Could the Dallas Stars actually move to The Shops at Willow Bend? Why? When? Here’s what we know so far:
In sports news, rumors about the Dallas Stars moving to Plano have filled many a chat room from area residents and DFW sports fans alike. While that decision is far from confirmed and contingent on a number of factors that will play out in the coming months to years, here’s what we know so far.
They’re eyeing The Shops at Willow Bend.
For years, shop owners and property managers have been discussing redeveloping The Shops at Willow Bend, a mostly dead mall in an otherwise pretty developed and highly frequented area. In 2024, new owners Centennial came to Plano’s Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss redeveloping the mall into The Bend, which would maintain anchor stores and add green spaces, multifamily housing, single-family housing and through streets.
“We appreciate the Planning & Zoning Commission’s positive feedback on our updated vision for The Shops at Willow Bend and look forward to continuing the process with the City Council in the coming weeks,” Michael Platt, executive vice president of mixed-use development at Centennial, said in February. “Our goal remains to transform The Shops at Willow Bend into a vibrant, walkable destination that thoughtfully integrates retail, dining, entertainment, residential, hospitality and office use into a well-curated and compelling environment for the greater Plano community.”
The plan was approved by the Plano City Council shortly after.
What are the concerns about the stadium’s placement in the Shops at Willow Bend?
Location: If the site plan has already been approved and construction has begun, where would the stadium go?
Accessibility: While the shopping center is on the DART bus route, there are no train stops in that area. Additionally, Plano is set to vote to pull out of DART entirely in May.
What do the Stars say?
Dallas Stars executives recently sat down with The Dallas Morning News to talk about the rumors surrounding moving to Plano when the Mavericks/Stars lease with American Airlines Center expires in 2031. Here are the high points from that interview:
Staying in AAC without the Mavericks would mean big $ spent on large-scale renovations
If moving, the Stars are looking to The Battery Atlanta as an example for future development, with restaurants, apartments, a hotel and a brick-and-mortar Hall of Fame
A major change the Stars would like to see in a new stadium — fewer luxury suites to make room for bars, restaurants and social areas.
The Stars say revenue per game from premium seating is more crucial for hockey than other sports because hockey gets fewer national TV deals, according to the DMN. They’d aim to create as many as 4,000 more premium seats in a new stadium.
The Dallas Stars will have to make a decision in the coming months in order for construction on a new stadium to begin in time to complete the project before the lease ends in 2031.