Cameron County votes on multi-use arena for a third time

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Unofficial early voting numbers are not promising for the development of a new multi-use arena in Cameron County

According to the unofficial early voting numbers, 60% of voters are against the venue project, meanwhile 40% of residents voted for it.

The venue project has been voted on twice, once in November 2021, where it missed approval by 67 votes and again in May 2022, where it did not pass by 200 votes.

In a previous ValleyCentral article, Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino said he’s been pushing for a new arena to be built in the area since back when he was the mayor of Brownsville.

According to Trevino, the multi-use venue would be used for sporting events, concerts, graduations, conventions, theatre and more.

If approved, the venue project would be partially funded by the county’s Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT). The HOT tax was approved by voters during an election in 2016, which allows for a 2% additional tax to be collected from anyone who stays at any business considered a hotel in Cameron County.

Additionally, Judge Trevino said the arena would be beneficial to local high schools in the area and to the UTRGV Brownsville campus for indoor graduations.