As the Dallas Mavericks prepare to tip off their season in Houston, excitement is building in North Dallas over the team’s potential new home — and the economic boost it could bring to nearby businesses.

The Mavericks announced in June that they intend to focus on building a new arena and entertainment district at the former Valley View Mall site, near Preston Road and LBJ Freeway, with a potential move beginning in the 2031 season.

For businesses already operating in the area, the possibility of having an NBA team as a neighbor is welcome news.

At Big Tony’s Cheesesteaks in the Preston Village shopping center, directly across from the former mall site, owner Anthony Blaylock has spent the past 12 years serving sandwiches and talking sports with customers.

“We have a lot of fun – we’re like a Cheers here; we joke around, we talk about the game,” Blaylock said.

The restaurant’s interior may not be filled with North Texas sports memorabilia, but that doesn’t seem to bother regular customers.

“Their sandwiches are good, so you give them a pass,” customer Robert Stowell said.

For Blaylock, the Mavericks’ potential arrival represents more than an opportunity to attract basketball fans. He sees it as a chance to revitalize an area that struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s going to be a big boom for this area because this area really got hurt when COVID hit – really brought us down for a minute – but this is going to be a nice rebound,” Blaylock said. “I think that’s going to be a blessing – and I’m glad they chose this location.”

The Mavericks took another step toward making the proposed development a reality in September, announcing the start of a rezoning request for the 112-acre former mall property.

The rezoning process is a key step in the multibillion-dollar project, which would move the Mavericks out of Dallas’ downtown corridor for the first time in franchise history.

But the potential move is still years away.

The closing date for the sale of the Valley View property remains more than a year away, and the Mavericks said they look forward to working closely with the community as the process moves forward.

Stowell is among those hoping the plans become reality.

“So, hopefully it happens.I know there’s still a lot of stuff going on about it – but yeah, I think that’s a good spot for them to pick,” Stowell said.

For Blaylock, having the Mavericks play just across the street could turn lunchtime conversations about basketball into opportunities to welcome fans before and after games.

“I think this is going to be a win-win for everybody,” Blaylock said.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.