Plano Dallas Stars venue details unveiled as city leaders seek public feedback
Plano meets with residents of new Stars arena concerns
Plano officials and Dallas Stars officials met with residents on Wednesday to discuss questions and concerns over the new arena the Stars plan on building in the city by 2031. FOX 4's Lori Brown has more.
PLANO, Texas - The city of Plano unveiled plans for the proposed Willow Bend District that could be the future home of the Dallas Stars.
Now leaders are asking for public input on the project.
Dallas Stars in Plano
What we know:
Wednesday’s community open house event came after the Dallas Stars announced they could be moving out of Downtown Dallas into the Plano area.
The plans call for a new 18,000-seat arena for the Stars. The city is also considering a 90-acre, year-round sports and entertainment district that – at least for now – is simply called The Bend.
It will replace the troubled shopping mall near the Dallas North Tollway and West Park Boulevard, where only a few stores remain open.
Residents got to see renderings and were invited to ask questions and learn more about traffic, noise, parking, lighting, etc.
What they're saying:
"Well, I think this was already going to be a development no matter what. When the Stars came to us with an idea of building an arena, it sounded like something to explore. It’s be a great natural fit and they’ve been a great partner to work with. And we’re really excited to see what happens next," said Amanda McNew, a Plano spokesperson.
"The success of this district will be if people come here where there's not a game," said Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts. "It needs to be thriving without a hockey event. That is what we will design it for, a place people want to dine and shop and that will have year-round entertainment."
Some residents who attended Wednesday's event were concerned about traffic. Others were excited to see plans for new restaurants and entertainment venues rather than just apartments.
"The alternative was a huge apartment neighborhood development," said resident Philip Hurley.
"What this place will be is a place for people who live in Plano to say let's go to The Bend any day of the week because it is a place we enjoy being at. It allows us to be outside, to walk, to be inside, to shop, to eat at 20 different kinds of restaurants, to bring our grandkids, to bring our kids, to bring our dogs," said developer Steven Levin with Levin Holdings.
Plano hosting community open house for sports arena
On Wednesday morning, we'll get an early look at the city of Plano's plans to welcome the Stars to town. Today is the first community open house after early renderings were released showing the plans for a new entertainment district near the Shops at Willow Bend.
What's next:
City leaders already advanced the Stars' arena proposal with a unanimous vote last month.
They said the next step in the development process is a traffic study to get a better understanding of how the area will affect residents and drivers, especially on game days.
Part of the proposal also includes a special venue tax that would support the planning, development, and construction. It will require a special election set for early November.
The final piece of the puzzle will be a master lease agreement, but no date is planned yet for that vote.
What you can do:
If you missed Wednesday’s open house, there will be another one on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. inside the Shops at Willow Bend near Equinox and Crate & Barrel.
A self-guided virtual community open house is also available online through July 22 at Plano.gov/WillowBendDistrict.
The Source: The information in this story comes from reporting by FOX 4's Payton May, Lori Brown, and a news release from the city of Plano.