the team with unending dedication and loyalty for more than 50 years in three different Arlington ballparks. That support was rewarded with a 2023 World Series championship, the first in franchise history. Representing Texas Rangers fans for the ceremonial first pitch will be Michael Carter, who has been attending games since 1973 and became a season ticket holder in 1979. The Southlake, Texas resident, who has followed Major League Baseball since the 1950’s, has witnessed the majority of the Rangers’ biggest home game moments while being at the three Arlington ballparks with his three children and ten grandchildren.

Catching Carter’s toss will be National Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez.

NATIONAL ANTHEM: Performing the Star Spangled Banner will be Texas country singer/songwriter Wade Bowen. The Waco native released his first album in 2002 and has been touring nationally for more than 20 years. His new album, Flyin will be released on May 10.

SALUTE THE FLAG: Large United States and Texas flags will be unfurled in centerfield by Rangers’ season ticket Lone Star members prior to the singing of the National Anthem.

A VERY SPECIAL FLAG: During Thursday’s pregame ceremonies, United States Congressman Roger Williams, who represents Texas District 25 which includes Arlington, will present the American flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol on November 1, 2023, the day the Rangers won the World Series, to the team. Congressman Williams was an All-Southwest Conference baseball player at TCU and played three seasons in the Atlanta Braves minor league system before injuries ended his career. He later served as Head Baseball Coach of his alma mater.

MORE ACTIVITIES: Prior to Thursday’s game, the Rangers will observe a moment of silence in the memory of longtime coach Hector Ortiz, who passed away after a long illness on February 28. There will be on-field introductions of both the Cubs and Rangers. Three-time Emmy Award winning vocal group The Texas Tenors will sing God Bless the U.S.A. during the seventh inning stretch on Thursday. Fans 21 years of age and older attending Thursday’s home opener will receive a 2024 Texas Rangers Magnet Schedule, presented by Anheuser-Busch.

TIMELINE: Globe Life Field parking lots will open at 2:00 p.m. and ballpark gates will open at 3:30 p.m. on opening day. The Rangers encourage fans to arrive early on opening day. Rangers’ batting practice begins at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Cubs at 4:30 p.m., and the pregame ceremonies are scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.

SEASON OPENER NOTES: The Rangers are 24-28 overall in season openers after defeating Philadelphia, 11-7 in Arlington in 2023 but have lost five of seven and eight of 11, the longer span beginning 2013. The club is 26-26 in the home opener at three different parks, dropping seven of the last ten beginning 2014. The team is 2-2 in the season’s first game at Globe Life Field, defeating Colorado in 2020, then losing to Toronto and the Rockies in 2021-22 before the Phillies win a year ago.

This will mark the second time that the Rangers have opened the year with the Cubs as Texas dropped a 12-4 decision to Chicago in the final season opener at Globe Life Park in Arlington in 2019. Beginning that season, Texas has opened its home schedule with a National League opponent in five of the last six seasons: Cubs in 2019, Rockies in 2020 and 2022, Phillies in 2023, and Cubs in 2024.

WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS BRANDING: Fans will notice numerous branding elements at Globe Life Field that honor the 2023 World Series Champions. Large banners featuring Adolis Garcia, Corey Seager, and Marcus Semien have been added to the interior concourse walls, and two new shadow boxes have been created on the left field main concourse. In addition, a new full-size mural titled Went and Took It, painted by local artists Jeremy Biggers and Hatziel Flores, has been installed in the northwest area of the main concourse. More than ten new branding pieces and artworks have been added to the Globe Life Field interior for 2024.

NEW TURF: There is a new playing surface at Globe Life Field in 2024 as the synthetic grass turf was replaced following the conclusion of the American Western Weekend in early March. The decision to install new turf was made last fall ahead of the Rangers hosting the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game this July. It was always contemplated to be replaced after approximately four years due to high use of the site for multipurpose events.

The new turf has no changes from the original surface installed when the park opened in 2020 except to have a darker color contrast. The Shaw B1K Natural Sports Turf is comprised of Legion Pro synthetic grass, sand, and geofill infill over a performance pad. Is it the same system used at Arizona’s Chase Field and Miami’s loanDepot Park. This system was designed specifically for the playing characteristics of baseball. The installation was again completed by Texas-based Paragon Sports Contractors. A portion of the original turf will be utilized for field replacements at the Texas Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Sports Complex in West Dallas.

REMAINDER OF HOMESTAND: After a team off-day on Friday, March 29, the Rangers and Cubs play game two of the series on Saturday, March 30 at 6:05 p.m. and conclude the three-game set on Sunday, March 31 at 1:35 p.m. More Information on the Saturday and Sunday games:

Saturday, March 30 vs. Chicago Cubs – 6:05 p.m.

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

Parking Lots: Open at 3 p.m.

Gates: Open at 3:30 p.m.

Uniforms: World Series Champion Gold-Trimmed

World Series Championship Ring Ceremony: Rangers players and on-field coaches and staff will receive their 2023 World Series Championship rings in a pregame ceremony beginning at 5:20 p.m.

New Era Alumni Alley: Fergie Jenkins (TEX: 1974-75, 1979-81; CHC: 1966-73, 1982-83). Autograph signing will take place near Section 101 from 4:15-5:15 p.m. (first 225 fans)

National Anthem: Paul Rogers

Arlington Eats: Prince Lebanese Grill

Texas 2 Split 50/50 Raffle, presented by Shift4: Proceeds benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Available to purchase through sixth inning from sellers or online via the MLB Ballpark app and at rangers.com/5050.

Sunday, March 31 vs. Chicago Cubs – 1:35 p.m.

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

Parking Lots: Open at 11:30 a.m.

Gates: Open at Noon

Uniforms: World Series Champion Gold-Trimmed

Sunday Promotions: $1 Blue Bell Ice Cream Sunday & Run the Bases Postgame (Kids – 13 & Under)

First Pitch: Kathy Dieringer – President of the National Athletic Trainers' Association

National Anthem: Maryanne Kotylo

Arlington Eats: Prince Lebanese Grill

Texas 2 Split 50/50 Raffle, presented by Shift4: Proceeds benefit the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Available to purchase through sixth inning from sellers or online via the MLB Ballpark app and at rangers.com/5050.

Tickets for all Rangers home games during the 2024 season can be purchased at rangers.com, by phone at 972-RANGERS, or at the Southeast Box Office at Globe Life Field.