Texas Stadium: New Home to the Dallas Cowboys, Loss of Home to Texas Residents

With the end of football season, many Texans are eagerly anticipating a new historical landmark in the legacy of Dallas Cowboys football; a new football stadium anticipated in August of 2009. After many political, social and economical pitfalls, the new football stadium is in the erection process, full swing, in a key area situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Situated in Arlington, Texas, the new football stadium, to replace Texas Stadium, is anticipated to bring revenue to the City of Arlington, improve retail and restaurant business revenue and, with it, increase traffic congestion in an area already congested by events held at the nearby Ameriquest Field, home to the Texas Rangers baseball team. So, what do residents of Arlington, Texas think of the change?

For most residents of Arlington, Texas, the erection of the new football stadium in central Arlington is viewed as a welcome addition to the popular retail area. However, for the residents who once resided in the homes where the new football stadium is under construction, this replacement of the Texas Stadium did not come without protest. Because the new football stadium is located within an older residential area, the City of Arlington was required to approve the sale and demolition of residential homes in the area. As a result, this led many homeowners into a forced sale of property which, for some, was considered family real estate. But, that was not the end of the dilemma.

For some homeowners, obtaining a fair sale price for the Arlington, Texas, home was a daunting task. With bid offers on real estate significantly low, many homeowners were facing situations in which the monetary compensation for the demolition of the homes was not comparable to economic impact of moving that homeowner into a new residence. For many, the homes in Arlington were owned without a mortgage lender involved. When bought from the homeowner, these Texas residents were then faced with a significant amount of sale money however these long time Arlington, Texas, residents were no longer capable of purchasing comparable real estate property in Arlington, Texas. As a result, many Arlington residents were forced to relocate to other Texas locations.

To compound the issue further, these same Arlington, Texas, homeowners, following the forced sale of their residential property, were faced with another dilemma. Once living in a home owned, some Arlington, Texas, residents were now required to provide proof of credit worthiness in an effort to secure new residence and, in a few cases, the financial turmoil only complicated life during the sale of the real estate. Added to this issue were the few Arlington, Texas, residents who suffered from criminal background issues which further prohibited options for purchasing or renting within a new residential area.

As the new football stadium is erected, football fans all over the country eagerly await the day to visit and watch America's team, the Dallas Cowboys, play football. However, when visiting this new replacement of Texas Stadium, take a moment to reflect on the significant number of families who made a sacrifice of home and life in the name of American sports.