The future of professional sports in Dallas is uncertain as city officials work to keep the Dallas Stars hockey team from leaving, while the Dallas Wings basketball team prepares backup plans for their home venue.
Dallas City Council member Chad West stated that the city is doing “everything we can” to retain the NHL franchise. This includes considering incentives to renovate the interior of American Airlines Center (AAC) into a more “hockey-specific” venue. The Stars’ lease at AAC expires in 2031.
West, who leads the council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Sports Recruitment and Retention, revealed that the Stars have had serious talks about relocating to Plano. He said there is a letter of intent related to a possible move to The Shops at Willow Bend, a mall set for major redevelopment. West’s comments were first reported by WFAA.
Officials in Plano confirmed ongoing discussions with the Stars over building an arena on West Park Boulevard but denied making a formal offer. Mayor John Muns previously told WFAA that Plano made “a really good offer.”
The Willow Bend site, covering 107 acres, is being redeveloped by Centennial Real Estate Management and Cawley Partners into a mixed-use district with housing, offices, and hospitality options. Adding an arena could affect these redevelopment plans.
The stakes for Dallas are both civic and financial. Since 2001, the Stars have shared AAC with the Dallas Mavericks basketball team. However, this relationship has become strained; the Mavericks plan to leave after 2031 and are currently suing the Stars over control of AAC and alleged breaches of a 1998 franchise agreement. If public funds are used for arena renovations, it may force the Stars to find another temporary location during construction.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings face their own challenges regarding where they will play and practice later this decade. Team President and CEO Greg Bibb said he expects the Wings will play their 2027 season at AAC because renovations at Dallas Memorial Auditorium inside Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center likely will not be finished in time. The convention center overhaul has only recently begun with demolition of exhibit halls underway.
According to Bibb, while there is an agreement from 2024 for AAC to serve as a fallback if Memorial Auditorium is not ready, no formal deal or terms have been discussed yet.
Bibb also noted that although AAC has hosted select Wings games—including one attended by more than 20,000 fans last June—the arena does not have facilities suitable for full-time practice use. Currently, the Stars train in Frisco while the Mavericks use their own complex nearby.
