The city of Frisco and Frisco ISD are poised to reap the rewards of a development deal bringing the Dallas Cowboys and possibly billions in tax revenue to the area.
The city and school district have agreed to spend a combined $115 million for the building of an indoor stadium, event facility and new world corporate headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys. Surrounding the 25-acre complex will eventually be 66 acres of shopping, dining and lodging.
The return for the investment is expected to be billions of dollars poured into the Frisco economy throughout the next 30 years, said city officials. Frisco ISD will have another stadium for sports and school activities and will realize savings of more than $250,000 annually in stadium maintenance costs.
"We're elated to partner with the entire Dallas Cowboys organization and the Jones family," Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said. "Having a partner of this caliber is a perfect fit for our community."
The multi-use special events and sports facility, along with the Cowboys world corporate headquarters, will be built on the northwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and Warren Parkway. The complex will be home to the team's entire football operation, including administrative offices, coaches' offices and the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
"A powerhouse brand like the Dallas Cowboys will attract other quality and specialty brands, creating a unique destination with approximately 2 million feet of commercial space," said Jim Gandy, president of the Frisco Economic Development Corp. "This public-private partnership establishing the Dallas Cowboys in Frisco is as good as it gets. It's like winning the economic development 'super bowl.'"
The Cowboys will lease the stadium from the city of Frisco at a cost of at least $100,000 annually for use as a practice facility and have agreed to pay all maintenance and operations costs. The team will employ at least 150 full-time employees at the Frisco complex.
Dallas Cowboys Chief Operating Officer Stephen Jones said there is not yet an exact timeline for construction for the complex, but plans are to break ground within a year and have "footballs flying" by fall 2016.
FISD and the city of Frisco will pay a fixed operation cost to the Cowboys for use of the facility, which includes a 12,000-seat indoor football field and stadium and two outdoor fields.
The fixed fee in the agreement is $2,200 per day for an event with less than 1,500
