Dallas stadium proposal approved in City Council re-vote

The proposal to built a 3,500 seat multi-purpose stadium at the historic Reverchon Park site in Dallas has been approved by City Council after the matter was re-tabled in Wednesday’s Council meeting. After failing in its initial attempt last month, the project headed by Donnie Nelson was passed by a landslide with 11 of 15 members in favor.

It’s a stunning turnaround in fortunes from early December. The original vote saw an even 7-7 with one absentee, leaving the project seemingly dead in the water. East Dallas Councillor David Blewett called for a re-vote and an opportunity to re-negotiate specific parts of the deal. While the changes in their entirety were not revealed, an increase in revenue and the establishment of a ‘user advisory group’ were among the amendments.

Prior to the City Council vote, members of the public were given an opportunity to speak on the record. A large number were in attendance and numerous persons both in favor and against the proposal voiced their opinions. Some of the concerns given by citizens seemed to be misinformed with several claiming the park would become privatized. Others cited the lack of studies, such as the effect on local traffic, and residential consultation.

The final public speaker was Paul Ondrej, a board member from the Friends of Reverchon Park. He clarified that those studies and consultations were in fact not allowed to take place until the Council voted in favor of the Request for Proposal. Ondrej also shot down the privatization claims, reiterating that the stadium itself would remain property of the city.

Councillor Cara Mendelsohn was the absent member from the first vote in December. In the new hearing she was among the proposal’s strongest supporters. Mendelsohn spoke of the city’s $2 billion dollar debt and the lack of public funding to re-build the decrepit ballpark.

“We’re going to have a re-built park, with an all-ability field, and we’re going to do it without our tax dollars. We’re going to continue to own it. We’re going to have more people actually enjoying this park, and have something to do in Dallas. How many of us have seen a rugby game in person? I’m looking forward to doing that for the first time.”

Nelson’s proposal will cover the cost of renovation in its entirety with an agreement to lease the land from the city. While the result does not guarantee the stadium’s construction, it’s a major step in the process and the project can now move ahead after being on the verge of collapse. Major League Rugby is heading to Dallas in 2021, and Reverchon Park now looks set to be its first home.