Come November 2, Cameron County voters will have a chance to vote for a multi-purpose arena and convention center that is projected to generate an annual impact of almost $4 million to communities and workers in the local economy.
And the beauty of it is that it will not increase property taxes or cost anything to local taxpayers and will be paid through revenues generated by visitors to the events at the arena. County officials say it is a golden opportunity that will create jobs, increase county-tax revenue, and bring visitors to the area.
The proposition that will be on the November 2 ballot states that funding for the project will be financed through bonds issued by Cameron County to be paid by funds from the hotel-motel occupancy tax and rental car fees.
The South Texas Eco-Tourism Center at Laguna Vista was funded through a venue tax (Visitors tax) as was Cameron County's Amphitheater and Events Center at South Padre Island.
A feasibility study was completed that analyzed all the new project's relevant factors and its impact on all of Cameron County and all the communities within a 50-mile radius of the project.
It is to be located near the intersection of Expressway 77-83 and Texas Highway 100.
Other communities across the state, notably San Antonio, has used this funding method to construct major arenas, including the AT&T Center, home of the San Antonio Spurs. Although not as large, the Cameron County area/convention center will have a capacity of between 8,000 to 10,000.
AT&T seats 18,418 for basketball, 6,151 for ice hockey, and 19,000 for concerts or gatherings, and contains 2,018 club seats, 50 luxury suites and 32 bathrooms.
It was opened in 2002 as the SBC Center, at a cost of $175 million, also financed by county-issued bonds, which were supported by a hotel-occupancy and car-rental tax increase and an additional contribution of $28.5 million from the Spurs.
SBC Communications, Inc., purchased the naming rights to the facility under a 20-year, $41 million naming rights agreement with Bexar County, the San Antonio Spurs, and the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo in July 2000. SBC Communications changed its name to AT&T Inc. November 2005. The arena officially changed its name to AT&T Center in January 2006.
Bexar County voters approved the plan in November 1999.
In addition to many local community and sporting events, the center hosts San Antonio Sports Car Association autocross competitions in the parking lot each month.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association holds the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and an Xtreme Bulls tour event annually there. The Rodeo is held in February, necessitating the Spurs and Rampage to make long road trips during this time (commonly referred to as the "Rodeo Road Trip").
The Professional Bull Riders hosted a Built Ford Tough Series event there in 2009 (an event previously held at the Alamodome in 2007 and 2008). Since May 2013, the venue has also hosted the annual Bud Light River City Rockfest.
In addition to many local community and sporting events, the center hosts San Antonio Sports Car Association autocross competitions in the parking lot each month.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association holds the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and an Xtreme Bulls tour event annually there. The Rodeo is held in February, necessitating the Spurs and Rampage to make long road trips during this time (commonly referred to as the "Rodeo Road Trip").
The Professional Bull Riders hosted a Built Ford Tough Series event there in 2009 (an event previously held at the Alamodome in 2007 and 2008). Since May 2013, the venue has also hosted the annual Bud Light River City Rockfest.
Similar events are planned for the Cameron County Multi-Purpose Arena and Convention Center, according to county officials.
19 comments:
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs law returning beachfront land stripped from Black family
It will never happen in texas as long as the racist republicans control all of texas and La Isla del Padre and other stolen lands, will remain as they are, stolen properties.
CHIEF FELIX SAUCEDA'S Incompetent leadership continues to shine!
CHIEF SAUCEDA WITH LAWSUIT MOUNTING AND NOW LAWSUITS COMING FROM WITHIN AS Chief Sauceda has now injured several Officers they were all injured at the shooting range as Chief Sauceda has ordered Officers to shoot and exchange gunfire from vehicles.
Sauceda claims to have read a book on gun fighting and Now is an expert on the matter!
One Officer was even shot in the arm during the UNSAFE DRILLS while others were taken to the ER with fragments that had to be removed..
All Officers have been blamed for their own injuries as Sauceda and his incompetent staff continue on their dismal leadership..
#worstchiefever
Pinche eneno culero!!
What is not mentioned here is the price tag of &1.3 BILLION and it’s considered to be the anchor for a development being built by the Argüelles family who will be directly profiting from this as it will be used in in there marketing plan to promote their diverse development.
