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Plano has made a formal offer to be the new home of the Dallas Stars as discussions over the future of City Hall loom over the Mavericks’ planned move away from the American Airlines Center.
Both of the teams have expressed interest in vacating the AAC following the expiration of their long-term lease in 2031, although the Stars have engaged in discussions with city officials to remain in the arena. The Mavericks are set on a basketball-centric arena, space for which may open if City Council votes to demolish the I.M. Pei-designed City Hall at 1500 Marilla St.
The two teams have been embroiled in a legal dispute since 2025, when the Mavericks filed a lawsuit against the Stars for blocking arena upgrades and attempted to assert full ownership of the arena. In the suit, the Mavericks alleged that the NHL franchise had breached an agreement with the city to fund $300 million in renovations to the AAC if the Stars committed to a lease through 2061. Almost immediately, the Stars filed a countersuit alleging a “hostile takeover” by the Mavericks.
Earlier this week, WFAA reported that Plano has sent a letter of intent to move the Stars to the northern suburb. Discussions have centered on a potential $1 billion mixed-use development on a 75-acre site at The Shops at Willow Bend.
In a statement, a Plano spokesperson said the city has been in “earnest” talks with the Stars for the past year but has yet to receive a formal offer.
“As with all significant economic development opportunities, the City does not publicly comment on negotiations until a proposal is ready for formal consideration by the Plano City Council,” the statement reads. “However, because of recent news reports referencing a formal offer to the team, we want to clarify to the Plano Community that no such offer has been made.”
Dallas City Council member Chad West told WFAA the team is still negotiating with the city to remain in the AAC.
“It’s all part of doing business,” West told WFAA. ” I mean, the Stars, they want the best deal for themselves, and I don’t blame them for going out and getting it. But at the end of the day, they’re the Dallas Stars, and we need to do what we can to keep them in Dallas, and they’ll never change the name to the Plano Stars. I don’t know why they would even consider that.”
The Mavericks, on the other hand, have narrowed their focus to two sites in Dallas for a new home. One of the identified sites is the former Valley View Mall property in northern Dallas. More notable, however, are discussions over a potential move to the site of Dallas City Hall, which city officials are considering a move from as repair costs are expected to exceed $1 billion, according to a recently released report.
Council member Adam Bazaldua, who has questioned the $1 billion price tag for City Hall’s refurbishment and modernization, posted to Facebook Friday that he wasn’t set on keeping the team in Dallas.
“Unpopular Opinion — Let the Mavs go to the burbs,” he wrote.
Last week, council members on the Finance Committee voted to recommend exploring relocation options for the city’s central administrative hub following the report’s release.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts previously told The Dallas Morning News the franchise will zero in on a location for its new arena in July, a shift from a previously indicated March timeline. Ostensibly, the delay gives the team more time to monitor the ongoing discussions of City Hall’s future.
Dallas is not the only major U.S. city fighting to keep one of its major sports teams in city limits. The Chicago Bears are exploring leaving Soldier Field and have identified potential suburban sites for a new stadium, including a proposal to relocate the team to nearby Hammond, Indiana.
Public comments on City Hall’s renovation are expected at a Monday meeting of the Economic Development Committee, with a council vote on the Finance Committee’s recommendations planned for a meeting on Wednesday.
