Go Rhinos Go!

Texarkana welcomes a new baseball team: The Texarkana Rhinos
Article by Tony Basso
Photos by Shane Darby

General manager David Gest with owner Mark Schuster.

Texarkana is no stranger to sports. With programs trending, from little league to collegiate athletics, the four-states area is home to many successful teams. Summer is right around the corner, and a new team is here with a motto to excite: “Where baseball is tons of fun.” The Texarkana Rhinos minor league baseball team threw their first pitch during Memorial Day weekend. The Rhinos are determined to keep their motto in mind, striving to create a fun, family-friendly environment at George Dobson Field.

The Texarkana Rhinos emerged after the Ventura Sports and National Sports Services merger. The two groups came together to create the Mid-America League, which hosts six teams in Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri, including the Rhinos. After a short playoff, the teams will play for the league championship in August. A total of 68 regular-season games will be played throughout the league, from the last week of May until post-season play begins.

Mark Schuster, owner of the Rhinos and co-owner and CEO of the Mid-America League, is excited to see professional baseball return to the Texarkana area. Schuster is confident that his team will be a source of entertainment for all, with a gameday experience that leaves attendees wanting more.

Players from all over reported for the first day of practice.

“We’re not really in the baseball business; we’re in the entertainment business,” Mark said. “We know that people who come out to our stadiums are coming to have a good time, enjoy good food and beverages, and be entertained. Baseball is sort of background music, and we are working to create an experience for people inside our ballparks. If you come to one of our games and don’t feel thoroughly entertained, I’ll give you back your money. That’s how confident we are in what we do.”

Mark is no stranger to minor league baseball and is mindful of the previous professional teams that have called Texarkana home. He chose Texarkana as the Rhinos’ home for myriad reasons.

“We were looking at markets about the size of Texarkana or bigger,” he said. “We saw a niche and an opportunity to provide a quality-of-life project that is fun for people who live here. We have great city leadership and a great little ballpark. I think that Texarkana deserves another shot. I think we need to follow through on our promises. We promise a great time out at the stadium, hot dogs, and cold beer. Success for us is executing our plan and ultimately having fans leave the stadium saying, ‘You know what, that was a great time. When can I come back again?’ That’s success for us. In our group, we collectively have over 200 years of experience in minor league baseball. We’re trying to apply some of what we’ve done well in other markets to Texarkana.” 

The Mid-America League rosters include athletes at different points in their baseball careers. Sporting the Rhinos’ black and yellow will be current and former college athletes from all divisions and leagues and former major league athletes. 

“We are the first league to offer a hybrid roster of top college players in the nation and professional players who can play alongside each other in our league,” said David Gest, general manager of the Texarkana Rhinos Organization. “Our athletes come from all over the nation, but most are from the southwest region. We even have some guys joining our team from local colleges. Many years are spent developing as a baseball player before making it to Major League Baseball. We want to help our athletes get into a better college or even find more playing time at their current institution.”

The new scoreboard is just one of the upgrades at George Dobson Field, made in preparation for the Rhinos’ season.

David spent the early part of his career in sports media with CBS and FOX affiliates in El Paso, Texas, after graduating from New Mexico State University, where he played NCAA Division 1 football. He spent the last few years working in international marketing and is excited to get back to his roots.

“It was my unwavering love for the game of baseball and my time in sports entertainment that brought me to this role,” he said. “I was looking into furthering my education in sports entertainment management when I was introduced to Mark Schuster. I loved the vision of the league. It was just a tremendous opportunity for anyone involved, and it made all the sense in the world for me.”

With months of hard work and planning behind him, David is excited for the Rhinos to prove themselves to the community. “This is our inaugural season. We don’t have any track record, and at this point, we just need to deliver,” he said. “I want everyone to forget about any professional team that has been here in the past. We know that others have come and gone and may not have done things properly. We are working hard to ensure everything is done right, from the bottom to the top. I encourage the community to embrace our team. We are in this for the city, for the people of Texarkana and surrounding areas.”

During their inaugural season, the Texarkana Rhinos will play 30 home games. For more information, visit gorhinosgo.com.