Dallas Stars Move to Willow Bend Mall in Plano
The Dallas sports landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as the Dallas Stars have announced plans to leave the American Airlines Center and build a new arena in Plano, marking the second major North Texas professional sports franchise to reveal plans to depart downtown Dallas within days.
The NHL franchise unveiled plans to construct a state of the art arena and entertainment district at the site of the former Willow Bend Mall in Plano. The announcement comes just one day after the Dallas Mavericks revealed their own plans to leave the American Airlines Center in favor of a new development at the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas.
End of an Era at the American Airlines Center
The American Airlines Center has been home to both the Stars and Mavericks since opening in 2001. For more than two decades, the venue has served as one of the region’s premier sports and entertainment destinations, hosting playoff games, concerts, and major events that helped define downtown Dallas.
With both franchises now charting separate futures outside the arena, the announcements signal the end of a unique era in North Texas sports history. The Stars’ new arena project is expected to become the centerpiece of a larger mixed use development at the former Willow Bend Mall property, a site that has been targeted for significant redevelopment in recent years.
Plano Lands a Major Professional Sports Franchise
The move represents a major economic victory for Plano and Collin County, bringing one of the NHL’s most successful franchises closer to one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
Team officials say the development will include more than just a hockey arena. Plans call for a broader entertainment district featuring retail, restaurants, office space, residential development, and public gathering areas designed to create a year round destination. The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs and create long term economic activity throughout the region.
A Growing Trend in North Texas
The Stars’ decision reflects a broader trend among professional sports franchises seeking greater control over surrounding development opportunities and revenue streams. Rather than operating solely within a traditional arena footprint, teams increasingly favor mixed use districts that combine sports, entertainment, dining, shopping, and residential components. These developments allow franchises to generate revenue year round while creating destination experiences for fans. The back to back announcements from the Stars and Mavericks also raise questions about the future of the American Airlines Center and what role the venue may play once its two primary tenants relocate.
What Happens Next
While timelines for the Stars’ new arena have not yet been finalized, planning and development efforts are expected to move forward in the coming years. The team will continue playing at the American Airlines Center until the new facility is completed.
For hockey fans, the move promises a modern venue designed specifically for the future of the franchise. For Dallas, it marks another significant shift in the region’s sports and entertainment landscape. As both the Stars and Mavericks prepare to leave the arena they have called home for more than two decades, North Texas is witnessing one of the most significant realignments in local professional sports history.
