Planning for the next phase of Globe Life Park’s existence continues, as Arlington officials pitch Six Flags Entertainment Corp. headquarters space in the former Texas Rangers home.
First opening in 1994 as The Ballpark in Arlington, Globe Life Park was home to the Rangers through last month. Next season, the team will move into the brand-new Globe Life Field—a retractable-roof ballpark currently under construction across from Globe Life Park—but its former home will remain standing for other purposes.
One of those purposes could be as new headquarters space for Six Flags Entertainment Corp. The Arlington City Council on Tuesday improved an economic incentive package that includes $6 million in reimbursements toward renovating centerfield office space used by the Rangers to accommodate Six Flags, which city officials are hoping to lure from its current base in Grand Prairie, TX. Current plans call for the amusement park company to sign a 15-year lease for the space, with options to potentially extend the agreement. More from The Dallas Morning News:
In return, Six Flags would sign a 15-year lease for 40,842 square feet of space, with an option of two five-year extensions. It also would agree to keep 120 jobs at its headquarters over the life of the lease.
Documents outlining the agreement said most of the money the city is committing — $5.28 million — would come from payments the Rangers owe under an existing lease. The remaining $720,000 would come from the city’s year-end budget balance.
“This agreement marks a clear step forward in our ongoing ballpark preservation and adaptation,” city staff wrote about the incentives.
The city also is offering Six Flags a $200,000 annual grant over the 15-year lease, totaling an additional $3 million.
Should plans with Six Flags move forward, it would mark the latest tenant to commit to Globe Life Park. The facility will begin hosting football for the XFL’s Dallas Renegades early next year, and professional soccer’s North Texas SC (USL League One) has committed to using the venue for home matches beginning in 2020.
Given how the planning is unfolding thus far, it seems that Arlington officials view the potential for Globe Life Park’s post MLB-use to expand beyond professional sports. Landing Six Flags would represent a use of the facility that incorporates its existing office space, while the lease terms would allow for a long-term stay at the venue.
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