Rangers will play Padres at Alamodome in March

The Alamodome is a familiar sight for major sporting events, having hosted three Final Fours, most recently in 2008.

Bob Donnan/US Presswire

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Texas Rangers are going to defend the Alamo.

The 20-year-old Alamodome, which has hosted NFL games, the NCAA Final Four and the NBA Finals, will host baseball for the first time when the Rangers and San Diego Padres play two exhibition games March 29-30.

Rangers President Nolan Ryan says the team is excited.

San Antonio is home to the Padres' Double-A affiliate, the Missions. To prepare the Alamodome for baseball, AstroTurf will build a 133,000 square-foot custom field.

The right-field pole will be only 280 feet from home plate, and there will be a 16-foot-high wall in right. It will be 395 feet to straightaway center and 340 feet to the left-field corner, where there will be a 4-foot-high wall. Seating capacity will be 52,295.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.