Arlington ballpark

Arlington ballpark

Of all the unmitigated gall, this takes the biscuit!

Having read all the illogical, exaggerated and utterly lame rationalizations for a new ballpark, all I can say is this: Arlington and the Texas Rangers organization need a new stadium like the residents of Arlington need another boost in their property taxes.

If the object is to increase revenue by putting more “seats” in the seats, management should lower the ticket prices!

Arlingtonians have already helped pay for two ballparks, plus Jerry World. Enough is enough!

It’s amusing to see sports columnist Mac Engel, who sits in an air-conditioned press box, pontificate on what is “pointless” for Texas Rangers fans. (See May 22 column, “Little gained with pointless new stadium.”)

If Arlington doesn’t build a new stadium, the team is moving east. Then Engel will have a longer commute to his comfy press box.

Baseball means memories, and Arlington’s residents deserve the chance to make more with their children, parents and grandparents.

Concerning the Arlington City Council’s decision that Arlington taxpayers should pay $500 million for a new ballpark:

Most economic experts claim that taxpayers are never repaid all of their costs in additional tax revenue. It would seem prudent that, before entering into a business arrangement, the cost and benefits be carefully weighed.

Arlington is fortunate to have a great local resource, the University of Texas at Arlington, which is particularly qualified to do such a cost-benefit analysis.

Without an unbiased professional study from UTA, the City Council and local taxpayers would be foolish to support this ballpark initiative

I was elated when I read that an air-conditioned stadium with retractable roof will soon be built.

I just hope the planners will take into consideration the Texas sun. Light should come in from the east and north. The southwest side should block off the hot summer sun.

And the stadium should seat more than 50,000. How about some cheap seats for us poor people?

I’ll vote for it.

When I first heard about this insanity, I thought it was a leftover April Fool’s joke.

Before the billion-dollar “Jerry World” debacle was completed seven years ago, we were promised a massive entertainment complex and shopping area, new hotels, etc.

Instead, what we have is businesses that have closed their doors, streets that are crumbling and even more traffic congestion in a city that refuses to deal with long-overdue mass transit.

Not many cities have two behemoth sports stadiums down the street from each other.

The Arlington City Council needs to deal with the many problems the city already has before even a fleeting thought is given to something so outlandish as another sports coliseum.

Considering the articles on how well the finances have worked out for the sports bonds issued for the ballpark and stadium projects, it seems fair to let the people who felt the pain of eminent domain feel the pleasure now.

I’d say they deserve a significant bonus for their contribution. Any future such forced partnerships should include terms of a percentage share in a financial success they’ve had a share in, regardless if it was voluntary or as a result of a court-ordered sale.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 5:39 PM with the headline "Arlington ballpark."