Dallas Stars Arena in Plano: Timeline, Location and What We Know
By Hilda Avila, REALTOR®, Ebby Halliday Real Estate · Last updated: Nov. 5, 2026. We’ll update this post as Plano and the Stars take their next steps.
Short answer: The Dallas Stars’ proposed arena is planned for The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano. Plano voters rejected Proposition A, the venue-tax measure, on Nov. 3, 2026. The City says that vote did not cancel the arena, and financing is being reassessed. No Master Agreement is signed yet. The team’s American Airlines Center lease ends in 2031.
Where is the proposed Dallas Stars arena?
The site is The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, bordered by Park Boulevard to the south, Dallas Parkway (the Tollway frontage) to the east, Chapel Hill Boulevard to the north and Plano Parkway to the west (City of Plano Willow Bend District; Fehr & Peers traffic study materials on the City site). It is inside the City of Plano in Collin County. For more on the city, see my Plano guide.
What’s confirmed so far
- 2022: Centennial buys the mall, which opened in 2001 (City of Plano, June 8, 2026).
- Feb. 24, 2025: Plano City Council approves an updated “The Bend” mixed-use plan that adds townhomes (Community Impact).
- June 8, 2026: Council approves four items: a non-binding letter of intent with the Dallas Stars, an incentive agreement with the mall owner, Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #6, and a venue project resolution (City of Plano, June 8, 2026).
- Aug. 10, 2026: Council calls the Nov. 3 venue tax election (City of Plano news release, Aug. 10, 2026).
- Nov. 3, 2026: Plano voters reject Proposition A. In unofficial results with all 90 precincts reporting, about 54.6% voted against (56,061) and 45.4% voted for (46,658) (Community Impact). Results stay unofficial until the Nov. 16 canvass (Collin County notice of canvass).
- City response after the vote: City Manager Mark Israelson said the financing approach “would need to be reassessed before City Council considers any actions related to the arena.” Mayor John Muns said the city is “committed to thoughtful reinvestment and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars as we consider what comes next” (Community Impact, Nov. 4, 2026).
What the plan has said it includes
Nothing below is a signed final deal. City documents describe a proposed entertainment district at Willow Bend that would include:
- A city-owned arena leased to Dallas Sports & Entertainment LP for an initial 30 years (City of Plano, June 8, 2026).
- Hockey and concert capacity assumptions used in the traffic study: about 18,000 seats for hockey and 19,500 for concerts (Fehr & Peers, Sept. 10, 2026).
- About 41 Stars home games plus about 60–70 other events a year in the City’s pre-election revenue estimate (City of Plano Q&A, Oct. 13, 2026).
- Other uses labeled preliminary and subject to change: about 1 million square feet of office, 250,000 square feet of new retail and a 400-room hotel (Fehr & Peers).
Housing: No unit count has been published for the arena-district version. Existing zoning from the earlier “The Bend” plan allows up to 965 residential units in total (City of Plano Ordinance 2025-2-6). Any change would go through public zoning hearings.
What Proposition A was — and what failed
Proposition A asked voters to authorize five venue taxes (car rental, hotel, event parking, event admissions, and a per-game tax on major-league team members). Before the vote, the City said those taxes would not have changed the existing property tax rate, and that the election alone would not decide the arena’s future (City of Plano, Aug. 10, 2026). Voters rejected the taxes. TIRZ #6 was created separately on June 8 and remains in place; how (or whether) it can carry the City’s share is part of the reassessment described after the vote.
For the full Prop A result write-up, see Dallas Stars Arena at Willow Bend: Prop A Results and What’s Next for Plano.
What’s still pending
- Official canvass of the Nov. 3 results (scheduled Nov. 16, 2026)
- City staff briefing to Council on financing options (no meeting date published as of Nov. 4)
- A negotiated Arena Master Agreement and Council approval
- A final TIRZ finance plan, site plan and Phase II of the traffic study
- Any revised public financing path after Prop A failed
Timeline
| Date | Step | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Centennial buys Willow Bend mall | Done |
| Feb. 24, 2025 | “The Bend” zoning update approved | Done |
| June 8, 2026 | Non-binding LOI, TIRZ #6, incentive agreement, venue resolution | Done |
| Aug. 10, 2026 | Council calls Nov. 3 venue tax election | Done |
| Nov. 3, 2026 | Voters reject Prop A (unofficial 54.6% against) | Done (unofficial until canvass) |
| Nov. 16, 2026 | Collin County canvasses results | Scheduled |
| Not set | Council briefing on financing options | Pending |
| Not set | Master Agreement negotiation and Council vote | Pending |
| Jan. 12, 2027 | 90th Texas Legislature regular session begins | Scheduled |
| Early 2028 | Pre-election City timeline for arena bonds (may change) | Previous plan |
| 2031 | Stars’ American Airlines Center lease ends (reported). Opening the 2031-32 season in Plano is a stated goal, not a signed commitment | Reported / stated goal |
What to watch next
- Nov. 16 canvass for official Prop A numbers.
- Plano City Council agendas for any financing or Master Agreement item.
- City project pages: plano.gov/WillowBendDistrict and the Willow Bend District documents / milestones pages linked from there.
- Traffic Phase II and any zoning amendments for housing or site plan changes.
The other North Texas arena plan: Mavericks at Valley View
Separately, the Dallas Mavericks are pursuing a new arena at the former Valley View Mall site in Far North Dallas. That project is in the City of Dallas, not Plano. See Dallas Mavericks New Arena at Valley View: Site, Plans & Timeline. For broader area context, see my North Dallas guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Dallas Stars’ new arena planned?
At The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, near Park Boulevard, Dallas Parkway, Chapel Hill Boulevard and Plano Parkway. The site is inside the City of Plano in Collin County. City materials describe a broader Willow Bend District redevelopment around the mall.
Did Plano voters cancel the Stars arena?
No. Voters rejected Proposition A, the venue-tax package, on Nov. 3, 2026. The City has said the election did not decide whether the arena is built, and that financing needs to be reassessed before Council acts on the arena.
Is there a signed deal for the Stars arena in Plano?
Not a final Master Agreement. On June 8, 2026, Council approved a non-binding letter of intent with the Dallas Stars, plus TIRZ #6 and related items. The City has said Council still must approve a Master Agreement.
When would a Stars arena in Plano open?
The Stars’ American Airlines Center lease ends in 2031, and reporting has said the team wants to open the 2031-32 season in Plano. No construction start or opening date is locked in while financing and the Master Agreement remain open.
What was Proposition A?
A Nov. 3, 2026 Plano ballot measure that would have authorized five venue taxes to help finance a city-owned arena at Willow Bend. Voters rejected it, with about 54.6% against in unofficial results. It was not a property tax rate election.
How is this different from the Mavericks arena plan?
Different team, different city and different site. The Stars plan is in Plano at Willow Bend. The Mavericks plan is in Far North Dallas at the former Valley View Mall. Each has its own city process.
Thinking about buying or selling in Plano or North Dallas? Contact Hilda.
This post is general information only. It is not legal or tax advice and not an endorsement of any project or ballot measure. Flag: Prop A tallies above are unofficial until the Nov. 16, 2026 canvass.