Arlington City Council Approves Entertainment Complex & Hotel/Convention Facility

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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - The Arlington City Council passed an economic development project that will include a 100,000 square foot entertainment complex near
Globe Life Park.

The $200 million project is a public-private partnership between the City of Arlington and the Texas Rangers, with the City investing $50 million.

The agreement also includes plans to develop a hotel with a minimum of 300 rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. It is the intention for the hotel/convention facility to
proceed by the end of 2016. In that case, the City would provide the Texas Rangers performance based incentives that include retaining income from the following sources: hotel occupancy tax,
property tax, sales tax and mixed beverage tax for 30 years from the City and hotel occupancy tax and sales tax from the state for 10 years.

The entertainment complex will have multiple restaurants, retail space and entertainment venues along with a signature event space according to a City of Arlington news release.

"This project is another significant investment in an Arlington economy that already has tremendous momentum," said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. "This state-of-the-art development will expand the city's ability to host even more major events and conventions."

Construction of the entertainment complex will be begin in 2016 and open 12 months later.

"Arlington's partnership with the Texas Rangers spans more than four decades and it's one that our residents cherish," said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. "The Rangers are a key component to making the Entertainment District such a vibrant part of our city and the whole North Texas region."

"The Rangers are proud to be joining with Arlington on this very significant project," commented Rangers Co-Chairman Ray Davis. "Commercial development around Globe Life Park in Arlington has been a vision of the Rangers for a number of years. This first-class entertainment complex will be a tremendous addition to the area."

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