$2.3bn NHL franchise fire starting gun in ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ for new arena
The Dallas Stars have their eyes set on a new era.
On the ice, the Stars finished with a 50-20-12 record, but lost in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of the Minnesota Wild.
Away from the arena, the Stars are making moves that will hopefully transform the franchise.
The NHL team has announced its intention to build a new arena and entertainment district in Plano, Texas.
The organization have signed a non-binding letter of intent which has been submitted to the City of Plano.
That includes the plans for the mixed-use development as well as design and construction details.
It has been placed on the agenda for consideration at a council meeting on June 8.
The Stars’ lease at current home American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas does not expire until 2031.
Their new proposed mixed-use development would include sports, entertainment, retail, dining and public gathering spaces with the arena as the centrepiece.
“This project would present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our franchise,” Stars owner Tom Gaglardi said in a statement, via ESPN.
“We eagerly await the vote by the Plano City Council and look forward to continuing the conversation to be part of the redevelopment at The Shops at Willow Bend.”
The announcement came just a day after the Dallas Mavericks selected a site in the north of the city for a new stadium and district.
The Mavericks and Stars share the American Airlines Center, and the NBA team’s lease also ends in 2031.
The Mavericks have long been seeking it’s own arena, even going as far as suing the Stars last year for allegedly preventing a refurbishment to the current arena.
If successful on both side, they would be the latest to join a unique slate of teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.
The Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Dallas Wings (WNBA) and Texas Rangers (MLB) each play in the suburb of Arlington, which is 20 miles west of Dallas.
The Wings are building a new arena in downtown Dallas that is expected to be open for the 2027 season.
“Plano has built a reputation as a city that welcomes world-class partners and community-focused investment,” Plano Mayor John Muns said in a statement released by the Stars.
“The Dallas Stars are an iconic North Texas organization, and we are encouraged by their interest as conversations move forward.”
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