Mckinney Courier-gazette > News
From baseball to rodeo, spectator sports abound in area
By SCNTX STAFF
For the price of a single tank of petrol, a family of four can fill up on Collin County’s major and minor league sports teams throughout the summer months without having to uncork the gas cap just to get home.
Family friendly packages are available until season’s end for the highest-level teams, the Frisco RoughRiders and FC Dallas. Opportunities abound for entertaining evenings at the Dr Pepper Ballpark and Pizza Hut Park, the respective venues for the baseball and soccer teams.
Playing home to the RoughRiders with a capacity of 10,600, Dr Pepper Ballpark is both unique and innovative in its offerings to fans. Both bullpens are surrounded by seats and there is a pool area in the outfield beyond the right center field wall available for rental.
The Pool Pavilion comfortably accommodates 25 guests and is all-inclusive, meaning a personal attendant preparing fresh-grilled food as well as a variety of beverages. The three-tiered pool area has plenty of patio space and water to go around.
In addition, the outfield party patios and infield party decks can accommodate upwards of 40 people and include food and beverages.
For those wishing to pluck fewer greenbacks from the wallet, family packages and individual tickets will do the trick. Single game tickets begin as low as $7 and allow fans to bring their own food and blankets as they picnic in the outfield grass. Infield tickets are just $5 more.
At various points throughout the summer, the organization has unbeatable deals for a family of four. On July 3 when the RoughRiders face the Springfield Cardinals, a quartet can get four seats, four limited edition ball caps and four McDonald’s extra value meals for less than $30.
For major league action, there is nothing closer to home than FC Dallas. The cozy, 20,500-seat Pizza Hut Park is the ideal venue to take the kids for a night of fun.
During three of the final nine home games - July 19, Aug. 20 and Oct. 11 - a family can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $71.
A date with the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 27 will give fans the opportunity to see international superstar David Beckham in person. The Hoops will also host CD Guadalajara on Sunday in an international friendly match.
Both stadiums are also a great place to celebrate birthday parties for fans of all ages. For information on the RoughRiders, visit www.ridersbaseball.com. For information on FC Dallas, visit www.fc.dallas.mlsnet.com/t104/.
—ANDREW MAY
McKinney
Gabe Nesbitt Field at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch in southwest McKinney is home to two summer baseball teams this year: The McKinney Blue Thunder of the professional Continental Baseball League and the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League.
Tickets are less than $25 total for a family of four at “The Gabe,” and the Marshals and Blue Thunder will have games on most nights except Mondays through the beginning of August.
In addition, the Ballfields at Craig Ranch and Al Alford Field near the McKinney ISD’s Ron Poe Stadium will again play host to the Mickey Mantle World Series, for youth players ages 16 and younger. This world-championship tournament begins on Aug. 6.
—DAVE SORTER
Mesquite
*Mesquite Championship Rodeo: Action takes place from 8 to 10 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Rodeo tickets are $7-$30. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for pony rides, petting zoo, Wild Bill’s Rodeo Shoppe and a home-style BBQ buffet in the Sonny Bryan’s Pavilion.
Resistol Arena is air-conditioned and located on I-635 at Military Pkwy, only 15 minutes southeast of downtown Dallas.
For more on this western institution call 972/285-8777 or visit mesquiterodeo.com.
Devils Bowl Speedway: Watch the action-packed chills and spills of the Devils Bowl Speedway. The ha;f-mile banked oval dirt track takes on super sprint cars, late models, USA modifieds, limited modifieds, and street stock cars.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12-15, $2 for children 6-11. Children 5 and younger are free. Reserved seats are $2 extra, and pit passes are $25. Devils Bowl Speedway is located at 1711 Lawson Road, Mesquite.
DENTON COUNTY
When the Texas heat sends the mercury bubbling out of the top of the thermometer, The Colony and Little Elm residents can take solace in the fact that Lewisville Lake is situated in their back yards.
With 23,280 acres and 233 miles of shoreline, the lake is large enough for all kinds of water sports and still leaves room for anglers to land the big one. Nature enthusiasts can take a leisurely hike through the 9,000 protected acres that surround the lake.
