New rules now mean extended alcohol sales in Major League Baseball ballparks.
While the games are getting shorter due to the new MLB pitch timer rules, beer sales are going to be available for a bit longer for some Major Leage Baseball teams, including our Texas Rangers.
New rules implemented by MLB, including the pitch clock, have shortened games by an average of 30 minutes, and that means less time to enjoy an adult beverage.
In response, a handful of teams, including the Rangers, are making a change when it comes to alcohol sales.
"It traditionally had been at the end of the seventh inning. We extended it to the end of the eighth," said Rob Matwick, the Rangers' executive vice president of business operations.
But if fans don't behave, the Rangers maintain the right to cut off alcohol sales earlier.
"If we felt like crowd dynamic was such that it merited an earlier cutoff, then we would inform our vendors to stop alcohol sales," Matwick said.
Also in the past, in-seat ordering via the MLB Ballpark app was only available to fans in the more expensive lower levels.
But now, since a trip to the concession stand means missing a lot more of the game, in-seat ordering is extended throughout the entire ballpark.
"They can place the order, pay for it online, and then a runner would actually come to the destination and deliver the food," said Matwick. "It's the upside of keeping guests in their seats and not missing any of the action."
While there's no service charge for in-seat ordering, fans can -- and are encouraged to -- leave a tip.
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