Two weeks after The Dallas Express first asked whether AT&T plans to keep its headquarters in downtown Dallas, the company still has not provided a clear public statement.
Downtown business leaders are uneasy. The Dallas Business Journal reported that they are “waiting with bated breath” as AT&T reviews its real estate footprint and approaches the end of its Whitacre Tower lease. The telecom giant continues to fall back on the same line: it does not comment on “rumors and speculation.”
That same line is what AT&T has told The Dallas Express in repeated inquiries — a response that avoids the central question of whether one of Dallas’ largest employers intends to stay or relocate.
Business Journal Adds New Details
The Dallas Business Journal reported last week that AT&T is reviewing its real estate footprint across North Texas, including potential sites in suburban areas such as Plano, as part of a broader look at office needs.
The paper quoted downtown stakeholders describing AT&T as “a very important part of the fabric of downtown Dallas” and noted that the company has not confirmed any long-term plans.
When contacted, AT&T repeated the same statement it has provided to multiple outlets: “We do not comment on rumors and speculation.”
Downtown Challenges Documented
A February 2025 study by Boston Consulting Group for Downtown Dallas Inc. found that violent crime in the city’s core increased 42 percent from 2019 through 2023 even as the citywide rate fell 14 percent. The report quoted a corporate stakeholder warning that “AT&T would consider relocating if public-safety issues downtown are not addressed.”
Researchers estimated that an AT&T move could cut downtown property values by roughly 30 percent, erasing about $2.7 billion in value and $62 million in annual property-tax revenue.
Economic Stakes for the City
AT&T employs thousands of people downtown and occupies more than 2 million square feet of office space. Developers and business leaders interviewed by the Business Journal said a departure would ripple through restaurants, hotels, and retail shops that depend on weekday workers.
Dallas relies heavily on commercial property taxes; according to the BCG report, downtown accounts for roughly 4.5 percent of the city’s total property value.
Company Response
AT&T has not provided any additional information beyond its standard comment.
The Dallas Express sent detailed follow-up questions this week about the company’s real estate review, employee-safety concerns, and suburban site visits; as of publication, the company had not responded.
Before publication of its first story, The Dallas Express spoke privately with an AT&T representative who requested the discussion remain off the record. The company has not publicly shared any of that information or provided an on-the-record statement about its future in downtown Dallas.
Previous Dallas Express Reporting
The Dallas Express has published a series of stories examining how downtown safety, commuting challenges, and corporate relocation trends could affect AT&T’s future in Dallas:
- Bouncing From Downtown? Will AT&T Stay At Whitacre Tower Or Sneak To The Suburbs?
- AT&T’s Silence Leaves Questions on Future of Dallas Headquarters
- AT&T Poised To Abandon Downtown Dallas After San Antonio Exit
- Will AT&T HQ Exchange Downtown Crime for Suburban Calm?
Why It Matters
AT&T’s headquarters anchors downtown Dallas both economically and symbolically.
Without a public commitment, civic and business leaders warn that uncertainty could slow investment and development just as major projects—including the convention-center expansion and multiple high-rise redevelopments—are underway.
Many say Dallas deserves a clear answer on whether the company that helped define its skyline intends to keep its home there.