The Brownsville City Commission voted Tuesday night to endorse what could potentially be the first arena in Cameron County. Shown (from left) are Commissioner At-Large “B” Rose Gowen, Commissioner At-Large “A” John Cowen Jr., District 4 Commissioner Pedro Cardenas, Mayor Trey Mendez, District 1 Commissioner Nurith Galonsky Pizana, District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos and District 2 Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa. Alejandra Yañez/The Rider
Updated
The Brownsville City Commission voted last Tuesday to endorse what could potentially be the first arena in Cameron County, which would be used for graduation ceremonies, large concerts, sporting events and would boost economic stimulus.
The Cameron County Venue Arena Project is planned to be located at the crossroads of Interstate 69E and State Highway 100, which is north of Rancho Viejo, five minutes from the center of Brownsville and 10 minutes from Harlingen.
It will serve to “support efforts to improve the quality of life within Cameron County and to enhance local opportunities, host large concerts, major attractions and community events such as graduation ceremonies, as well as, enhance the economic stimulus that will benefit all businesses within our region and county that provide for hospitality and entertainment services,” according to agenda documents.
Melissa Elizardi, public relations officer and community outreach coordinator for Cameron County, said conversations about having UTRGV graduations at the arena are in the works.
“I know that certainly is a topic of discussion and conversation right now,” Elizardi said. “That is an ideal project use that we are looking forward to.”
The project will be funded by the visitors venue tax, which consists of hotel and motel occupancy and car rental taxes within the county.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. presented the item to the city commission and said some of the benefits of the project are that it will be of no cost to local taxpayers and that the construction phase will open up jobs to community members. The project developer is Madeira, according to Elizardi.
Pete Sepulveda Jr., Cameron County administrator, said the project is anticipated to cost $100 million and the building would measure 190,000 square feet.
Sepulveda also said the arena is projected to hold a capacity of 10,000 people.
The project is listed as Proposition A on the Nov. 2 Constitutional Amendment Election ballot.
“When all is said and done, I think it’s going to be one of the most, if not the most, beautiful locations in the entire Valley,” Treviño said.
If approved by voters, the project is projected to be completed in the next four to five years.
“The sooner we get started, the sooner we finish,” Treviño said.
General maintenance and operation of the arena is being discussed with sports teams, according to the county judge.
“This is long overdue and our community has deserved an arena of this magnitude for so long,” said District 2 City Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa. “I think it’s so sad that we have to travel more than 60 miles to see a basketball game or a show or anything like that, and this brings the possibility of a team or something exciting coming and making this their home. … The best thing about this is its relative closeness to Brownsville.”
District 3 Commissioner Roy De los Santos made the motion to approve the item and it was seconded by Tetreau-Kalifa.
“For the benefit of folks watching at home and taxpayers, this will not affect our local taxpayers and will not increase your property taxes,” De los Santos said. “And I think this is the type of advancement and development that we need to be doing more of. Commercial enterprise like this and more industry is what will get us to the point where we reduce our dependence on property taxes.”
