Arlington and the Rangers brighten the Christmas season

There’s a lot to like about the latest chapter in Arlington’s 43-year partnership with the Texas Rangers baseball club.

The $200 million Texas Live! entertainment complex to be built across the street from the first-base entrance to Globe Life Park launches the first phase of new development in the city’s storied family destination center.

The project promises incalculable tangible and intangible benefits for a city whose legacy is all about seizing opportunities for an ever-brighter future.

Now the leading developer of mixed-use projects across the country has identified Arlington as the place where its next success story will unfold, in collaboration with the Rangers.

Blake Cordish, vice president of the century-old Cordish Companies, described the transformative project as a “generational opportunity” for the community.

In a city that has always known the potential for capitalizing on one of the best locations anywhere in the country for the benefit of its residents, Cordish will fit right in.

Speaking of shared values in his company’s approach to creating exciting venues in proximity to sports facilities, Blake Cordish echoed the objective of producing the “gold standard” in experiences for Arlington visitors.

Arlington’s $50 million investment in the project comes from money already on hand from revenues it has accumulated in the business of supporting natural gas production in the city.

Even that sum is only half of the funds held by the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation, which was set up to achieve the priorities identified as being in the best interests of the community.

Significantly, this is not about raising taxes, or even using tax money, nor will the city incur any debt in the financial arrangements for the project.

There’s also a formula in the deal for the city to recover its investment and restore the funds to the foundation over time. While doing so, the city will continue to collect annual revenues equal to what it was getting from investment earnings on the money.

That means a continuation of the same level of support for unbudgeted improvements to public facilities and services, nonprofit organizations and community service initiatives by the city’s volunteer entities.

When the City Council voted unanimously to approve this project, it did so in front of an appreciative audience that rose to its feet to express support of the latest achievement growing out of the long relationship with the Rangers.

The rest of the $200 million price tag for the project comes from the Rangers. The principal owners of the team, Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, have already invested more than $60 million in enhancements to the ballpark since they acquired the team.

Their focus on constantly improving the experience of fans attending baseball games includes the determination to take that enjoyment to new levels with the opportunity to come early and stay late as part of spending a day centered around the ballpark.

So when they talk about their role in making Arlington’s entertainment district a 365-days-a-year destination, you realize the city is on the threshold of that dream becoming reality.

Davis described the Rangers’ vision of a day when they could develop a new national standard for sports-anchored projects.

That day has now arrived. Perhaps Rangers Executive Vice President Rob Matwick summed it up best: “The Rangers stand ready to deliver!”

Christmastime just got brighter for Arlington and the whole region, thanks to the strong leadership of city officials and solid relationships with the team that continues to honor the partnership with its host city.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are planned for early next year as a whole new era is launched in America’s Dream City.

This story was originally published December 18, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Arlington and the Rangers brighten the Christmas season."