Arena proposal returns for vote

County revisits arena proposal in hopes of student voters

The multi-use arena made its return into the 2025 Cameron County ballot for the third time since 2022.

In 2021, the arena was first introduced into the ballot and was voted against with a difference of 75 voters.

During the May 2022 election, 49% voted for the arena and 51% voted against it. 

Eddie Treviño Jr., Cameron County judge, said the arena, which is listed as Proposition A, is important because it serves multiple purposes.

“It provides a venue to be able to host events from concerts to graduations to sporting events,” Treviño said. “It also helps become a tourist attraction for those events that we’re able to host here in Cameron County.”

He said the multi-use arena is part of a master plan for the county.

“We’re trying to plan it so that we can take advantage of its location and also its proximity to this master plan development, which is hoping to have retail and commercial establishments nearby, including hotels and, therefore, being able to bring in conferences and, or conventions that right now we don’t have the facilities to do,” he said.

The arena, costing approximately $170-250 million, will be paid for using Hotel Occupancy Tax, which is when hotel owners, operators or managers must collect state HOT from their guests who rent a room or space in a hotel, according to the Texas Comptroller website.

Treviño said the constant complaints that Cameron County receives comes from UTRGV moving its graduation ceremony to Edinburg.

“[Having an arena to host graduation] was something that many of the people here in Cameron County, especially the students at UTRGV, indicated they were very much in support of,” he said. “So, we thought that this would be another, hopefully, a good final opportunity to get the support.”

UTRGV President Guy Bailey, stated in a letter sent to Treviño Feb. 10, that the arena would receive support from the university.

“I understand the arena project is still being considered by Cameron County and I want you to know the completion of such a venue is not only a critical step forward for Cameron County but would be welcomed and strongly supported by UTRGV,” Bailey stated in the letter.

Treviño encourages students to vote during the election period.

“If the kids 18 to 24 get out to vote knowing that this particular facility would be there for the long term, for their benefit, for the economic development draw that it would attract for the tourism, I can’t see any reason why they would vote against it,” he said.

Computer engineering junior Jorge Garza said the proposal for the arena will help to build the community.

“I think it’s a great idea because honestly, it’ll bring more people over here and more economic growth, and overall it’ll have a better effect than a negative effect,” Jorge Garza said.

Remi Garza, Cameron County election administrator, said the arena being in the ballot will increase overall turnout for the election.

If passed, the arena will take three to five years for completion, according to Treviño.

The proposition will be known as Proposition A during this year’s early voting, which started last week and runs through Tuesday. Election day is Saturday.

–Hugo A. Sepúlveda contributed to this report.