Council backs Cameron County resolution to add arena to existing venue tax; county commissioner sought local support

Cameron County Precinct 1 Commissioner Sophia Benavides asked the City Council to support a county resolution that would add a proposed arena project to the county’s existing venue-tax list. The council voted to adopt Resolution No. 2025-04 in support of the county’s plan to place the addition on an upcoming election ballot.

Benavides told the council the county’s plan would construct a centralized arena to serve the Valley for graduations, university events and entertainment and said it would be a public–private partnership. She asked the council for its support and explained that the county must add the project to its venue-tax list and then seek voter approval in a county election.

The nut graf: The council’s resolution is a local expression of support; the measure itself would require county-level action and voter approval before any county contribution or tax allocation occurs.

Council members discussed the arena’s intended uses and location, describing a proposed site in the Madera subdivision near Rancho Viejo and noting the project’s regional focus. Benavides said the county’s portion would be a multi‑million-dollar contribution toward an estimated project cost and described the project as a public–private partnership; she told the council the arena size discussed was larger than similar Hidalgo County venues and might exceed 7,500 seats.

Council voted in favor of adopting Resolution 2025-04; no opposing votes were recorded in the transcript. The resolution requests that Cameron County add the arena to the list of projects funded by the county venue tax and proceed to present the measure to county voters.