As the Dallas Cowboys spend the off-season planning how to get to the playoffs, Irving officials are making plans of their own.
Irving leaders want Cowboys fans to fork over up to a 10 percent ticket tax and a $3-per-vehicle tax starting this fall. The city also wants to levy up to a $5,000 fee per game on each team member, which would probably be a first in Texas.
But some die-hard fans say they shouldn't be penalized for catching a game. They say the taxes may cause them to attend fewer games during the team's final three seasons at Texas Stadium. One sports economist called the player fee peculiar.
Irving officials say they're just taking advantage of a state law that allows cities to collect a variety of taxes to fund sports and community venues. The suburb would use the money - about $30 million over three years - to develop the stadium land once the Cowboys head to a new home in Arlington in 2009.
The issue has fans like Stanley LeBlanc incensed.
"It's terrible," the Carrollton resident said. "They're basically sticking it to the fans. They're price-gouging the fans."
Fellow fan Stephen Drinnon, 46, agreed. He's followed the Cowboys since he was a youngster and said fans shouldn't be obligated to fund the city's plans.
"Irving should bear the burden of transforming the stadium," the Dallas resident said. "Let the new users of the property fund the new use of the facility."
For now, the tax man is waiting in the wings. The state comptroller is reviewing Irving's proposal after the City Council this month approved a resolution that designates the stadium as a sports and community venue project. The council would call an election pending comptroller approval, so Irving voters could decide in May whether to give the council the option to impose the taxes.
If the council imposed the maximum 10 percent ticket tax, the average Cowboys ticket price - about $66 this season - would go up nearly $7. Parking near the stadium already costs at least $15 per vehicle.
Irving Mayor Herbert Gears isn't worried about fan reaction. He says he's trying to keep his city's best interests in mind. Other Texas cities have used a state law to impose similar taxes to build venues.
Arlington City Council members last year approved a 10 percent ticket tax and $3 parking tax for events at the new Cowboys stadium - money that will be used by the Cowboys to pay for the team's expected $325 million share of the stadium.
"We're requiring that whoever comes to the facility pay fees that are associated with the maintenance and upkeep of the facility," Mr. Gears said. "I'm not concerned about the rest of the world and what they think about how we operate our stadium business."
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