Arlington, located approximately 13 miles east of Fort Worth, is currently hosting a significant portion of the FIFA World Cup crowd at AT&T Stadium, which has received widespread praise from international visitors and media. Despite the stadium's success, city officials and business owners are focusing on the challenges of keeping those visitors within Arlington rather than losing them to neighboring cities like Dallas or Fort Worth.
A primary concern is the condition of North Collins Street, which serves as the main gateway to the stadium and the downtown business district along Abram Street. The road, designated as Farm Road 157, is described as a five-lane concrete highway that lacks landscaping or beautification. Utility lines and large commercial signs dominate the streetscape, with many surrounding properties dating back to the 1970s and 1980s. The street is managed by the state rather than the city, limiting Arlington's ability to implement changes such as medians or improved pedestrian safety features that are being added to similar roads in other Texas communities.
The distance between the stadium and downtown attractions presents a barrier for pedestrians. While the Caravan Court hotel and the Rodeo Goat hamburger grill are within a half-mile walk from the stadium parking lot, the busy nature of Collins Street discourages foot traffic. In contrast, Fort Worth offers a public shuttle service, whereas Arlington’s only tourist shuttle is restricted to hotel guests along East Lamar Boulevard, which is in the opposite direction of downtown.
Economic impacts of the tournament are unevenly distributed among local merchants. Randy Ford, owner of J. Gilligan’s Bar & Grill, reported that more than 1,250 fans used shuttle services for the Norway versus Ivory Coast match on June 30. He noted that his establishment is selling up to six times more burgers and beers on match days compared to regular periods.
