The Dallas Mavericks are narrowing their search for a new arena to two main locations within the city, according to comments from team CEO Rick Welts. The franchise is considering a downtown Dallas site and the former Valley View Center property at Preston Road and I-635.
“We have identified, with the city, two city of Dallas locations that we are focusing all our time and attention on now, and hoping to bring one of them to success,” Welts told the Dallas Morning News.
One downtown option could involve land beneath Dallas City Hall, but this depends on whether the city decides to keep or demolish the I.M. Pei–designed building. Other downtown parcels near a planned convention center redevelopment have also been discussed recently.
The Valley View site in North Dallas is another leading candidate. The 110-acre tract was once home to a regional mall and is large enough for what the Mavericks envision as a mixed-use entertainment district anchored by an arena.
A third possible location—the county jail site at 111 Commerce Street—has come up in discussions. However, Dallas County officials say there have been no formal talks about using this 15-acre riverfront property, which is valued at $109 million according to appraisal records.
No final decision has been made yet. The Mavericks’ lease at American Airlines Center runs through 2031. Welts said that an initial plan to announce a new site by March has been delayed; he now expects a decision around July 1, near the end of the NBA season.
“Right now, our hope is somewhere around July 1 … that we are in position to be able to make a decision,” Welts said. He noted that some factors outside of the team’s control have affected their timeline.
Last summer, Hillwood Urban Services was hired by Dallas for $75,000 to help evaluate potential sites for a new NBA arena.
Welts stressed that while there may seem like plenty of time before their current lease ends, it is not unlimited.
“We want to open in 2031,” he said. “That means we’re on the clock.”
He added that developing an estimated 50-acre mixed-use district with an arena and public spaces will require careful planning and timely action.
