The Dallas Mavericks are considering two locations within the city for their new arena, according to comments from team CEO Rick Welts. The NBA franchise is focusing on a downtown Dallas site and the former Valley View Center property, a 110-acre tract at Preston Road and I-635.
“We have identified, with the city, two city of Dallas locations that we are focusing all our time and attention on now, and hoping to bring one of them to success,” Welts told the Dallas Morning News.
One potential downtown location could be beneath Dallas City Hall. This option depends on whether the city decides to preserve or demolish the I.M. Pei–designed building. Other parcels near the planned convention center redevelopment have also been considered in recent months.
The Valley View site in North Dallas is another leading candidate. Previously home to a regional mall, its large size makes it suitable for what the Mavericks describe as a mixed-use entertainment district anchored by an arena.
A third possible location mentioned is the county jail site at 111 Commerce Street, which sits on 15 acres of riverfront land owned by Dallas County and is valued at $109 million. However, county officials report no formal discussions about this property have occurred.
No final decision has been made yet. The Mavericks’ lease at American Airlines Center lasts through 2031. Welts said an earlier plan to announce a new site by March has been delayed; he now expects a decision closer to July 1, around the end of the NBA season.
“Right now, our hope is somewhere around July 1 … that we are in position to be able to make a decision,” Welts told the outlet, adding that factors beyond the team’s control have pushed back their timeline.
Last summer, Dallas hired Hillwood Urban Services for $75,000 to help identify and evaluate possible sites for a new NBA arena.
Welts noted there is pressure despite having several years before their current lease expires: “We want to open in 2031,” he said. “That means we’re on the clock.”
He added that developing a roughly 50-acre mixed-use district with an arena and public spaces will require careful planning over several years.
