Comments on: Should Dallas Fight For Apples Instead of Arenas?

By: UPDad

UPDad — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:55:53 +0000

At an SMU lunch last year, Jerry himself said that Laura Miller told him to go build the stadium in Arlington. I don’t know why he would make that up, what he has to gain from that? The bottom line is that like any businessman, he needed to make the best deal he could. Arlington wanted it. Miller was a long-time vocal opponent to taxes funding any portion of a stadium. The Cowboys continued discussions well after Fair Park was brought up as a preferred location by the city, but they needed a referendum on a ballot at the next election, and Miller and Kelliher adamantly refused, so the Cowboys had to move on. Beside what Jones had to say at that luncheon last year, these facts are supported by news reports at the time from the Dallas Morning News.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:15:15 +0000

MGBHStar,

I understand that many businesses have closed around the AAC, but, in general, this area is light years ahead of where it was before 2000. Remember, it was an industrial wasteland then, and now there is construction all around it. I suppose one could make the argument that the area would have grown even without the AAC, but I don’t believe it.

By: JR

JR — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:03:30 +0000

UPDad, Laura Miller told Jerry that that Dallas could do his stadium deal at Fair Park and Jerry imediately said no because he said his sponsors would not go to Fair Park. The deal made much more sense for Dallas financially at Fair Park than the original site Jerry suggested on South Industrial. There are 5 Apple stores in the Dallas area with Northpark,Knox,Willow Bend, Stonebrier and Southlake.

By: MGBHStar

MGBHStar — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:23:06 +0000

AAC area now thriving? @Charles, don’t know when the last time you were down there, but it’s a wasteland unless there is a Mavs or Stars game or Concert. Numerous retail and restaurants have failed in the area. It was not a bad place to put the Arena, but subsequent development efforts have not been successful.

By: UPDad

UPDad — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:13:11 +0000

How much improved would the Fair Park area be if Laura Miller and “Judge” Margaret Kelleher had not prevented the Cowboys from building their stadium there? Why do cities not think twice about giving businesses tax breaks to move their headquarters to their city, but they go all up in arms about spending money for a stadium that brings life and vibrancy to the area? It’s little wonder that downtown Dallas is an unsafe ghost town at night.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:26:47 +0000

The first two comments are right on the money: Apple stores go to areas that are already affluent. On the other hand, American Airlines Center was built in an economic wasteland of an area that is now a thriving, affluent enclave. I think what scares Forbes is that some taxpayer money must go into the creation of an arena, even though it is recouped many times over.

By: Greenhill

Greenhill — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:03:11 +0000

maybe the lake highlands towncenter

By: Old Man

Old Man — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 03:30:15 +0000

Also Apple Stores in Frisco and Southlake

By: zaner

zaner — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 02:53:46 +0000

TiB took the words right out of my mouth. Tail wagging the dog.

By: This is Backward

This is Backward — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:33:24 +0000

The apple stores have all gone in areas that were affluent already – that’s the whole reason locations have been attractive to apple in the first place.