The Spark Arlington coworking space covers a lot of bases for its tenant members, which is fitting for a site in the former baseball home of the Texas Rangers.
In February, Spark Arlington, a fully equipped community workplace that offers facilities ranging from day use to office suites, marks its one-year anniversary in Choctaw Stadium, part of Arlington’s entertainment district.
Flexibility, variety and amenities are key offerings at Spark, the newest of four such facilities. The others are in Kansas City, St. Louis and Baltimore.
“We allow our members the space to work as they need,” said TaShunda Scott, Spark’s Community Manager. “We work with the businesses because we want them to thrive.”
In its first year, Spark has filled 94 percent of its space in the first phase, and already is well into Phase 2 of the buildout, with 75 percent pre-leasing in the 30,000-square-foot, two-story facility.
Its location, in what was the center field section of the stadium, comes with a great view of the field that plays host to professional and high school football games, plus soccer and rugby games. An inviting porch equipped with tables and chairs offers tenants a view of the stadium while they work, or if they just want to take a break outdoors.
“What better place to facilitate high-performance coaching and mentoring than in a stadium that has a legacy of it. We are a part of history,” said Michael Dailey, founder/CEO at Invictus Legacy Builders and an inaugural member at Spark. “Our brand is built on a ‘No Excuses Leadership Environment’ and instilling an unconquerable mindset in those that work with us.”
The facility includes a shared kitchen with high-tech appliances, Nitro Cold Brew coffee on tap, a wellness room that caters to nursing mothers with a lockable refrigerator, a board room, a conference room, phone booths for remote meetings or private calls, a podcast studio, a library, mailboxes, notary services and community space – lots of it – that features comfortable chairs and couches, overhead TV screens, a shuffleboard table and board games.
“When you walk in here, this place sells itself,” said Scott, an Arlington resident since 2018 with a background in development and recruitment outreach. “It allows entrepreneurs to access that creative flow.”
Workspace is not the only shared amenity for Spark members. Opportunities are ripe for collaborating with other tenants, an avenue that Scott and her staff foster.
Spark plays host to regular social activities and themed happy hours – some across Randol Mill Road at the nearby Texas Live! entertainment facility – allowing members to trade information about their businesses and services, and to obtain contact information.
The team also facilitates information seminars, such as last fall’s Dealmaker Law 101 that provided legal information for small business operators and entrepreneurs. Other activities include giveaways for tenants, including drawings for memberships.
The unique concept at Spark drew Dailey’s attention.
“We wanted a place that embodied the spirit of pushing limits and breaking barriers,” said Dailey, whose firm began in 2022 and focuses on building high-performance leaders, teams and cultures. “We wanted to leverage the atmosphere charged with the spirit of accomplishment. We wanted my clients to feel motivated by the achievements of the athletes who once played there and continue to play, pushing them to strive for excellence in their own endeavors.”
The site is available for members around the clock, and guest access is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Community day passes are available for non-members.
“Every client that walks into Spark is instantly energized by the atmosphere,” Dailey added. “I believe operating out of Spark enhances our brand image, associating us with the qualities of professionalism, excellence, and the high-energy, competitive spirit of sports.”
With all of its features and amenities, Spark can seem not like a job location, but more like a relaxing destination.
“That’s the vibe we want,” Scott said. “We want our members to be comfortable.”
