Dallas Cowboys, Arlington Kick Off $650M Talks, Again

Wes Jurey, president of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, tells GlobeSt.com that the mandated three-week turn on the numbers-crunching will be done in time for a vote on a 50-50 cost-sharing plan that would place a referendum on the Nov. 2 ballot. "I have no reason to believe that they won't," says Jurey, whose chamber team is contracted by the city for economic development initiatives and analysis.

Jones' courtship of city officials, Dallas included, is now into its third year. A recent round of talks with the City of Dallas cratered after council said it needed more than three weeks to decide on a referendum to assume $450 million of the development cost. Then, Jones went down the road to Arlington, which he first approached in 2001 as he set a course to pit city against city for his dream field. The new Cowboys' stadium has turned into the most closely watched and widely publicized real estate proposal floating in North Texas, but only Dallas and Arlington have gotten this far in the process. Jones' lease in Irving is up in 2008 so time is running out on a final decision.

The plan would require a 120- to 150-acre takedown of land abutting Ameriquest Field, home to the Texas Rangers, and right across Interstate 30 from Six Flags amusement park. Just a few years ago, the land was envisioned as a new downtown, a large-scale, mixed-use development that so far has only attracted one headquarters building. The Cowboys stadium effectively would complete a crown jewel collection in Arlington's two-year-old campaign to showcase itself as "Fun Central USA," but as watchers know there are miles to go and many hurdles to jump before Jones' new turf becomes reality.

Jurey says there's a misperception that Arlington voters reject tax add-on referendums, which is what it would take to build Jones' dream field. Last year, voters rejected a transportation system teamed with a flood control project. But, Jurey points out, that was the first rejected bond issue in 14 years. "The reality is Arlington citizens generally have approved good projects," he says. "A significant number of people who voted 'no' for the bus system told me they'd support rail." As it stands, Arlington has three-quarters of a cent in its sales tax structuring before hitting the 8.5 cent ceiling and would have to look at other tax sources to generate the funds.

By virtue of the city contract, the Arlington chamber will manage the project and analyze the economic impact so council can decide if it's headed to a public vote. Jurey says the information will be shared with the chamber board, which also will be voting on whether to support the plan. "The board consistently has said any position they take would support the economic betterment of the community," Jurey says, adding he "can't speak for the board" as to whether support will be lent to the plan.

Arlington voters did pay for the Rangers' ballpark, which is owned by the Arlington Sports Facilities Development Authority and leased to the team--and built on land belonging to Tom Hick's Southwest Sports Group in Dallas. In fact, it generated enough revenue for an early payback. But, last night's closed-door session was just the start of a new game as council weighs the plan to set the stage for an instant replay.