Arlington residents say 'Yes!' to new Rangers stadium

Unofficial voting results have Arlington residents saying 'Yes!' to a new Texas Rangers stadium.

With all precincts reporting, results show 60% of residents voted for a new stadium with a retractable roof while 40% voted against it.

The "Vote Yes!" and "Vote No!" campaigns have been trying to sway undecided voters on the proposed $1 billion stadium for months. Backers fear the team could move if the city does not build a new home for them.  But the ballot measure would extend the current tax that is paying for the Cowboys Stadium and add ones on tickets and parking.

Supporters of the new ballpark gathered at Gilligan's Bar and Grill in Arlington. Opponents of ballpark gathered at The Rock Kitchen. They claimed an early victory in the night with the first numbers. Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams said he was surprised by the early numbers.

 "I am relieved. But yet, I was at the polls every day doing early voting," the mayor said. "I also was there today, and that result was what we saw at the polls pretty much. But when you have so much at stake for the community still you worry. And believe me, I was worried."

"We showed the entire nation what a handful of people with truth on your side and a lot of passion could accomplish with very little," said Faith Bussey with Citizens For a Better Tomorrow. "We gave them a run for their buckets of money."

Arlington civic and business leaders and the Rangers are in favor of the new stadium.

“What the Cowboys and the Rangers have done for Arlington is amazing. It’s brought a lot of business in. I love the stadiums and I’m glad they are here,” said Bill Vanburen, who supports the new stadium.

The stadium is set to be open for the 2021 baseball season and will keep the team in town at least until 2054.