It’s not a secret that the Dallas Stars have been looking for a new place to hang their skates. While the team’s current home at the American Airlines Center remains their base for now, Dallas City Council member Chad West recently revealed to WFAA that Plano has submitted a formal letter of intent to the NHL franchise.
While Dallas officials have gone public with news of the formal proposal, Plano’s leadership is playing it much closer to the vest and has not publicly confirmed or denied.
Update 2/27/26 10:25 a.m. The city of Plano confirmed it has spent the past year in active discussions with the Dallas Stars about the possibility of an arena district at The Shops at Willow Bend.
“We respect that any decision about the team’s future rests with the organization, and we will continue to approach these conversations responsibly and deliberately,” the spokesperson for the city of Plano said.
As with any major economic development effort, the city does not comment publicly on negotiations until a proposal is prepared for formal consideration by the Plano City Council. Officials emphasized that, at this time, no formal offer has been made.
The original story continues below:
The Stars declined to comment on the potential offer.
Willow Bend In The Spotlight
The Dallas Stars aren’t just looking for a rink; they are looking for a kingdom. Team officials previously stated they require approximately 75 acres to develop a new state-of-the-art arena and a surrounding entertainment district.
In Plano, one location continues to dominate the conversation: The Shops at Willow Bend. The massive footprint of the mall — which is currently eyeing its own redevelopment — offers the exact type of acreage and infrastructure needed for a project of this scale.
A Region-Wide Search
Plano isn’t the only city in the mix, but their formal outreach signals that the competition for the team is accelerating. For their part, the team is keeping its options open as they survey the North Texas landscape.
“The Dallas Stars are continually evaluating all options for the home of our franchise in North Texas,” a team spokesperson previously told Local Profile.
As the 2031 deadline looms, the question isn’t just about where the Stars will play, but which city can provide the best live, work, play ecosystem for a modern professional sports franchise. For now, Plano is making it clear they have the space, the intent and an official offer to bring the NHL to Collin County.
Don’t miss anything Local. Sign up for our free newsletter.