Plano Moves Toward New Stars Arena

Plano city council voted 8‑0 to accept a plan that could bring the Dallas Stars hockey team to the suburb. The motion, called a Letter of Intent, does not guarantee construction, but it lets the team and city talk further. The idea is to turn a shopping mall called The Shops at Willow Bend into a sports and entertainment hub. The plan adds restaurants, shops, public plazas, and a new arena as the main feature. Building the arena alone would cost about $1 billion, while the whole district could reach $3 billion.Plano might put up to $700 million of that money through a tax‑reinvestment zone and other sources. The Stars’ current lease ends in 2031, and the team is looking for a long‑term home. The Dallas Mavericks are also considering new locations. If Plano wins the bid, it would be the first time the Stars play games outside Dallas city limits. The council’s vote is a key step, but it is not the final decision on where the team will go.