DIG DEEPER:
DIG DEEPER:Find out more about Texas Live! and Arlington tourism and things to do in Arlington
The Texas Rangers will partner with the leading developer of mixed-use entertainment projects throughout the country to create Texas Live! – a $200 million venture that will transform the city’s Entertainment District in an effort to enhance Arlington’s image as the state’s premier family destination.
Early this year, construction will begin on the dining and entertainment venue that will be built across the street from the first base entrance to Globe Life Park.
The project will be completed by The Cordish Companies, an award-winning development firm with expertise in mixed use, entertainment and sports developments. Blake Cordish, vice president of the century-old firm, described the remarkable project as a “generational opportunity” for the community.
In a city that has always known the potential for capitalizing on one of the best locations anywhere in the country for the benefit of its citizens, Cordish will fit right in.
Speaking of shared values in his company’s approach to creating exciting venues in proximity to sports facilities, Cordish echoed the objective of producing the “gold standard” in experiences for Arlington visitors.
Quoted in the Star-Telegram, he explained the objective:
“The Rangers challenged us to create a game-changing project, not only for the local community, not only for the region, but one that would set a new standard in the United States for a sports-anchored, mixed-use development,” Cordish said. “We’re planting our flag, and we’re planting it in a huge way.”
To give citizens a better idea of what the project will offer, Cordish pointed to Ballpark Village his company built with the St. Louis Cardinals.
In addition to the restaurants and watering holes, “The venue features five performance stages, the largest retractable roof of its kind in the U.S., one of the biggest indoor TV screens in the Midwest and an outdoor festival space,” he concluded.
“This project is another significant investment in an Arlington economy that already has tremendous momentum. We greatly appreciate the Texas Rangers’ continued investment in our community and we applaud their selection of The Cordish Companies, the premiere mixed-use developer in the country, as their development partner.” Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams.
Arlington’s $50 million investment in the project
comes from money already on hand from revenues it has accumulated in the business of supporting natural gas production in the city.
Significantly, this is not about raising taxes, or even using tax money, nor will the city incur any debt in the financial arrangements for the project.
There’s also a formula in the deal for the city to recover its investment and restore the funds to the Tomorrow Foundation over time. While doing so, the city will continue to collect annual revenues equal to what it was getting from investment earnings on the money.
That means a continuation of the same level of support for unbudgeted improvements to public facilities and services, non-profit organizations and community service initiatives by the city’s volunteer entities.
When the city council voted unanimously last month to approve this project it did so in front of an appreciative audience of citizens that rose to their feet to express support of the latest achievement growing out of the long relationship with the Rangers. The rest of the $200 million price tag for the project comes from the Rangers.
Their focus on constantly improving the experience of fans attending baseball games includes the determination to take that enjoyment to new levels with the opportunity to come early and stay late as part of spending a day at the ballpark.
