AT&T did not respond or acknowledge receipt of new questions from The Dallas Express this week regarding reports that the telecommunications giant has explored relocating portions of its workforce — or potentially its headquarters — out of downtown Dallas. The company has declined for months to address whether it intends to remain at Whitacre Tower beyond its 2030 lease despite multiple documented suburban site tours.
The latest non-response extends AT&T’s pattern of offering no clarification on what it has repeatedly referred to publicly as “rumors and speculation,” even as Dallas officials and real estate stakeholders say discussions about the company’s future are ongoing.
DX Inquiry Not Acknowledged
This week, The Dallas Express contacted AT&T with questions about:
- whether the company has made any determination regarding its Dallas headquarters,
- whether suburban evaluations remain active, and
- whether downtown conditions — including safety, taxes, infrastructure, or business climate — are influencing AT&T’s internal discussions about its headquarters location
AT&T Previous Statements
A company previously provided this response to The Dallas Express: “We do not comment on rumors and speculation.”
Suburban Site Evaluations Documented Across Multiple Outlets
On Oct. 24, The Dallas Morning News reported that AT&T has “intensified its search outside of downtown Dallas in recent weeks — with a particular focus on Plano and Frisco,” citing real estate professionals familiar with the effort.
Sites reportedly under evaluation include:
- The Park at Legacy in Plano (1.8M sq. ft.)
- A possible build-to-suit location near The Star in Frisco
- A portion of the former Electronic Data Systems campus in Plano
A September 12 DMN story also confirmed AT&T had toured “multiple large office sites” across the region.
WFAA reported the same suburban focus and noted that Dallas leaders are negotiating with the company to retain its headquarters.
City Officials Say Conversations Are Ongoing
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert told the DMN: “AT&T remains a critical component of the core of our city. We are engaged in discussions with company executives. We want AT&T’s presence in Dallas, and our engagements will continue.”
WFAA reported that City Council Member Paul Ridley described the situation as “delicate negotiations.”
Stakeholders Highlight Significance of AT&T’s Decision
Pacific Elm Properties CEO Billy Prewitt, whose firm co-owns Whitacre Tower, told the Dallas Business Journal: “We hope they choose to stay downtown. They’re a very important part of the fabric of downtown Dallas.”
The same DBJ report quoted NexPoint founder James Dondero: “AT&T has had all kinds of safety issues … They don’t view it as a safe, happy place to work.”
BCG Study Outlines Potential Impact of AT&T Relocation
A February 2025 Boston Consulting Group analysis commissioned by Downtown Dallas Inc. concluded that AT&T:
- “[W]ould consider relocating if public-safety issues downtown are not addressed,”
- Could trigger a 30% drop in downtown property values, and
- Potentially cost the city $2.7 billion in total value and $62 million annually in property-tax revenue.
This analysis has been repeatedly referenced in DMN, DBJ, WFAA, and prior Dallas Express reporting.
Recent San Antonio Move Shows Broader Real-Estate Repositioning
In late September, the San Antonio Business Journal (SABJ) reported AT&T would vacate a major downtown office and move operations to a suburban campus, leaving approximately 400,000 square feet vacant.
The company told SABJ the move is part of a “companywide initiative to optimize our real estate footprint.”
TPIA Requests Seek Transparency
To clarify the extent of communication between AT&T and City Hall, The Dallas Express filed two Texas Public Information Act requests.
-
A request for communications between AT&T and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert
— The City of Dallas responded that no records exist, effectively denying access to any documentation of the discussions Tolbert publicly said she has been holding with the company. -
A separate request for communications between AT&T and the Dallas Police Department
— Pending
These outcomes do not imply wrongdoing but highlight the absence of publicly available records detailing the City’s engagement with AT&T regarding its headquarters evaluation.
AT&T Has Yet To Clarify Its Plans
AT&T’s headquarters lease at Whitacre Tower runs through 2030.
The company has:
- Toured multiple major suburban office sites,
- Declined repeated opportunities to comment on its headquarters evaluation, and
- Did not acknowledge The Dallas Express’ latest inquiry.
City leaders and downtown stakeholders continue to monitor developments as the telecommunications company weighs its options ahead of the lease expiration.
