A resident points to a rendering during a community open house event regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at The Shops at Willow Bend on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Plano’s school district is joining the city in helping fund a proposed arena for the Dallas Stars at The Shops at Willow Bend site.
Approved by the school board over the summer and by Plano City Council on Monday night, the agreement allows the Plano Independent School District to contribute tax revenue to the project that could bring the NHL franchise up the tollway from American Airlines Center.
The agreement would allow Plano ISD to host graduation ceremonies and other events at the arena. Plano Mayor John Muns, a former school district trustee, said it would be meaningful to host high school graduations in the city. Plano ISD’s three senior high school graduations are hosted at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.
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“That’s a big deal to me is to be able to see seniors get their diploma … right here,” Muns said.
In June, the Plano City Council committed $700 million in bonds backed by a tax increment reinvestment zone to help fund redeveloping the ailing mall into a $1 billion hockey arena and surrounding entertainment district.
Related: Plano residents rally against arena tax as Dallas Stars fund competing campaign
In August, the school district’s board of trustees voted to join the nearly 900-acre tax zone and cap its total commitment at $250 million or at 25 years. The district agreed to contribute half its captured tax increment each year as part of the agreement.
The district projects a $44.8 million deficit in the next fiscal year’s budget, according to Johnny Hill, a deputy superintendent. But PISD stands to gain “substantial financial benefit” as a result of the arena deal, Hill said at a work session in June.
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“No new additional taxes are levied on residential property,” he told trustees. “Financial benefits … far outweigh any kind of cost associated with this participation.”
Plano resident Gary Cary is involved in the Stop the Stars Arena group and said he’s confused by the school district’s participation.
“A lot of the citizens are having a hard time understanding in a situation where we’re closing schools due to attendance … [and] the budget’s challenged,” he said. “I don’t understand why we want to spend our tax dollars that should go to our schools and our kids.”
Related: Plano voters to decide on five taxes for a new Dallas Stars arena
Plano ISD officials say the $250 million is offset by a recapture adjustment, meaning the funds would support a local project rather than go to the state through recapture. In the education finance system, recapture means districts that are considered property-rich must give money back to the state to be distributed to poorer schools.
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“That is going to flow back into the district,” said board president Lauren Tyra of the funds at a work session in June. “That’s a massive win for the district and a massive win for students.”
The agreement with the school district comes as Plano voters weigh an election to help fund the project further and approve up to five taxes on hotels, car rentals, arena tickets, event parking and major sports teams using the venue.
Campaigns for the proposition, backed by $200,000 from the Dallas Stars, and against the proposition, backed by a group of residents angry about the city’s contribution of tax dollars, are making their case to residents.
Those for the project say it will bring economic growth and vitality to Plano and to the mall site, which has struggled to attract businesses and shoppers. Those against it fear it will bring traffic, noise and crime, strain city services and change the city’s suburban character.
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