Plano in Talks with Dallas Stars for New Arena at Willow Bend Mall

City officials confirm discussions, but no formal offer made yet to relocate NHL franchise

Feb. 27, 2026 at 5:19pm

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Plano city officials have confirmed they have been in discussions with the Dallas Stars about building a new arena at the site of The Shops at Willow Bend mall, but they say no formal offer has been made to the NHL franchise to relocate from American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Why it matters

The potential move of the Dallas Stars to Plano would be a major development for the city, bringing a professional sports team and a new arena that could spur additional economic activity and development in the area around the Willow Bend Mall site. However, the negotiations are still in early stages, and it remains to be seen if a deal can be reached between the city and the hockey team.

The details

Plano officials told The Dallas Morning News that while they have been in "earnest discussions" with the Stars about a potential arena district at the Willow Bend Mall site, no formal offer has been made to the team yet. Representatives for the Stars and the mall's co-owner, Cawley Partners, declined to comment on the arena search. The News first reported in October 2025 that the Stars were eyeing Willow Bend as a potential new home, after discussions with other cities including Frisco, The Colony, Arlington and Fort Worth.

  • In October 2025, The Dallas Morning News first reported the Stars were eyeing the Willow Bend Mall site.
  • On February 27, 2026, Plano city officials confirmed they have been in discussions with the Stars about a potential new arena at Willow Bend.

The players

Dallas Stars

A professional ice hockey team that currently plays its home games at American Airlines Center in Dallas.

Plano

A city in Collin County, Texas, located just north of Dallas, that is in discussions with the Dallas Stars about potentially building a new arena at the Willow Bend Mall site.

The Shops at Willow Bend

A suburban shopping mall located in Plano, Texas that has emerged as a potential site for a new Dallas Stars arena.

Bill Cawley

A co-owner of The Shops at Willow Bend mall.

Chad West

A Dallas City Council member who stated that Plano has presented the Dallas Stars with a letter of intent regarding a potential move to the Willow Bend Mall site.

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What they’re saying

“For the past year, the City has been in earnest discussions with the Dallas Stars regarding a potential arena district at The Shops at Willow Bend. The City does not publicly comment on negotiations until a proposal is ready for formal consideration by the Plano City Council. However, because of recent news reports referencing a formal offer to the team, we want to clarify to the Plano Community that no such offer has been made.”

— Amanda McNew, City spokesperson (The Dallas Morning News)

“I have learned that there is a letter of intent, which is simply an offer on the table for the Stars to move to the Willow Bend mall location in Plano. That's not surprising because it's been public for several months now that a lot of cities are interested in courting the Stars, knowing that their contact with the AAC is going to end in 2031.”

— Chad West, Dallas City Council member (The Dallas Morning News)

What’s next

The Plano City Council will need to formally consider any proposal from the Dallas Stars regarding a potential new arena at the Willow Bend Mall site. Dallas city leaders are also still working to keep the team within the city limits when their lease at American Airlines Center expires in 2031.

The takeaway

The potential relocation of the Dallas Stars to Plano represents a high-stakes competition between neighboring cities to attract a major professional sports franchise and the economic benefits that come with it. However, the negotiations are still in the early stages, and it remains to be seen if Plano can finalize a deal to bring the Stars to the Willow Bend Mall site.