That confetti in the air is part of a celebration marking the start of construction of a Fort Worth Multi-Purpose Arena.
In Fort Worth not a lot happens, so when something does happen, or seems to happen, a big deal is made.
Such as years ago when a big TNT explosion's big boom marked the start of construction of three little bridges being built on dry land to connect the Fort Worth mainland to an imaginary island.
The construction of which has now been stalled for a year.
One can hope a similar stall does not hamper the construction of this simple arena destined to become a Fort Worth landmark, along with all those other well known Fort Worth landmarks.
This arena project came about as the result of a Fort Worth rarity. As in the public was allowed to, sort of, vote for it. Several years ago there was a ballot measure with three propositions relating to this arena, which if the voters approved these propositions this somehow obligated them to pay for half of the approximately half billion dollar arena, and approved the construction of the arena.
To approve the building of this arena voters voted yes on a fee on horse stalls, a tax on parking and a tax on ticket sales. Not an up or down vote on the arena, but instead voting on these three separate propositions.
You in democratic parts of America, and the world, I am not making this up, this is really how this arena came to be approved by the voters.
And now in this Dickies Arena will become Fort Worth landmark, CEO says article we learn that naming this arena after well known work pants is a great fit, according to the work pants maker...
Phillip Williamson, chairman and CEO, whose great-grandfather and grandfather helped found the company in 1922, said it was a natural fit to gain the naming rights. The workwear company is long time sponsors of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, he said.
“We’re committed and passionate about continuing to ensure Fort Worth remains one of the fastest growing cities in the nation,” Williamson said. “We couldn’t be prouder to have the Dickies name on an arena that will become one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city.”
The article did not inform us as to how much Dickies paid to have the new Fort Worth arena have the Dickies name, or what other entities, if any, submitted naming bids.
I found the following paragraph to be interestingly confusing...
The city has already raised $25 million for the arena and in mid-July expects to issue special tax revenue bonds for the remainder. Voters approved the project in a special referendum in 2014. The city will pay the debt through hotel occupancy taxes, a car rental tax as well as revenues generated by taxes at the arena itself.
Okay, back in the 2014 referendum I do not remember mention made of these other revenue generating methods being part of what the voters approved. The Bass Gang was supposed to pay for the other half of the cost, with the public half raised by those aforementioned means, such as renting horse stalls.
And then there is this badly written paragraph which I assume the Star-Telegram editors, if they still have any, will fix...
The Stock Show moved from the Coliseum in the Stockyards in north Fort Worth to the Will Rogers in 1945. Bass called said it “was an historic move and defines what we are.”
Was that last sentence intended to be "Bass, when called on the phone, said it "was an historic move and defines what we are."
Yeah, I would agree with that, making a big deal out of this arena, and calling it Dickies, really does sort of define what Fort Worth is....
ReplyDelete"The Fort Worth Way," first heard this term from former Mayor Mike Moncrief in council meetings. The tradition continues. Parking lots for the desired arena were underway before the public voted. Asked before the vote if there was a traffic plan for an already overloaded area...."No" said the ruling class. Neighborhood residents knew The Fort Worth Way had its plan in the works and the vote was irrelevant.