Latino fans pack Dallas sports bar to cheer Rangers in World Series opener

Wearing a black custom-made jersey with the Mexican flag on the right shoulder and the Texas flag on the other side, Edward Gonzalez cheered for the Texas Rangers Friday night.

Gonzalez and his friend were among about 300 people who gathered to watch the Rangers play the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the World Series at the Ojos Locos Sports Cantina in Dallas, a well known place for Latinos to hang out and watch sports.

The bar was one of many around the Metroplex where Rangers fans who couldn’t get tickets to the opening game of series gathered to watch on big screens in the company of other fans. It took on a party atmosphere as music blared between innings and fans cheered the Rangers together.

The front of Gonzalez’s Nike jersey reads ”Tejas” with multiple colors. On the back, he proudly displays the name and number of his favorite player, Cuban sensation Adolis García, who wears No. 53.

“I wanted this jersey to represent my Mexican culture and my love for the Rangers,” said Gonzalez, who spent about $300 on the jersey. Gonzalez, 30, said he has been a fan for as long as he can remember.

As the game played on over 20 screens, people of all ages, decked out in Rangers colors eagerly ordered beef nachos and the “balón” – a soccer ball-sized container with a plastic tower holding either 60 ounces or 100 ounces of beer.

Between innings, Spanish music filled the bar with favorite songs from Peso Pluma, a Mexican singer, and friends cheered with their “paleta shots,” a combination of sweet, spicy and salty flavors made with watermelon and tequila.

The Perez family brought their son to watch the game and have some nachos. Born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, Jose Manuel Perez grew up playing and watching baseball and wanted to pass his love for the sport on to his son.

”We love to watch the Rangers games together as a family when possible. Tonight was the perfect day to come out and support our team,” said Perez.

The Perez family wanted to see their favorite player, Nathan Eovaldi, No. 17, on big screens, they said.

Nathan Saldivar, manager of Ojos Locos, which means “crazy eyes,” said the Rangers games have brought in more patrons, and they are expecting to have a full house on all game days. Ojos Locos was founded in Dallas in 2010, and has since expanded to New Mexico, California and Nevada.

“Let’s go Rangers, let’s go Rangers,” fans shouted while the Rangers pitched.

At around 7:40 p.m., the bar was packed with people waiting at the door to be seated. A group of six friends from Irving were excited that they had secured a spot just in time.

“We always get together to watch all the games. We wanted to be at the stadium, but it was way too expensive,” said Donovan Garcia, 22, wearing his Rangers blue hat.

Another fan cheering for the Arlington team was Mariella Espinoza, 26, who was with her boyfriend.

“It’s just amazing when your team makes it this far. We are so excited and keeping the hope,” said Espinoza. “This is a Texas team. We can make it.”