The Plano City Council made a significant decision on Monday night, approving several measures that could bring the NHL’s Dallas Stars and a new sports and entertainment district to the city.
At its June 8 city council meeting, the council approved a non-binding Letter of Intent with the Stars, laying the groundwork for a potential multipurpose arena along the Dallas North Tollway. If the project advances, the arena would officially become the franchise’s new home ice.
A statement from Owner, Governor and Chairman Tom Gaglardi: pic.twitter.com/mdfF67uzKZ
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) June 9, 2026
The council also approved an incentive agreement with developers Levin Holdings and Cawley Partners, established a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) tied to the Willow Bend area, and passed a Venue Project Resolution that must now go to the State Comptroller before any public vote can be called.
City documents describe a sports and entertainment district built around the proposed arena, with retail and dining spots, residential development, and other “public gathering spaces.” The TIRZ – which covers only non-residential properties in the surrounding area – is designed to help finance the infrastructure required by a development and construction project of this size and scale.
“The Shops at Willow Bend has long been in our sights as an ideal location for creating a vibrant destination that blends sports and entertainment, retail, dining, office space, and housing,” said Steven Levin of Levin Holdings. “It’s an opportunity to reimagine this property as a place where the community can come together and where Plano can continue to grow and thrive.”
Before visions turn into concrete, residents will get another say.
The city is tentatively eyeing a November 3, 2026, special election that would ask voters to approve several venue-specific taxes. On the table: a short-term vehicle rental tax, a hotel occupancy tax, an event parking tax, an event admissions tax, and a venue use tax. Revenue from those taxes would fund planning, construction, and related infrastructure improvements for the arena and the surrounding area.
However, the election cannot be formally called until the State Comptroller reviews and approves the Venue Project Resolution the council passed on June 8, per state law. Only after that clearance would the council vote on an ordinance officially putting the measure before Plano voters.
Plano Mayor John Muns referred to this week’s votes as a starting point rather than a done deal for the Stars.
“Plano has built a reputation as a city that welcomes world-class partners and community-focused investment,” Muns said. “These actions are a significant first step as we evaluate the potential for a thoughtfully designed sports and entertainment district that reflects the priorities and values of our community.”
City officials say community engagement will be crucial to bringing the NHL team to town. Two in-person open houses have also been scheduled inside The Shops at Willow Bend for public input:
- Wednesday, July 8 — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 14 — 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For those who can’t attend in person, a self-guided virtual open house will be available from July 8 through July 22 at plano.gov/WillowBendDistrict, where the city is also launching a dedicated project page with continued updates.
The city has also announced plans to conduct “traffic modeling and mobility analysis” to assess how a large-scale entertainment district might affect roadways, intersections, parking, and pedestrian access in the area.
The Stars currently play at American Airlines Center in downtown Dallas, an arena they have shared with the NBA’s Mavericks. A dedicated arena in Plano would be a big move for the franchise, to say the least.
Regardless, the deal between Plano and the team is far from finalized. The Letter of Intent is explicitly non-binding, the election hasn’t been called, and the Comptroller hasn’t yet signed off.
“The stars are leaving Dallas. It was probably because of politics, but it was also probably because of economics…We hope you love the stars. We hope that they bring a championship to Plano,” Murs added on Tuesday night.
