What Happens to Arco Arena?
If the new arena deal goes through and a new arena emerges in the railyards, what happens to Arco? Beware that the taxpayers don’t get another surprise bill. In Dallas, the old arena, known as the Reunion Arena, has lost more than $4.5M over the past three years. When the new arena, the American Airlines Center, was built it received a sweet deal – a non-compete clause with Reunion. So American Airlines Center gets the right of first refusal for every event suitable for its size. It’s castoff cousin, Reunion Center, is left with the dregs – hence the large losses. And yes, there were big plans for redevelopment of the site of the old arena, but no deal has come together three years later. Ask questions. Make sure you know all of the answers. Minimize surprises down the road.
