FORT WORTH: ESPN, the Final Four, and Office
Although ESPN descended on Sundance Square's new plaza this week to broadcast live as North Texas hosts the NCAA Final Four, the city is attracting attention beyond sports. (It’s one reason Bisnow is hosting its fifth annual Fort Worth State of the Market event on April 17. See what all the hoopla is about in person.) Downtown Fort Worth Inc prez Andy Taft (pictured with his wife and Lyle Lovett) tells us the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the third-fastest growing area in the country in the last decade, with Fort Worth accounting for about one-third of the region’s growth.
JLL Fort Worth office managing director Todd Burnette (here with his family swimming with an attention-hogging Flipper) tells us the suburban office market is beyond tight with Class-A suburban vacancy at a mere 1.6%. As a result, more than 600k SF of new spec space is either under construction or will launch in the next 12 months in the Fort Worth 'burbs. When asked for his NCAA champion pick, Flipper tells he’s reluctantly going with the Gators (much to Flipper's chagrin).
