The Stars have unveiled renderings of their planned $3B hockey arena and entertainment complex in Plano, with it “set near the back left portion of the site and illuminated in neon green,” according to Wooten & Womack of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The roof of the arena is “topped by a giant” Stars logo. Open spaces “provide walking areas for visitors.” In front of the arena is a “large, multilevel parking garage,” while smaller mid-rise buildings that look like apartments “sit to the left of the arena” and taller, high-rise buildings like hotels and apartments “sit on the right half of the site.” Initial plans back when the site was rezoned in 2025 called for “800,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, up to 965 residential units, a high-rise hotel and a mid-rise office building.” Constructing the arena itself is estimated to cost around $1B or more, and the city plans to contribute $700M in funding “through bonds backed by revenue from a tax increment reinvestment zone,” according to city documents (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/8).
IN THE AGREEMENT: In Dallas, Aayush Gupta noted the Plano City Council approving a non-binding letter of intent with Dallas Sports & Entertainment LP, the Stars’ parent company, to develop the site enables the city to “begin the development process, including selecting an architecture firm, conducting transportation and feasibility studies, and pursuing sponsorship opportunities to support the arena project.” The city would “own both the Stars arena and the land, then lease the facility to Dallas Sports & Entertainment for 30 years.” The Stars would “retain all revenue generated by arena operations, including sponsorships and naming rights,” while DSE “would be responsible for constructing, operating and maintaining the facility.” The agreement remains “far from finalized.” Plano has “proposed contributing up to” $700M toward the arena if project costs exceed $1B. However, Gupta wrote the “tug of war over the Stars may not be over.” Dallas City Manager Kimberly Tolbert and Mayor Eric Johnson have repeatedly said that they “will continue working to try to keep the Stars in the city” (DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/8).
MAKING HISTORY: In Dallas, Kersh & Assimakopoulos noted the Stars’ project will be the “largest in the history of Collin County.” Plano City Council members said that they would “listen to community input at open houses planned in July and take local concerns related to the project into account.” Officials also said that they would “reach out to specific neighborhoods for input throughout the planning process.” Stars President & CEO Brad Alberts said that the team and developers “plan to conduct a transportation study this summer to address those concerns” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/8).