There are few moments in life when you truly sit back, look at a colossal number, and think: Geez. That’s enough cash to fix every bad decision I’ve ever made.
$273 million is one of those numbers.
That’s the amount Arlington City Council approved in a 7–2 vote to help upgrade AT&T Stadium, effectively keeping America’s Team planted in Arlington through 2055.
Two hundred seventy-three million dollars.
As a freelance writer and journalism teacher, I read that number and immediately did what any responsible educator would do: I opened a blank Google Doc and started planning how I would spend it.
First, let’s be clear — I get the decision. The city likes the Cowboys around and will do what it can to ensure that. The plan is to use sales and venue taxes for its share, while Jerry Jones & Company are kicking in a casual $750 million like it’s tip money after brunch. No new taxes, city leaders say. Economic impact, they say. Jobs, tourism, long-term benefits.
All fair points.
But also … hear me out.
If you handed me $273 million, Arlington would still benefit. Maybe not in the “luxury suite with heated cupholders” kind of way, but in the “this city just got way more interesting” kind of way.
For starters, I’d fix my freelance writer lifestyle.
Right now, being a freelancer means chasing invoices like they owe me money (because they do) and explaining to people that “deadline” is not a suggestion — it’s a lifestyle.
With $273 million, I’d finally achieve the dream: I would pay all my bills on time … and then just stare at the confirmation screen for fun.
I’d also invest in the ultimate journalism classroom.
My students would walk into a newsroom that looks like a cross between ESPN and Netflix. Every kid gets a camera, a laptop, and probably a snack budget that rivals a small wedding reception.
Need to cover a story? Boom — we’re flying there. Field trip to cover city council? We’re not just attending — we’re bringing a press table, lighting crew, and a dramatic entrance.
“Sir, is this necessary?”
“No. But neither are 14 different types of stadium seating, and yet here we are.”
Then there’s the yearbook.
Oh, the yearbook.
Right now, we celebrate when we hit 184 pages and over 1,000 photos. With $273 million? We’re printing a book so big it needs its own zip code. Hardcover. Softcover. Maybe even a limited-edition scented version — “Essence of Pep Rally” with subtle notes of nacho cheese and school spirit.
Distribution day? Helicopter drop.
You think I’m joking, but imagine a copy of Bowie High School’s Blazon descending from the sky like it just won a championship of its own.
Don’t worry. I’d also invest in the stadium.
Maybe I’d sponsor a new stadium feature: “The Writer Section.” Seats are slightly uncomfortable, Wi-Fi is questionable, and every purchase requires you to invoice someone and wait 30–45 business days.
Authenticity matters.
Of course, not everyone was thrilled with the vote. As WFAA reported, some critics felt the decision should have gone to residents. And that’s fair. When you’re talking about hundreds of millions of dollars — even if it’s from existing taxes — people want a say.
But city leaders are betting on the long game: the Cowboys have been in Arlington since 2009, after leaving Irving, and this deal locks them in for nearly three more decades.
That’s stability. That’s identity. That’s a lot of Sundays.
Still, I can’t help but think about what $273 million looks like outside the walls of a stadium.
For me, it looks like paid invoices. Fully funded classrooms. A yearbook that requires a forklift. And maybe — just maybe — a freelance writer who finally stops refreshing his email like it’s a slot machine.
Until then, I’ll keep doing what I’ve always done: writing, teaching, and occasionally daydreaming about what I’d do if the city council accidentally Venmo’d me instead.
If that ever happens, Arlington… just know you’re getting one incredible yearbook out of it.
Kenneth Perkins has been a contributing writer for Arlington Today for more than a decade. He is a freelance writer, editor and photographer, and teaches Journalism and Writing at Bowie High School.
