As Cowboys leave Irving, will someone have to pay?
Officials seek new stadium fees but insist there are no hard feelings
By THOMAS KOROSEC
Houston Chronicle Dallas Bureau
IRVING - Although they insist they harbor no ill feelings toward the Dallas Cowboys, city leaders in this suburb want to collect approximately $15 million in new fees from fans during the team's last three seasons at Texas Stadium.
Irving is asking voters in a Saturday election to approve a 10 percent ticket tax, a $3 per car parking tax and a locker fee on players, although city officials agreed last month that the tax on players will not be collected.
So is Irving feeling jilted over Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' decision to move to a new $650 million taxpayer-financed stadium in nearby Arlington in 2009?
"We're not bitter, not at all," said Irving Mayor Herbert Gears. "Of course we're disappointed with what we're going to lose. But we're likely to have something in that place that generates more economic impact than the stadium did."
The new fees would help Irving redevelop the city-owned 90-acre site, Gears said, paying for either demolition of the 1971-vintage stadium or one of several redevelopment scenarios. Among them is a proposal to keep the distinctive roof — the dome with the hole in the middle — and remove the bowl below and its 65,675 seats. There are no specific plans, and most people believe it is headed for the wrecking ball.
Some residents are less politic about the prospect of slapping new taxes on the team and its fans.
"It's our way of sticking it to Jerry," said Terry Evans, 24, a student who was having lunch one recent afternoon at the Irving Mall. "What can they do, leave early?"
Peter Connor, a 34-year-old paralegal eating at the same food court, said, "This time, the shoe's on the other foot. It's usually some team threatening to leave town unless someone comes up with, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars."
Only one person, Don Van Slyke, has registered with the city to raise and spend money to campaign against the proposal. "For the fans, this is taxation without representation," said the 58-year-old retired salesman. "The majority of people affected won't vote on this and that really disturbs me."
Van Slyke admits he is not exactly a fan. "I went to one game and I used to watch them on TV when Roger Staubach was quarterback," he said, referring to an era that ended in 1979 with the retirement of the Hall of Fame quarterback. Still, he said his dislike of most forms of taxation spurred him to action.
The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce is leading the campaign for the new fees, which would cost each fan about $10 a game.
"Our main message is that these state-approved user fees would be collected for the next three years and if they aren't, city taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the stadium once the Cowboys leave," said Chris Wallace, the chamber's president and chief executive officer. Demolition alone is expected to cost about $11 million, he said.
By THOMAS KOROSEC
Houston Chronicle Dallas Bureau
IRVING - Although they insist they harbor no ill feelings toward the Dallas Cowboys, city leaders in this suburb want to collect approximately $15 million in new fees from fans during the team's last three seasons at Texas Stadium.
Irving is asking voters in a Saturday election to approve a 10 percent ticket tax, a $3 per car parking tax and a locker fee on players, although city officials agreed last month that the tax on players will not be collected.
So is Irving feeling jilted over Cowboys owner Jerry Jones' decision to move to a new $650 million taxpayer-financed stadium in nearby Arlington in 2009?
"We're not bitter, not at all," said Irving Mayor Herbert Gears. "Of course we're disappointed with what we're going to lose. But we're likely to have something in that place that generates more economic impact than the stadium did."
The new fees would help Irving redevelop the city-owned 90-acre site, Gears said, paying for either demolition of the 1971-vintage stadium or one of several redevelopment scenarios. Among them is a proposal to keep the distinctive roof — the dome with the hole in the middle — and remove the bowl below and its 65,675 seats. There are no specific plans, and most people believe it is headed for the wrecking ball.
Some residents are less politic about the prospect of slapping new taxes on the team and its fans.
"It's our way of sticking it to Jerry," said Terry Evans, 24, a student who was having lunch one recent afternoon at the Irving Mall. "What can they do, leave early?"
Peter Connor, a 34-year-old paralegal eating at the same food court, said, "This time, the shoe's on the other foot. It's usually some team threatening to leave town unless someone comes up with, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars."
Only one person, Don Van Slyke, has registered with the city to raise and spend money to campaign against the proposal. "For the fans, this is taxation without representation," said the 58-year-old retired salesman. "The majority of people affected won't vote on this and that really disturbs me."
Van Slyke admits he is not exactly a fan. "I went to one game and I used to watch them on TV when Roger Staubach was quarterback," he said, referring to an era that ended in 1979 with the retirement of the Hall of Fame quarterback. Still, he said his dislike of most forms of taxation spurred him to action.
The Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce is leading the campaign for the new fees, which would cost each fan about $10 a game.
"Our main message is that these state-approved user fees would be collected for the next three years and if they aren't, city taxpayers will have to foot the bill for the stadium once the Cowboys leave," said Chris Wallace, the chamber's president and chief executive officer. Demolition alone is expected to cost about $11 million, he said.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:28 AM
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