Dallas Stars freeze out Downtown Dallas, American Airlines Center

Dallas Stars are moving their home from Downtown Dallas to Plano, signing a nonbinding letter of intent to build a new arena at The Shops at Willow Bend. The project would sit on roughly 90 acres at 6121 West Park Boulevard, Plano, with construction costs around $1 billion and a 30-year initial lease. Leases for the American Airlines Center downtown expire in 2031. The city of Plano would fund about $700 million through bonds backed by a tax increment reinvestment zone.

The Mavericks previously pursued a similar trajectory, and a 1988 franchise agreement required the Stars to be headquartered inside Dallas city limits. A judge sided with the Mavericks, giving the NBA team control of the arena; in April, the Mavericks dropped the damage claims. Other potential sites included Frisco, The Colony (Arlington), and Fort Worth. The plan signals a major shift for the Stars and a landmark development for suburban Dallas.