Tribal leaders of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma said under its multi-year contract with the Texas Rangers, they cannot disclose the amount the tribe paid for naming rights at the former Globe Life Park in Arlington, now called Choctaw Stadium. The Rangers announced the deal in August. Soon after, tribal members started a change.org petition calling for transparency regarding the agreement. Several said the money spent on the deal could have been used to benefit tribal members.
Choctaw Nation Senior Director of Public Relations Kristina Humenesky noted the “contract prevents us from disclosing the amount because it is tied to several other agreements we have with the Rangers as well as our strategic marketing plan.”
Rangers officials said the naming rights agreement expands on the partnership the team and Choctaw Casinos & Resorts have had since 2010. That includes a 2019 extension that branded Choctaw as the “Official and Exclusive Casino and Resort of the Texas Rangers.”
Choctaw Stadium also will be the home field of the Dallas Jackals of Major League Rugby in 2022.
This fall, the Texas Rangers’ former home field is hosting 16 regular-season high school football games for the Arlington School District, plus three college football games.
Choctaw Chief Gary Batton stated, “Choctaw Casinos & Resorts is excited to expand our relationship with the Texas Rangers and be part of a stadium that has brought so much joy over the years to so many in North Texas. We are proud to have our name on a field that continues to play an important role in the lives of North Texans and we look forward to sharing in the competition and enjoyment the stadium brings to the community.”
