Arlington Mayor Jim Ross said the recently approved $273 million in improvements to and around AT&T Stadium will deliver “some radically different things” for fans, according to a report from journalists on the scene. The upgrades aim to reshape how people get to and from the venue, with a heavy focus on safety.
Ross pointed to pedestrian safety as a “critically important thing around AT&T Stadium.” He described plans for what he called “magnificent, Las Vegas-style, big, wide decorative pedestrian crossovers” that would move people from the west side of Collins Street to the stadium area “in a safe, protective way.”
The Las Vegas comparison is specific. That city’s pedestrian bridges use escalators to lift people over six lanes of traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard. According to the report, adding similar structures to a few intersections around AT&T Stadium would “dramatically change, and improve, how fans can walk in and around the venue.”
Related: Tech Leaders Gather for Annual Summit
A direct response to a recent tragedy
Ross also addressed vehicle attacks. He said the city will install “decorative barriers that keep people from doing stuff like what happened in New Orleans, where a crazy person drove his truck into people.”
He was referring to the Jan. 1, 2025 attack on Bourbon Street, where a driver plowed a pickup truck into a crowd, killing 14 people and injuring more than 50. The streets immediately surrounding AT&T Stadium currently have no barriers on the sidewalks, the report noted.
That kind of vulnerability is not unique to Arlington. Many large stadiums across the country have retrofitted their perimeters with bollards, planters, or concrete blocks since the 2016 Nice truck attack and the 2017 New York City bike path attack. The city’s plan appears to follow that broader trend in public venue security.
Related: Lab created diamonds and the latest pop up shops
Ross promised other changes to AT&T Stadium itself, “including those that the average fan may not see during a football game, or concert,” according to the report. He did not detail those internal upgrades.
What the money actually covers
The $273 million package was approved by the Arlington City Council. It covers both stadium renovations and surrounding infrastructure. The stadium, which opened in 2009, is home to the Dallas Cowboys and hosts major events like the Cotton Bowl, the Big 12 championship game, and concerts.
AT&T Stadium already draws massive crowds. It holds up to 105,000 people for events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will bring matches to the venue. That global spotlight likely pushed some of the safety and pedestrian improvements forward faster than they might have otherwise happened.
Related: What are the famous Wigs?
One question lingers: how much of the $273 million will go to the crossovers and barriers versus the internal stadium work. The mayor did not provide a breakdown. The city has not released a detailed line-item budget for the project as of this writing.
Some residents have raised concerns about the scale of the spending. Arlington is a mid-sized city with a population around 400,000, and its tax base is heavily reliant on entertainment and tourism. Critics argue the money could go toward roads, drainage, or schools. Ross has framed the investment as essential for keeping the stadium competitive with newer venues around the country.
The Las Vegas-style crossovers are not a done deal yet. They require design approvals and likely further council votes. But the mayor’s language suggests the city is moving fast. “You can expect to see” was how he put it — not “we hope to build.”