The Dallas Stars are considering a move outside city limits when their lease at American Airlines Center expires in 2031.
Front Office Sports reported Friday that Stars ownership is considering a site in Plano, Texas, approximately 20 miles from Dallas.
A Stars spokesperson did not specifically confirm Front Office Sports’ report that Plano is the leading candidate, but told The Athletic in a statement that the team is “continually evaluating all options for the home of our franchise in North Texas.”
The Stars and the NBA’s Mavericks have shared American Airlines Center since it opened in 2001.
The Mavericks are reportedly looking at multiple sites for a new basketball-specific arena that would serve as the centerpiece of an entertainment district.
Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts told The Dallas Morning News on Friday that no decisions have been made.
“We do not have a deal with Plano,” Alberts told The Dallas Morning News. “We don’t have any of that. We are in discussions with them. We’re also in discussions with other cities. Arlington would love us to come to Arlington. They’ve got two of the four already. We’ve got a really good relationship with those two franchises there and the city.
“There’s no favorites at this point. We’re all just doing our work.”
The Stars are the American Airlines Center’s main tenant, and until now, it was unclear if they would seek to refurbish the building or look to build a hockey-specific arena. The Dallas Morning News reported the Stars are looking at five sites for a new arena: Plano, Frisco, The Colony, Arlington and Fort Worth.
“Sports entertainment is becoming a real estate business,” Alberts said. “In our market, where you’ve got a real opportunity to take advantage of that, I think it’s important. Creating 365-day revenue, I feel, is essential to the health of sports and entertainment businesses, especially NHL businesses that depend on local revenue far more than others.
“I think the biggest problem that we have with staying in Dallas is that we don’t have that. We don’t control any of the real estate outside of the building. We’re looking for that opportunity that can create 365-day-a-year revenue outside and also having an incredible in-venue, in-arena experience.”
As the main tenant, the Stars control the primary revenue streams for non-basketball events at American Airlines Center.
The Stars moved to Dallas in 1993. Before that, the franchise played in Bloomington, Minn., and was known as the Minnesota North Stars.
The Stars played their first eight seasons in Reunion Arena, located in downtown Dallas.
The NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and MLB’s Texas Rangers play in stadiums in Arlington.
— The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun contributed to this report.
(Photo: David Kirouac / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)