It might be surprising to learn that Texas -- the state that raises the most cattle and calves in the country, according to Beef USA -- is home to the No. 1 vegan-friendly ballpark.
Globe Life Park, home of the Texas Rangers, was lauded by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for having an entire food stand dedicated to vegan items, which rolled out in spring 2016. The cart sells vegan nachos, vegan hot dogs, salad, a black-bean burger and other no-meat, no-dairy concessions items.
(Of course, Globe Life Park also sells monstrous, meaty portions, too, like a two-foot-long beef hot dog covered in nacho cheese and chili and fried brisket balls. Those ... aren't vegan.)
None of the other ballparks on PETA's top 10 list are in Texas.
The vegan food cart landed at Globe Life Park partly because of a very persistent, dedicated vegan from Van Alstyne named Twalla Grant. As explained in a March 2016 story, "She politely bothered Casey Rapp [general manager for Delaware North Sportservice at Globe Life Park], and his team since 2014, asking whether the fry oil contained animal products or if the hot dog buns contained dairy. (She and a few others did know about the vegan hot dog, which has been available at Globe Life Park for years, but it wasn't publicized and many didn't know where to find it.)"
After the vegan cart was rolled out -- and Grant got her wish -- she said at the time, "it still makes me speechless." She was quick to tell her vegan friends.
PETA says the Arlington baseball stadium went out of its way to offer "creative, animal-friendly twists on classic stadium food," according to a statement from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman.
Globe Life will receive a framed certificate, PETA says.
The vegan cart is located in section 16, on the first floor on the third-base side of the park.
