Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts re-emphasized the team’s commitment to Dallas this week amid rumors about a potential move to a new stadium in Irving.
The buzzing around a potential transition into Irving comes as the city continues to debate rezoning laws that would introduce the potential for casinos, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
The land that the Irving City Council is discussing is the site of the former Texas Stadium, which is now owned by a company affiliated with the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.
Coincidentally, the Chief Operating Officer of Las Vegas Sands Corporation is current Mavericks’ Governor Patrick Dumont.
This connection has sparked rumors that the Mavericks could move to a brand new arena in the future. Irving’s potentially rezoned land could be the perfect spot for an arena, hotel, and casino.
Although many believe the organization is considering a move to Irving, Welts explained that the Mavericks are committed to finding room within Dallas for a new arena.
Welts said on Tuesday that the organization is focused on finding space for a “full-blown entertainment district” within the City of Dallas.
“What we’re saying to the city is we want to exhaust every possible option in the city of Dallas before considering pivoting to another location in the Metroplex,” he said, per The Dallas Morning News.
“That’s our commitment. That’s our desire. That’s the outcome we want, to be doing this project in the city of Dallas.”
Dallas City Manager Kimberly Tolbert also shut down the rumors about a potential move, writing in a statement that “The Mavericks have called the City of Dallas home for the last 45 years,” and the plan is to keep the team in the City.
“We are committed to the long-term relationship we have established with them and are working closely with team officials to keep them in Dallas — where they belong,” wrote Tolbert in a statement to DMN.
Welts further discussed the process of finding a new site for an arena and said that the franchise has discussed multiple areas, though it has not “progressed to the point where we’re drawing lines on a map,” according to DMN.
Mavericks and Dallas officials have not specified the various locations being discussed as potential franchise options, pointing to the potential increase in price if the information is leaked.