The Rangers announced on Wednesday that Jim Watry has been named chief operating officer for Texas Live!, a $250 million sports-anchored dining and entertainment development currently under construction in Dallas.
Watry has more than 20 years of experience in the dining, entertainment and hospitality industry. He previously served in the same role for the Cardinals' Ballpark Village, another sports-orientated development project by The Cordish Companies located near Busch Stadium in St. Louis. It opened in 2014, and a $260 million second phase is under construction.
"Jim's experience and passion for community-driven initiatives make him the perfect candidate for this position," Rangers executive vice president of business operations Rob Matwick said in a statement. "In our commitment to delivering a dynamic development to the City of Arlington that maximizes benefits and opportunities to local residents and businesses, we are thrilled to have Jim on board as chief executive officer to continue our commitment throughout the ongoing operations of the project."
Texas Live!, which is scheduled to open later this year, is located in the Arlington Entertainment District adjacent to the Rangers' Globe Life Park, their new ballpark (which is to open in 2020) and the Cowboys' AT&T Stadium. When complete, it will feature more than 200,000 square feet of dining and entertainment space, a 300-room hotel and an outdoor event pavilion.
The project is expected to bring more than 3,000 new jobs to Arlington, including 2,000 construction jobs and 1,025 permanent jobs.
"It is an honor to be named chief operating officer of Texas Live!," Watry said in a statement. "There is incredible momentum happening in the Arlington Entertainment District with Texas Live!, Live! by Loews and the Rangers' new ballpark, Globe Life Field, all currently under construction. I am extremely proud to be joining the team at such an exciting time and look forward to the opening of Texas Live! later this year."