The mayor of Dallas is setting up a city committee to bring in sports teams

DALAS – Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson redoubles his interests to lead Dallas to the second NFL team.

Mayor Johnson made headlines earlier this month by responding to an NFL tweet on CBS with a question about which city deserves a professional football expansion team. Obviously, Johnson made the field for Dallas.

“We are going to pass the Chicago subway and become the метро 3 subway in the United States, which will make us the largest U.S. subway WITHOUT 2 teams,” – Johnson said on twitter. “Football is king here. Dallas needs an expansion team and we will be able to withstand 2 @NFL teams better than Los Angeles or New York.”

In a city note Tuesday, Johnson announced the creation of a new city council committee aimed at attracting and maintaining professional sports franchises within the city.

The committee is called the Special Committee on the Recruitment and Preservation of Professional Sports.

Related: Another NFL team in North Texas? The mayor of Dallas believes the time has come

“Dallas is now the best sports city in the country,” said Mayor Johnson, who will serve as chairman of the committee. “But for too long Dallas has been too passive when it comes to attracting and retaining professional sports franchises. Dallas is a city of the big league, and this new committee will help us compete at the highest level. “

According to a press release from City Hall, Johnson is asking the committee to come up with a strategy to use the city’s existing assets and capabilities to attract expansion teams (such as this hypothetical NFL Dallas second franchise, Major League Baseball franchise and / or Women’s National Basketball Association’s franchise). Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars in Dallas.

“The city of Dallas has lost too many opportunities for professional development related to professional sports over the years,” Mayor Johnson wrote in a note. “The * Dallas * Cowboys are based in Frisco and play in Arlington. FC “Dallas” plays in the city of Frisco. Texas Rangers are playing in Arlington at a brand new stadium that was to be built in downtown Dallas. The * Dallas * Wings also play in Arlington. The Association of Professional Golfers of America no longer holds any tournaments in Dallas, as AT&T Byron Nelson now plays in McKean.

On the topic: How much are cowboys? Jerry doesn’t sell, but he has a price

These sentiments are consistent he sent his tweet on May 6thwhere Johnson said, “The City of Dallas will no longer allow teams that don’t actually have any of their assets located within our city to use our name, so if the NFL wants the Frisco Chargers or Frisco Jaguars to be their next expansion team, it is their call. “

Another aspect of this story is Johnson’s desire for the “second NFL team” to play their games in South Dallas, which he also wrote about. Opinions for this committee, on Johnson’s recommendation, include:

• Reconstruction of the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium in accordance with the standards of the National Football League and the Colosseum Fair Park in accordance with the standards of the Women’s National Basketball Association, including the use of funds available after voting “for” in the “Breimer Bill” elections in November 2022 .
• Turn Hensley Field into a professional sports stadium, world headquarters and / or gym.
• Potential state-owned models – such as the Green Bay Packers – for a new professional sports franchise in Dallas.
• Strategies to promote and encourage the participation of historically underrepresented groups – such as African Americans, Hispanics and women – are co-owned by any new professional sports franchise.

The Cotton Bowl at Fair Park has historically hosted the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1971, and is the annual Red River showdown site between UT and OU.

The committee consists of the following persons:

• Tenel Atkins, Member of the City Council (District 8) and Chairman of the Economic Development Committee and Special Committee on Legislative Affairs
• Adam Bazaldua, a member of the city council (7) which includes Fair Park and the chairman of the Committee on Quality of Life, Arts and Culture
• Paul Blackman, a member of the City Council (District 9) and chairs the Committee on Environment and Sustainability, which oversees the effort to rebuild the Hansley Field
• Casey Thomas, a member of the City Council (District 3) and chairs the Committee on Housing and Homelessness, whose county includes Hansley Field

“The city of Dallas boasts incredible assets and offers amazing opportunities for any professional sports franchise,” Johnson said. And we need to develop a game plan that will increase our competitiveness internationally, nationally, and in our region, which is the fastest growing major metropolitan area in the United States. ”

You can read the full city memorial here.