Arlington considers $273 million for AT&T Stadium upgrades to keep Cowboys through 2055

Arlington considers $273 million for AT&T Stadium upgrades to keep Cowboys through 2055

Arlington officials are considering up to $273 million in public funding to help modernize AT&T Stadium and lock in the Dallas Cowboys’ presence in the city for another 17 years.

The proposal will come before the Arlington City Council at its meeting next Tuesday. It calls for the city to contribute up to $273 million while the Cowboys invest at least $750 million in stadium improvements. The deal would extend the team’s lease through 2055. The current agreement expires in 2038.

City leaders plan to pay for their portion using revenue from existing venue taxes approved by voters for the original stadium project in 2004 and the Texas Rangers development in 2016. Those taxes have generated more money than anticipated, and the city paid off its original $325 million stadium debt last August — a decade early — saving more than $150 million in interest.

The upgrades would include interior stadium enhancements, road and bridge improvements around the venue, and bolstered security measures. Officials say the investment would help sustain AT&T Stadium as a top-tier destination for sports and entertainment events, including nine matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Dallas Cowboys are a major economic engine for Arlington, generating an estimated $342 million in annual economic impact. The proposed extension is expected to produce billions more in regional benefits over the coming decades.

Arlington paid $325M to help build AT&T Stadium for the Dallas Cowboys. Now Arlington City Council will vote on whether to spend hundreds of millions to keep them.

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