ARLINGTON, Texas — In a 7-2 vote on Tuesday, Arlington City Council approved funding to upgrade AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, effectively keeping the team in the city for at least another 29 years.
According to a report from WFAA, the city will be able to use sales and venue taxes to contribute $273 million to the renovation, while the team will invest $750 million. The decision will also extend the team’s lease at the stadium through 2055.
The move was not made without mixed support. WFAA reports that several critics of the measure argued that the vote should have gone to residents.
According to the outlet, the deal adds to a plan that received voter approval back in 2004, but city leaders say it won’t lead to new or increased taxes for residents.
Meanwhile, city leaders touted the long-term impacts of the investment on the local economy.
The Cowboys’ stadium has been in Arlington for the last 17 years — ever since the team moved from Irving, another Dallas suburb, in 2009.