Dallas Stars’ $3B Arena Plan Hits Roadblock After Plano Vote

A decisive vote in Plano, Texas, will force the NHL’s Stars and city officials to restructure how part of a planned $3 billion arena and mixed-use development is financed.

By a 55%-to-45% margin, voters in the Dallas suburb rejected Tuesday a proposition that would have created several taxes—including on rental cars, parking, hotels, and tickets—to fund the city’s $700 million share of the planned project. 

While the effort seeks to redevelop land that currently is the site of a dormant shopping mall, opposition to a pro-sports-related project ran up against broader affordability concerns among voters, as well as worries about local traffic and congestion. 

To that end, opposition to the ballot proposition rallied in recent weeks around slogans of “Puck No!” and “The Puck Stops Here.” The vote, however, was not on whether the arena happens, but whether the taxes to help support its construction were authorized. It’s now likely that Plano will seek alternative funding sources. 

“The proposed redevelopment at The Shops at Willow Bend remains an important opportunity for our community,” said Plano Mayor John Muns in a statement. “We are committed to thoughtful reinvestment and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars as we consider what comes next. I appreciate everyone who made their voice heard in this election.”

The Stars have not yet commented on the vote result. The team is aiming to move into a new arena by 2031, leaving American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas, and it has been actively working on the Plano plans for more than a year, as initially reported by Front Office Sports. 

“Without authorization for these venue taxes, the proposed financing approach would need to be reassessed before City Council considers any actions related to the arena,” Plano city manager Mark Israelson said. “Our focus will be on providing [the council] with a clear understanding of the financial implications and the options available.”

A June vote by the Plano City Council approved a non-binding letter of intent that contemplates the development at the mall site, as well as the $700 million in city funding toward a $1 billion arena. The surrounding, mixed-use development would cost the other $2 billion and be privately financed. 

The Stars’ arena plan will accelerate an outward migration by most of the region’s pro sports teams away from downtown Dallas. That’s not by coincidence, as the Metroplex continues to add population, has become the No. 4 U.S. media market, and is growing far beyond the urban core.

It’s a somewhat similar approach to what the Braves did in Atlanta more than a decade ago, in which the MLB club struck a deal to leave downtown Atlanta and move to a suburban location near Marietta, Georgia. There, the Braves relocated to the heart of their fan base within the broader region, and then became an industry trailblazer with the creation of The Battery mixed-use development.