The Dallas Stars are considering leaving American Airlines Center when their lease expires in 2031 and are exploring new arena sites across several Dallas suburbs, per Front Office Sports.
Team officials confirmed they are evaluating potential sites both inside and outside Dallas — including Plano, Frisco, The Colony, Arlington, and Fort Worth — according to Front Office Sports.
The early discussions come as the Stars seek greater control over a potential arena project — including ownership or development rights for surrounding property, something not possible under their current lease at American Airlines Center.
Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts confirmed that the team is considering a potential move and will continue to evaluate all options before making a final decision.
“I don’t deny we are in discussions with Plano,” Alberts told Front Office Sports.
“Have we decided on where our future is? No,” he continued. “We’ve gotta decide — are we staying, or are we going to build somewhere? Certainly Plano is part of that, but we haven’t decided. We are going through due diligence to make sure that if we are going to leave, we have the right spot.”
The franchise’s existing lease at American Airlines Center, which it shares with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, limits its ability to capitalize on parking, restaurants, and nearby entertainment options.
That restriction has reportedly prompted the organization to consider building a new arena complex with mixed-use development similar to the entertainment districts seen in other NHL cities.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, rumors have circulated that the Mavericks could make a similar move, though CEO Rick Welts has said the team prefers to remain in Dallas.
While no formal decisions or proposals have been made, the Stars’ consideration of suburban sites has raised concerns among some fans and Dallas officials.
When asked about potentially alienating fans in downtown Dallas, Alberts said, “For every inconvenience, there’s a convenience,” suggesting the team is not overly concerned about backlash from Dallas-based supporters.
“For the one person that’s inconvenienced by a move, there’s going to be some that don’t have to drive down that tollway for an hour,” he said, per reporter Lia Assimakopoulos. “Frisco on a Tuesday night to come to the AAC takes an hour or more. If we went that direction, that’s now erased for people in and around that area.”
“When you look at our fan base, our fan base skews right up the tollway north,” he added. “If you project how the demographics and how the city are going to grow over the next 20 years, that’s only going to get farther north.”
For now, the organization remains in the evaluation phase, weighing financial, logistical, and community factors.
Officials in multiple North Texas cities have already expressed interest in hosting the team, though the process is expected to take years before a final decision or potential relocation.
The Stars’ lease at American Airlines Center runs through 2031, giving both the franchise and the city several years to determine the team’s long-term home.