A day after the city of Arlington unveiled a proposal for a
$140M multi-use arena, Dallas city leaders proceeded with their
own discussions on a new downtown arena. The city agreed to add
more luxury suites and move the site of the planned facility.
The Stars had asked for more suites and luxury seating, and the
city increased the number to more than 100, up from 65. Dallas
Mayor Steve Bartlett: "We said, fine, if you can lease them,
we'll build 150." Dallas officials also lowered their cost
estimate on the arena from $184M to $142M. Bartlett said despite
attempts by other cities to lure the teams out of Dallas, he was
confident the city would "rise to the challenge and complete a
new arena by 1997" (Kathryn Hopper, FORT WORTH STAR TELEGRAM,
11/17).
ARLINGTON STORIES: Two days ago, Arlington joined the TX
cities of Lewisville and Irving to make a proposal to the Mavs
and the Stars. The Arlington plan, an "admitted longshot" to get
the teams, was portrayed in diagrams as a red brick structure to
complement the design of The Ballpark, home to the Rangers.
Stars President Jim Lites said he liked the numbers presented in
Arlington's proposal: "We'll take it. We'll kick the tires,
drive it around the block a few times. It sounds good." Mavs
Owner Donald Carter said he still intends to "make every attempt"
to keep the Mavs in Dallas, but calls Lewisville his first choice
(Joe Stebbins, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/16). Carter is
helping fund a study in Lewisville, where he has agreed to
purchase 75 acres of land (Kathryn Hopper, FORT WORTH STAR
TELEGRAM, 11/17). Lites expects the Stars and the Mavs to make a
decision on the new arena within the next 60 days (Joe Stebbins,
FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/16).
