Plano voters will have a major decision on the November ballot: whether to approve a collection of venue-related taxes that could help pay for a proposed Dallas Stars arena and mixed-use entertainment district at The Shops at Willow Bend.
The Plano City Council unanimously called the special election for Nov. 3, 2026. If approved by voters, the taxes would help fund the city’s proposed $700 million contribution toward the arena and related public improvements.
The larger redevelopment is expected to include sports and entertainment venues, restaurants, retail, offices, housing and public gathering spaces.
What Plano Voters Will Be Asked To Approve
The ballot proposition would authorize several taxes tied to visitors and events rather than Plano’s existing property tax rate.
If approved, the city could impose:
A short-term motor vehicle rental tax of up to 5%
A hotel occupancy tax increase of up to 2%, bringing the maximum combined rate to 15%
An event parking tax of up to $3 per vehicle
An admissions tax of up to 10% of the ticket price
A venue facility use tax of up to $5,000 per game on each member of a major league team playing a professional sports game at the arena
The proposed taxes would apply to specific transactions associated with visitors and arena events. They would not increase Plano’s existing property tax rate.
The City Would Own The Arena
Under the current proposal, Plano would contribute $700 million toward the arena and other public improvements as part of a larger development estimated at roughly $1 billion when the surrounding mixed-use district is included.
The city’s contribution would be backed by new revenue generated by the development, including commercial property taxes within the Willow Bend Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, venue-related taxes and revenue generated by arena events.
Plano would own the arena and enter into a 30-year lease agreement with the Dallas Stars.
The city has also entered into an agreement with Centennial Waterfall Willowbend, LLC requiring the developer to incorporate a multipurpose arena and conference hotel into the redevelopment. Plano will contribute $15 million from its Economic Development Fund and hotel occupancy tax toward an estimated $25.3 million demolition cost.
As part of that agreement, Centennial will build a new Plano Convention & Visitors Bureau Visitor Center and provide the space rent-free for 10 years. The developer will also source construction-material sales taxes to Plano during the construction period.
The Willow Bend Site Gets A Whole New Look
The proposed arena is only one piece of the redevelopment plans for the Willow Bend property. The broader vision calls for a district combining sports and entertainment with retail, restaurants, office space, housing and public gathering areas.
Photo: City of Plano
“The Shops at Willow Bend has long been in our sights as an ideal location for creating a vibrant destination that blends sports and entertainment, retail, dining, office space and housing,” Steven Levin of Levin Holdings previously said. “It’s an opportunity to reimagine this property as a place where the community can come together and where Plano can continue to grow and thrive.”
The development partnership includes Levin Holdings, Cawley Partners and Centennial.
What Has The City Approved So Far?
The arena is not a done deal just yet. On June 8, the city council approved several steps to continue evaluating the proposal, including a non-binding Letter of Intent with the Dallas Stars, an incentive agreement with developers and the creation of the Willow Bend TIRZ.
The council also approved a Venue Project Resolution for submission to the Texas Comptroller, a required step in the process of holding a venue tax election.
No final development agreement or site plan has been approved. The city is still evaluating the project’s potential effects on traffic, infrastructure, financing and nearby neighborhoods.
Traffic And Community Impact Still On The Table
Before the project moves much further, Plano plans to conduct traffic modeling and a broader mobility analysis.
The study will look at surrounding roads and intersections, parking demand, pedestrian connections, traffic circulation and access for residents, businesses and visitors. The city will also consider possible measures to reduce traffic impacts on nearby neighborhoods.
Plano and the Stars are also expected to continue negotiating a final master agreement and a Community Benefits Agreement outlining commitments and investments tied to the project.
For now, the November election is one of the biggest remaining hurdles. If voters approve the venue taxes, the city will have another piece of its proposed financing plan in place. If they don’t, the city would have to reassess how it plans to fund its proposed contribution.
The Nov. 3 election, however, is not a vote that directly approves construction of the arena. It is a vote on whether Plano can use the proposed venue-related taxes as part of the financing strategy.
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