“Us poor Mexicans just want the same thing as everybody else even though most of us Mexicans couldn’t survive without welfare...Thank-you Potato-Head Biden for making welfare a lifestyle. Now I can go back to grilling and drinking beer in my barrio ese.” Bawhahahahahau
Not a good deal. this is not the right time for this type of deal.
Juanito:
I just saw a stop sign and a traffic signal light on bike trails. Is this legal one is on a state road.
Now what's next?
Feasibility study has NOT been completed.
Will not be completed for a couple months.
Price of project?? $100,000,000??
$125,000,000??
$500,000 monthly debt payment.
That’s a lot of “venue tax” and hotel/motel tax.
The numbers just do not work out.
That sounds like san bene’s epic center/blue lagoon they plan to build near the expressway that will elevate the city to the top.
Another Cameron County Commissioner Court boondoggle that will benefit mostly their favorite contractors. One of the Court members recently said one of the classic politicians lines: “it won’t cost taxpayers a dime”. How many times have we heard that?? Do you really believe that garbage??
Does anyone remember the $20+ million second causeway?? The money vaporized! I wonder where that money came from and which politicians benefited??
Go take a look at the Harlingen Convention Center that can’t attract flies. Ask the Hilton next door to them how they are doing!
Check in on Bass Pro to see how they are making out…they are not long for the City. The City of Harlingen and the EDC committed over $100 million dollars of taxpayer monies to these white elephants just so the worthless politicians could prance around town bragging about the incredible growth that Harlingen was having!
Pathetic. Nothing changes. Same old shit show! 🤮💩🤪👹🤯🤡🙄🥴😵💫🤮
But what will they name it: Home of the turds, RATA DOME, LA MORDIDA AUDITORIUM, MOCHATE CENTER, PUB Public Under Bribery Dome, FLOOD CENTER...
AND DON'T FORGET BUILT IT CLOSE TO WHERE IT FLOOOOOOOOOOODS.....
just call it "La Trey".
Back in the day, Brownsville had the Jacob Brown. I remember seeing Olivia Newton-John, Willie Nelson, and mexican artists like Vicente Fernandez, Juan Gabriel, Yolanda del Rio; KGBT would do "Senorita KGBT", during the 9-11 attacks I remember being there watching live conference with author Carlos Fuentes. Then, ambitious politicians started to get elected and the two major cities in Cameron county are behind in infrastructure and workforce. Hobby Lobby comes to Brownsville and they make it like we have a Macy's. We don't need a big arena, we need locals to bring manufacturing, and for state and national politicians to start looking at the population as more than welfare hispanics. There are a lot of citizens living in the north side of town that are educated and are not politically involved. Educate the Portway, Southmost, Cameron Park, Las Prietas residents to stop voting for promises not kept. Downtown has NOT been revitalized, and they want an arena?! Start small. Downtown, do a better job on Boca Chica, do more police in the barrios, then move to middle size then big. Don't skip the steps because you trip and fall.
October 2, 2021 at 7:40 AM
Didn't los pendejos over at mercedes build a center in the middle of a resaca? And it sank!!!!
memsos
Y el friendship garden? don't built it close to the river the feds will wanna buy it y los mamones lo venden otra vez.
Traffic galore, flooding uncontrollable, airport invisible, paybacks at a record high, no downtown, catering only to drunks, homeless and the rich and famous and wanna beees. Why would I come here for? FUSTRATIONS? NOTHING TO DO CITY. GPS SHOULD JUST NOT SHOW THIS AREA NO WHERE
Why build a massive convention center in the middle of nowhere? It needs daily activity to survive - stores, restaurants, etc. Like McAllen's CC, it will sit mostly empty 80% of the time and only looks successful or "busy" because of shoppers at Palm's Crossing nearby. Madeira will take decades to get to that point.
October 3, 2021 at 9:47 AM
Fats Domino play there, Jim Croce - Time in a bottle was in route here but never made it, his plane crashed, War played there also.
October 1, 2021 at 1:42 PM
Idiota and you complain about insults to hillbillys pinche pendejetes The original huevones are the hillbills the soup lines and hobos are hillbilly originals. Welfare was designed for them now its call home dad but most don't have children nor a pendeja vieja to support their asses. El idiotismo sigue bola de mamones
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