Fishing on Lewisville Lake includes catfish, white bass, hybrid white/striped bass, large-mouth bass and crappie. Swimming, sailing, jet skiing, water skiing, sail boarding, biking, camping and picnicking are always popular activities among lake goers.
The City of Lewisville manages Lake Park on the south shore of the lake, an area that includes RV and tent camping sites, playgrounds, swimming beaches, a 24-hour fishing barge, youth athletic fields, a state-rated disc golf course, picnic quarters and public facilities.
Lewisville Lake as a whole contains several marinas, boat rental outlets, launch ramps and fishing supply shops for avid anglers.
Boat rental companies are plentiful, offering fishing and skiing boats, pontoon and party vessels, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and other rentals such as tubes and banana boats on full- or half-day terms. Pier 121 Marina rents the Chamonix II, a 105-passenger Maxi Catamaran that can accommodate wedding parties, dinner cruises and corporate events. Dinner cruises are open to the general public on Friday evenings.
Lewisville Fishing Barge has both outdoor and climate-controlled indoor fishing for the entire family. Guided fishing tours allow first-timers to gain experience for future sessions.
The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is a great way to bond with the family in a primitive environment that includes 2,000 acres of pristine wilderness at the base of Lewisville Dam perfect for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and camping.
For those not wanting to venture too far from comfortable surrounding, establishments like Sneaky Pete’s Resort are the ideal options. Sneaky Pete’s is a lakeside facility that consists of a full-service restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool, sand volleyball, beach area and numerous boat slips for those wanting to dock their craft after a day on the lake. Live music acts play into the night each weekend.
On the Little Elm side of Lewisville Lake rests Little Elm Park and the Johnny Broyles Trail. The park contains a hike and bike trail that has a 10-foot wide concrete path stretching nearly a mile, with the remainder of the quarter mile trail paved with crushed granite.
Johnny Broyles Trail is located at the north end of Little Elm Park. The hike and bike trail has a 10-foot wide concrete path that is just under a mile; with the remainder one quarter mile of crushed granite.
To find attractions on Lewisville Lake, visit www.visitlewisville.com/lake_lewis.asp.
—ANDREW MAY
Family friendly packages are available until season’s end for the highest-level teams, the Frisco RoughRiders and FC Dallas. Opportunities abound for entertaining evenings at the Dr Pepper Ballpark and Pizza Hut Park, the respective venues for the baseball and soccer teams.
Playing home to the RoughRiders with a capacity of 10,600, Dr Pepper Ballpark is both unique and innovative in its offerings to fans. Both bullpens are surrounded by seats and there is a pool area in the outfield beyond the right center field wall available for rental.
The Pool Pavilion comfortably accommodates 25 guests and is all-inclusive, meaning a personal attendant preparing fresh-grilled food as well as a variety of beverages. The three-tiered pool area has plenty of patio space and water to go around.
In addition, the outfield party patios and infield party decks can accommodate upwards of 40 people and include food and beverages.
For those wishing to pluck fewer greenbacks from the wallet, family packages and individual tickets will do the trick. Single game tickets begin as low as $7 and allow fans to bring their own food and blankets as they picnic in the outfield grass. Infield tickets are just $5 more.
At various points throughout the summer, the organization has unbeatable deals for a family of four. On July 3 when the RoughRiders face the Springfield Cardinals, a quartet can get four seats, four limited edition ball caps and four McDonald’s extra value meals for less than $30.
For major league action, there is nothing closer to home than FC Dallas. The cozy, 20,500-seat Pizza Hut Park is the ideal venue to take the kids for a night of fun.
During three of the final nine home games - July 19, Aug. 20 and Oct. 11 - a family can get four tickets, four hot dogs and four drinks for $71.
A date with the Los Angeles Galaxy on June 27 will give fans the opportunity to see international superstar David Beckham in person. The Hoops will also host CD Guadalajara on Sunday in an international friendly match.
Both stadiums are also a great place to celebrate birthday parties for fans of all ages. For information on the RoughRiders, visit www.ridersbaseball.com. For information on FC Dallas, visit www.fc.dallas.mlsnet.com/t104/.
