Plano Voters Weigh Taxes for Stars Arena
Proposition A would fund bonds tied to a proposed $1 billion arena at The Shops at Willow Bend.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Hockey
Live Poll
Should Plano taxpayers help fund a new Dallas Stars arena through venue taxes?
Plano voters are deciding on Proposition A, which asks for approval of five venue taxes to help pay off $700 million in bonds committed to a proposed $1 billion arena for the Dallas Stars. The proposed site is The Shops at Willow Bend mall, and the Stars intend to lease the arena for 30 years.
Why it matters
The Dallas Stars announced plans to leave the American Airlines Center after a legal dispute with the Dallas Mavericks, and the team says a Plano arena would better reach season ticket-holders as population growth shifts north. The outcome will determine whether Plano takes on the financing burden for a major league franchise.
The $700 million in bonds is set against a $1 billion total project cost, with five venue taxes proposed to repay them, while the Stars' corporate entity spent nearly $1 million on the campaign compared with $13,000 raised by opponents. Final terms remain under negotiation and project studies are ongoing.
The players
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a National Hockey League franchise based in Dallas that currently play at the American Airlines Center and have proposed moving their home games to a new arena in Plano.
Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a National Basketball Association franchise that share the American Airlines Center with the Stars and were involved in a legal dispute that prompted the Stars to announce plans to leave.
The details
Proposition A asks voters to approve five taxes rather than the arena itself, and the Stars plan a 30-year lease on a facility that Plano would own. The financing is backed by a 41-year tax increment reinvestment zone covering nearly 900 acres, which the Plano school district has joined, and the agreement includes community benefits such as hosting school graduations and performances.
Timeline
Plano voters decide on Proposition A on November 3, 2026.
The Stars hope to begin playing in Plano as early as 2031.
The proposed Stars lease would run 30 years.
The tax increment reinvestment zone would last 41 years.
Big Picture
The proposed Plano arena marks a departure from the shared-venue arrangement at the American Airlines Center, which the Stars now plan to leave after a legal dispute with the Mavericks. The move reflects a franchise seeking a dedicated home closer to where its season ticket-holders now live.
If approved, the five venue taxes would apply to tickets, parking, car rentals, hotel rooms, and major league sports teams in Plano. Residents would also see the arena's financing tied to a 41-year tax increment reinvestment zone.
The takeaway
Voters are being asked to approve taxes that would underwrite a major league arena for decades, so the terms of the lease, the tax zone, and the financing are worth reviewing before November 3, 2026. The outcome will shape how Plano's dormant shopping mall site and its public finances are used for years.
What happens next
Plano voters decide on Proposition A on November 3, 2026, which determines whether the venue taxes move forward.
Further reading
For more on the franchise's history and current roster, see Hockey coverage on Wisevoter.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
Live Poll
Should Plano taxpayers help fund a new Dallas Stars arena through venue taxes?
