Plano has quietly jumped into the race for the Dallas Stars, making a formal offer to host the NHL franchise by sending a letter of intent to the team, according to Dallas City Council member Chad West. The Stars have not signed the proposal, and Plano officials are keeping their cards close, declining to confirm whether an offer was sent. The move adds fresh intrigue to the months-long search for a post-2031 home as the team looks at options beyond the American Airlines Center.
West said on a local political program that Plano had presented a letter of intent to the Stars, as reported by WFAA. The outlet also cited Plano Mayor John B. Muns, who said in December that the city had made the team a really good offer. Team officials have not signed anything, and city representatives told reporters they would not publicly confirm the terms, according to WFAA.
Potential Site And Acreage
The Stars have said they need roughly 75 acres for a new arena and surrounding entertainment district, and The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano keeps popping up as a leading candidate. Reporting has shown that the franchise is exploring multiple North Texas suburbs while also talking with Dallas about staying downtown. Those details were outlined by The Dallas Morning News.
Dallas Officials Push To Keep The Team
At Dallas City Hall, leaders are making it clear they do not want to lose the Stars. City officials say they are working to lock in the American Airlines Center as a long-term home, according to local coverage. The city manager told reporters that Dallas is “fully committed” to keeping the Stars in the city, per NBC 5. Council members have urged negotiators to stay aggressive so the franchise remains downtown.
Legal Fight And The 2031 Deadline
Complicating everything is a legal dispute between the Stars and the Mavericks over franchise agreements and headquarters locations. On top of that, leases for both teams at the American Airlines Center run through 2031. That combination of litigation and a firm lease timeline has added urgency to the Stars’ site search and to pitches from suburban cities. Those legal and scheduling details were reported alongside the Plano offer by WFAA.
What To Watch Next
For now, the next public clues are likely to come from any Plano City Council agenda items tied to a potential arena deal, formal responses from the Stars’ ownership group, and follow-up comments from Dallas officials trying to keep the team put. Hoodline previously covered the Crayola lockout at Willow Bend and the mall’s redevelopment, local twists that helped fuel talk about the site as a possible home for a future Stars arena.
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