PLANO, Texas – City leaders in Plano took the first steps towards bringing the Dallas Stars out of downtown and into the North Texas suburb.
Public funds for new Stars arena
What we know:
Plano City Council approved contributing $700 million to help fund the roughly $1 billion Dallas Stars arena project at the Shops at Willow Bend Mall site.
The council unanimously approved a tax increment reinvestment zone near the mall, with tax dollars collected near Willow Bend and the Dallas North Tollway used to back bonds.
The City of Plano would own the potential new arena, and would enter into a 30-year lease agreement with the team.
Also approved on Monday night was a plan to demolish Willow Bend. Plano agreed to grant around $15 million to the developer for demolition of the mall and the establishment of a visitor center.
Demolition would begin in 2027.
Dallas Stars Plano arena rendering
City leaders also showed off renderings of what the new arena would look like for the first time since the Stars announced their intent to build a new arena in Plano last week.
What they’re saying:
“I respect Mayor Johnson, but our doors are open,” Plano Mayor John B. Muns said on Monday. “We hope that all goes well, and the Stars will be here in ’31.”
Muns is referring to Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s comments last week at a Dallas City Council meeting following the Stars’ announcement.
“The knives are out for Dallas. We have a serious, serious situation on our hands. We are in a very cutthroat competition. I’ve been saying this for years now, and I hope everybody who’s been watching the news this week understands that I wasn’t crying wolf like we are in a very serious competition,” Johnson said.
“The wolf is at the door and the wolf is not in this room. The wolf is not in this room. The wolf is up the tollway.”
The other side:
During public comment, several Plano residents opposed the idea of using public funds to lure a professional sports team.
“I understand the excitement of this project,” Gary Cary, a resident who opposes the arena project, said. “If we build this stadium, and they leave, we’re going to be in the same boat.”
“This is nothing more than a corporate welfare scheme,” Jennifer Groysman, another resident opposed to the Stars’ potential move, said.
City leaders cautioned that this is far from a done deal, and extensive conversations will be held in the years to come to address public safety concerns, an increase in traffic in the area, and noise pollution concerns.
Plano City Council meeting
What’s next:
Another motion being considered would be establishing a venue tax, which needs Texas State Comptroller approval.
The city would then ask voters to approve taxes aimed at visitors to help fund the project.
The Source: Information in this story comes from a Plano City Council meeting.