Arlington has interest in Cowboys stadium - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Doomsday101 · 07-26-2004

The Arlington City Council has called a news conference for 5 p.m. today, and council members are expected to announce a plan to pursue a new stadium for the Dallas Cowboys.

Officials from Arlington and the Cowboys have held several meetings in the past few weeks, and Mayor Robert Cluck said he wanted to meet with the City Council in executive session to make sure the council wants to proceed with a plan to attract the team.

The council's executive session was scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

Arlington, home of the Texas Rangers, entered the picture after negotiations to return the team to Dallas in a new Fair Park stadium faltered in June. Dallas city leaders balked at the proposed price tag in public funds. The club had asked Dallas County to raise $425 million in public money for the stadium.

Earlier today, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the Arlington entertainment district, with Ameriquest Field and Six Flags Over Texas, is an attractive place for a football stadium. Neither the Cowboys nor the city have publicly identified a possible stadium location.

"The accessibility to that area and the future accessibility to that area with the infrastructure that will be in place in the next five, six, seven years makes Arlington very appealing," Mr. Jones said. "There are some other very appealing locations. Our No. 1 goal is to take this time in the history of our franchise and make a good decision for our fans. ...Arlington is certainly an area we should and will continue to keep our evaluations open.

"Arlington is, certainly, one we've spent a lot of time on in the last couple weeks," he said. "The leadership there in Arlington, we've met two or three times, three times at least. Our staffs have met as well. That's an ongoing process."

In Dallas, city leaders said they weren't surprised that Arlington could go after the Cowboys.

"I'm not surprised," said Council Member Leo Chaney, who represents the Fair Park area of Dallas and supports a stadium there. "But it shows that we have to be competitive. All of this is part of negotiations.

"I'm still cautiously optimistic that we'll bring the Cowboys to Fair Park," he said. "We welcome the Cowboys with open arms, but we're not going to give away everything and the kitchen sink."

Mr. Chaney said he doesn't believe Arlington has a legitimate shot at attracting the Cowboys.

"Not really, no. The brothers – they wouldn't even support passing a public transportation proposal," he said. "Voters there are very reluctant."

Negotiations for professional sports stadiums often take place on multiple fronts. Before Dallas built American Airlines Center in 1998, the Dallas Stars and Mavericks negotiated with Arlington, Garland, Grand Prairie and Lewisville.

And the Cowboys have in the past shown interest in moving to Arlington. In 2000, team owner Jerry Jones talked about building his new stadium near Ameriquest Field in Arlington and Six Flags.

While the cost of a Cowboys stadium would be high – the team said it would cost $650 million – Arlington has the ability to raise a lot of money.

The city's sales tax is three-quarters of a cent below the state limit. By increasing its sales tax to the maximum allowed under law, Arlington could raise $23.8 million annually for a stadium, according to figures available from the Texas comptroller. A sales tax increase would have to be approved by voters.

Dallas County has the ability to raise as much as $36 million a year from hotel-occupancy and rental-car taxes. Those tax increases also would require voter approval.

Irving, the current home of the Cowboys, says its Las Colinas site is still in the hunt. But city officials have not had any recent conversations with the Cowboys.

Irving officials said they believe their city still has a good chance at keeping the team, but they weren't surprised by Arlington's formal interest.

"There was every indication that is what they might want to do," Irving Mayor Joe Putnam said. "They seem to have an interest in pursuing the discussion and we'll just have to see where it leads."

Arlington could be a contender because it is able to raise sales taxes, Irving officials said. But it's too early to determine whether Arlington poses a serious threat, council member Rick Stopfer said.

"We're aware of the fact that the Cowboys have been looking all over the area for who can come up with the most dollars to build a new facility," he said.

Irving is keeping two options on the table: a renovated Texas Stadium, which many city officials prefer, and a new stadium in Las Colinas.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....16d3809a.html

calico · 07-26-2004

nice article. I don't care where it is as long as that stadium gets built.

Doomsday101 · 07-26-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by calico

nice article. I don't care where it is as long as that stadium gets built.

I agree. I was a bit taken back by this comment though ""I'm still cautiously optimistic that we'll bring the Cowboys to Fair Park," he said. "We welcome the Cowboys with open arms, but we're not going to give away everything and the kitchen sink."

Mr. Chaney said he doesn't believe Arlington has a legitimate shot at attracting the Cowboys.

"Not really, no. The brothers – they wouldn't even support passing a public transportation proposal," he said. "Voters there are very reluctant." "

Maikeru-sama · 07-26-2004

Arlington would be a good place to have the new Stadium, I-30 and 360 would make it very accesible and they already have The Ballpark and Six Flags (my first job was at Six Flags).

I wish they would consider adopting Public Transportation however.

- Mike G.

Doomsday101 · 07-26-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickgreen58

Arlington would be a good place to have the new Stadium, I-30 and 360 would make it very accesible and they already have The Ballpark and Six Flags (my first job was at Six Flags).

I wish they would consider adopting Public Transportation however.

- Mike G.

I agree and I think it would also be a better location for the theme park that Jones wants to build along with the stadium because people who will be going to Six Flags or other events in the area will likely be more inclinded to see that as well.

Hostile · 07-26-2004

Get it done. No more paranoia the team will move.

Maikeru-sama · 07-26-2004

See that is what I am confused about. Man, I went to highschool and college in Arlington, and I am not sure there is enough room in that area for what Jerry has in mind.

I think it is a good location, but I think it would be really cool to have the Boys go back to Fair Park to play. Dallas, and Jerry for that matter are being very stubborn, so I think Arlington or Grapevine will eventually get the new stadium. Both locations are minutes away from Irving, so it would not be a huge move.

Also, Arlington is right smack in the middle of the Metroplex, so it would probably be an easier drive for people coming from the western part of the metroplex, Ft. Worth and those coming from the Eastern suburbs of Dallas.

- Mike G.

Little Jr · 07-26-2004

Nevermind. Repost.

TheKey · 07-26-2004

That already happened at 4 today didnt it?

Little Jr · 07-26-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheKey

That already happened at 4 today didnt it?

Maybe. I just heard it. Sorry.

**big dog cowboy** · 07-26-2004

If you build it, they will come.

**trickblue** · 07-26-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by big dog cowboy

If you build it, they will come.

I would sure rather see it in a more picturesque Grapevine...

**big dog cowboy** · 07-26-2004

Being an out of towner, I would just like to see it close to Dallas and not dozens of miles away in the middle of nowhere.

Ruff_Rider · 07-26-2004

NO!!! I hate having to go all the way to Arlington for the Rangers don't make me go that far to see my Cowboys!! I think the best spot would be in Frisco next to the minor league park.

Doomsday101 · 07-27-2004

I had to post this thread, Key was driving me crazy with the LA talk. LOL