Arlington will make its final $22.6 million payment for AT&T Stadium on August 15, completing the debt nearly a decade ahead of schedule and avoiding more than $150 million in projected interest and fees.
“This week, the City of Arlington will pay off its obligation for AT&T Stadium debt a decade early, saving more than $150 million in interest and fees than was projected when voters approved the project,” said Susan Schrock in a city announcement.
City Manager Trey Yelverton said the milestone stems from a voter-approved financing plan passed in November 2004, when residents agreed to contribute $325 million toward the stadium’s construction. The funding package included a 0.5% sales tax, 2% hotel occupancy tax, and 5% rental car tax. The remaining costs were covered by the Dallas Cowboys and other private sources as part of the public-private partnership.
The original repayment schedule anticipated the debt lasting until 2034, with hundreds of millions in interest payments over the life of the bonds. City officials said higher-than-expected revenues, refinancing, and early redemption strategies accelerated the payoff by nearly a decade.
With the obligation retired, freed-up revenue can be redirected to other priorities, such as Globe Life Field debt service. The payoff coincides with preparations for high-profile international events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, expected to generate a substantial economic boost according to FIFA and the Dallas Host Committee.
City officials called the early payoff a successful example of public-private stadium financing that reduced the taxpayer burden compared to initial projections.
