On opening day of the 2018 Texas Rangers season, you’ll be able to enjoy a Kreuz Market sausage before the game. Texas Live!, a new dining and entertainment development is coming to Arlington. Situated between Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium, the $250 million project will house the third location of Lockhart Smokehouse.
This move marks another step toward bringing Texas sports and great Texas barbecue together. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams asked, “What is more Texas than barbecue and baseball?” I’d agree, and also note that the barbecue options at the ballpark are currently pretty poor. That was also the case at NRG stadium in Houston before Killen’s Barbecue moved in a couple smokers and began serving quality barbecue for the Houston Texans games. Sporting events are a big draw for out-of-state visitors, so showing off our most beloved Texas cuisine at these venues is important. They’re not sure yet how access will work between the ballpark and Texas Live! during games, but at least good smoked meat will be within walking distance of a Rangers game.
The Texas Live! project will also include a new brewery for Revolver Brewing, which joins Lockhart Smokehouse as part of the local flavor at Texas Live! An unnamed concept from Guy Fieri is also in the works, but let’s hope he keeps his infamous donkey sauce far from our Texas barbecue.
Lockhart Smokehouse already has an odd connection to Arlington, having debuted in Dallas during an ice storm that also plagued the Metroplex during the 2011 Super Bowl weekend. They’ve since added another location in downtown Plano. Co-owner Jill Bergus said the upcoming Arlington location will still be cooking with wood. “We’ll have two Bewley smokers,” she assured me. The menu is under development, but expect the familiar smoked meats from the other two locations. Of course they’ve have the Kreuz Market sausage, which beats any hot dog at the ballpark.
