Election Day is here, meaning that Arlington voters will finally decide the fate of a proposed retractable-roof ballpark for the Texas Rangers.
Campaigns on both sides of the issue have gathered momentum over the last several months, and polling numbers from the middle of October showed that the election could be close. Under this proposal, the $1 billion ballpark will be funded with $500 million from the City of Arlington and another $500 from the Rangers.
If the ballpark is approved by voters, Arlington will extend taxes that were used to build the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium to fund its contribution. The Rangers’ funding, meanwhile, would likely come from ticket and parking taxes that are imposed on game days. More from CBS DFW:
Some in support of the proposal mentioned the money that Rangers’ crowds bring to the city. “The Rangers bring a huge economic impact to Arlington,” said one voter. “We are voting for the ballpark. We want to keep the Rangers in Arlington. We love the Rangers,” said another.
Other voters expressed their opinion against the proposal. One suggested that there is too much activity in the entertainment district. “It’s too congested already as it is, that’s just giving more reason for people to come out.” Another voter was leery of the costs saying, “I don’t want my taxes raised, I don’t believe all the information has been given to us.”
Should today’s referendum result in approval of the ballpark, the Rangers will move into the facility by 2021 while portions of their current home–Globe Life Park–will be repurposed as part of an entertainment complex. If the proposal fails, however, the Rangers will be left to consider their alternatives–be they in Arlington or elsewhere. The team’s lease at Globe Life Park expires following the 2023 season.
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