ARLINGTON, Texas _ The toilet was in the bright lights Tuesday morning at Globe Life Field.
The new home of the Texas Rangers, which is still feverishly under construction with less than a month before the first scheduled event, tested its plumbing with the help of 300 students from Arlington ISD.
The test of 2,600 plumbing fixtures called a "super flush" was meant to simulate fans during a seventh-inning stretch. It went off with out any major glitches, according to officials.
"We want to make sure everything flushes correctly, that all of the potties are running, that all of the drainage systems are flowing out of this building properly," said Greg McClure, vice president of Manhattan Construction. "You can imagine the load that takes. But we've got to replicate it and this is really the only way we can do it and that's to have a super flush."
The $1.2 billion stadium is 94% complete but there's a lot left to be done in that remaining 6%.
Artificial turf is now covering portions of the playing surface, which finally has given the gray and dark construction project some much-needed color _ especially baseball color. The turf is expected to be completely installed by Sunday or Monday, Rangers vice president of ballpark operations Rob Matwick said.
A Chris Stapleton concert, including Willie Nelson, is scheduled to be the opening event on March 14.
Will there be work still being done 25 days from now?
"I want to believe not, but I'm not naive," McClure said. "There's probably going to be something. Of course there will be. This is a big building with a lot of moving parts. But I will tell you this, having done this before, I don't think most people will recognize those. We'll see it, others won't."
The Rangers front office staff and employee offices will officially begin moving from Globe Life Park to the south side of Globe Life Field on Monday. The official club address will change from 1000 Ballpark Way to 734 Stadium Drive.
About 2,000 workers pulling 12-hour shifts, seven days a week are tasked with having it ready by March 14. The Rangers first game in the stadium is an exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 23. The home opener is scheduled for March 31 against the Los Angeles Angels.
"It's all hands on deck right now," McClure said.