—ANDREW MAY
McKinney
Gabe Nesbitt Field at The Ballfields at Craig Ranch in southwest McKinney is home to two summer baseball teams this year: The McKinney Blue Thunder of the professional Continental Baseball League and the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League.
Tickets are less than $25 total for a family of four at “The Gabe,” and the Marshals and Blue Thunder will have games on most nights except Mondays through the beginning of August.
In addition, the Ballfields at Craig Ranch and Al Alford Field near the McKinney ISD’s Ron Poe Stadium will again play host to the Mickey Mantle World Series, for youth players ages 16 and younger. This world-championship tournament begins on Aug. 6.
—DAVE SORTER
Mesquite
*Mesquite Championship Rodeo: Action takes place from 8 to 10 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Rodeo tickets are $7-$30. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for pony rides, petting zoo, Wild Bill’s Rodeo Shoppe and a home-style BBQ buffet in the Sonny Bryan’s Pavilion.
Resistol Arena is air-conditioned and located on I-635 at Military Pkwy, only 15 minutes southeast of downtown Dallas.
For more on this western institution call 972/285-8777 or visit mesquiterodeo.com.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children 12-15, $2 for children 6-11. Children 5 and younger are free. Reserved seats are $2 extra, and pit passes are $25. Devils Bowl Speedway is located at 1711 Lawson Road, Mesquite.
DENTON COUNTY
When the Texas heat sends the mercury bubbling out of the top of the thermometer, The Colony and Little Elm residents can take solace in the fact that Lewisville Lake is situated in their back yards.
With 23,280 acres and 233 miles of shoreline, the lake is large enough for all kinds of water sports and still leaves room for anglers to land the big one. Nature enthusiasts can take a leisurely hike through the 9,000 protected acres that surround the lake.
Fishing on Lewisville Lake includes catfish, white bass, hybrid white/striped bass, large-mouth bass and crappie. Swimming, sailing, jet skiing, water skiing, sail boarding, biking, camping and picnicking are always popular activities among lake goers.
The City of Lewisville manages Lake Park on the south shore of the lake, an area that includes RV and tent camping sites, playgrounds, swimming beaches, a 24-hour fishing barge, youth athletic fields, a state-rated disc golf course, picnic quarters and public facilities.
Lewisville Lake as a whole contains several marinas, boat rental outlets, launch ramps and fishing supply shops for avid anglers.
Boat rental companies are plentiful, offering fishing and skiing boats, pontoon and party vessels, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and other rentals such as tubes and banana boats on full- or half-day terms. Pier 121 Marina rents the Chamonix II, a 105-passenger Maxi Catamaran that can accommodate wedding parties, dinner cruises and corporate events. Dinner cruises are open to the general public on Friday evenings.
Lewisville Fishing Barge has both outdoor and climate-controlled indoor fishing for the entire family. Guided fishing tours allow first-timers to gain experience for future sessions.
The Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area is a great way to bond with the family in a primitive environment that includes 2,000 acres of pristine wilderness at the base of Lewisville Dam perfect for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, fishing and camping.
For those not wanting to venture too far from comfortable surrounding, establishments like Sneaky Pete’s Resort are the ideal options. Sneaky Pete’s is a lakeside facility that consists of a full-service restaurant and bar, outdoor swimming pool, sand volleyball, beach area and numerous boat slips for those wanting to dock their craft after a day on the lake. Live music acts play into the night each weekend.
On the Little Elm side of Lewisville Lake rests Little Elm Park and the Johnny Broyles Trail. The park contains a hike and bike trail that has a 10-foot wide concrete path stretching nearly a mile, with the remainder of the quarter mile trail paved with crushed granite.
Johnny Broyles Trail is located at the north end of Little Elm Park. The hike and bike trail has a 10-foot wide concrete path that is just under a mile; with the remainder one quarter mile of crushed granite.
To find attractions on Lewisville Lake, visit www.visitlewisville.com/lake_lewis.asp.
—ANDREW MAY
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