I opened the Arlington Sheraton in 1985, don’t know what it is now. It was an old city water park. It was between the old Rangers stadium and Six Flags. The city, at the same time, built a “convention center” just south.
Most all the land south of the interstate in that area was empty or very old, dying buildings.
I left to open another hotel in Raleigh in about 1988.
You should come back. Texas needs folks like you. The area is now a vibrant hub of entertainment. We paid off our investment in Rangers Stadium a few years back. Jerry’s Palace was accomplished with minimal city investment (about $350k if I recall). Having 2 of 4 major sports teams in the DFW area call Arlington home is priceless (assuming we can train the idiots to give us credit).