Arlington approves maintenance funds, lease extension for AT&T Stadium

ARLINGTON, Texas - Arlington City Council voted to extend the city's partnership with the Dallas Cowboys until at least 2055 on Tuesday night.

Future of AT&T Stadium

What we know:

The Master Agreement proposed to extend the city's relationship with the Cowboys was approved in a 7-2 vote.

As part of the measure's approval, the Dallas Cowboys will extend their lease agreement with the city for AT&T Stadium for another 15 years through 2055. The previous lease agreement was set to end in 2040.

The Master Agreement will see the Cowboys committing a minimum of $750 million and the City of Arlington committing up to $273 million towards the maintenance, operation and improvement of the stadium,

Money from the city will come from pre-existing voter-approved venue taxes, and not from the city's General Fund or new taxes.

Proposed improvements to the stadium will be completed by 2043 per the terms of the agreement. The Cowboys will still be responsible for the operation of the stadium and designing potential improvements to the structure.

Dig deeper:

This is the third time the City of Arlington has used voter-approved venue taxes to help fund a sports team's stadium.

In 2004, voters approved venue taxes to help build the Cowboys Complext Development Project, which led to the construction of AT&T Stadium.

In 2016, the venue taxes helped fund the construction of Globe Life Field and its surrounding entertainment district.

What they're saying:

The City of Arlington hired a consulting firm to study the economic impact of the Dallas Cowboys. Results from the study found that the team generates $324 million each year for the City of Arlington.

"It's about making a decision and a deal with the citizens in mind, and that's why we continue to reinvest here. For us, the presence of the Dallas Cowboys allows Arlington to punch above its weight," Costa Dimas, a business owner in Arlington, said during the meeting.

However, not all residents were on board with the measure's approval.

Speakers at Tuesday's city council meeting expressed frustration with the deal, saying it goes beyond what voters approved.

"If y'all want to extend, if you want to keep adding on to the bill that you all said that we would have paid off in a few years, that's not what was presented at the original vote to have the Cowboys here," Arlington resident Hal Hickerson said.

"That money does not belong to a team owner or corporation or city hall. It belongs to the taxpayers," Ashley Carey, another resident, said.

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