Willow Bend Arena Project
At a glance
Based on uploaded (human-made) captions; some stretches are fragmentary and dollar figures are uncertain.
- What: a proposed Dallas Stars arena (about 18,000 seats for hockey, about 19,500 for concerts) with mixed-use redevelopment at the Willow Bend site, to be city-owned and leased to the team's ownership under a June letter of intent.
- Where it stands: a citizen advisory committee is gathering residents' questions; staff and consultants have briefed council on traffic, home values, financing and public safety (see the linked issues). Voters decide the venue-tax proposition on November 3 (early voting began October 19).
- Next: committee meeting October 13, final transportation report expected about October 31, a phase two residential market study, and the next council update on December 8.
Process and committee
- Willow Bend Redevelopment Advisory Committee formed in August; residents submit questions through an online survey, staff and consultants answer, and meetings are live-streamed and posted.
- Assistant City Manager Curtis Howard gave the overview; Doug McDonald summarized the work streams and next steps.
- Related issues: Willow Bend Arena Traffic Study, Willow Bend Arena Home Values, Willow Bend Arena Financing, Willow Bend Arena Public Safety, Plano ISD TIRZ No. 6 Agreement.
Main concerns raised
- Voters will decide on the tax proposition before key answers (final traffic report, who pays for mitigation, developer proposal) are in; speakers asked council to wait or urged a no vote.
- Traffic and overflow parking in neighborhoods; long-term debt risk; whether the site could attract a different employer; the comprehensive plan's redevelopment guidance.
Sources
- 2026-06-08 - City Council (minutes): https://plano.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MinutesMeetingID=912
- 2026-06-08 - City Council (minutes): https://plano.novusagenda.com/agendapublic/DisplayAgendaPDF.ashx?MinutesMeetingID=912
- 2026-10-12 - City Council (video and captions)
- Preliminary open meeting agenda: https://plano.legistar1.com/plano/meetings/2026/10/1176_A_City_Council_Preliminary_Open_Meeting_26-10-12_City_Council_Agenda.pdf
- Regular meeting agenda: https://plano.legistar1.com/plano/meetings/2026/10/1155_A_City_Council_26-10-12_City_Council_Agenda.pdf
Discussion time
About 30 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-12 - City Council | 30 |
Log
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2026-10-12 - City Council - preliminary-meeting overview by staff and committee chair, a resident's comment on the ballot timing, wrap-up of next steps, and five public speakers at the end of the regular meeting, mostly opposed.
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2026-06-08 - 2026-06-08 - City Council: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-6-4(R) 8-0 (motion Tu, second Kehr), designating a sports and community venue project under Chapter 334 of the Texas Local Government Code and its methods of financing, subject to voter approval at an election. One speaker supported the project with concerns about traffic and noise; two opposed it.
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2026-06-08 - 2026-06-08 - City Council: Approved a non-binding letter of intent with Dallas Sports & Entertainment LP, 8-0 (motion Horne, second Tu). Two speakers urged the city to care about area residents and five opposed.
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Related June 8 items: Plano ISD TIRZ No. 6 Agreement (zone creation) and Centennial Waterfall Willow Bend Economic Development Agreement.