ARLINGTON, TEXAS — The Arlington City Council will consider designating a venue project and authorizing a master agreement for a public-private partnership with the Texas Rangers at its evening meeting tomorrow. If approved, the council action will allow the city of Arlington to begin the steps required to hold an election this November asking voters to extend existing funding mechanisms to provide public financing for construction of a new $1 billion baseball stadium. The Texas Rangers’ 30-year lease on the city-owned Globe Life Park is set to end in 2024. With the new proposed master agreement, the Rangers’ partnership with Arlington would extend until Jan. 1, 2054. The design for a new ballpark would include a retractable roof for climate control and shelter for fans during the summer months. The new park is expected to have similar design concepts featured in the construction of Globe Life Park. The master agreement for the public-private partnership calls for a 50-50 split between the Texas Rangers and the city of Arlington. If the council takes action to designate the venue project, the city will ask the Texas Office of the Comptroller to review the fiscal impact to the state before calling a Nov. 8 election on the proposed methods of financing. The proposed stadium would be built on what is now a team parking lot south of the existing ballpark. The city and the Rangers are discussing the future of the 23-year-old Globe Life Park in Arlington, with options including office development, park space, parking and a possible extension to the Texas Live! project.
The master agreement for the public-private partnership calls for a 50-50 split between the Texas Rangers and the city of Arlington.
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