Project News / Commercial
Plano venue tax for proposed Dallas Stars arena trails in early returns
The November 3 early count showed about 54% against the venue-tax proposal for an arena at Willow Bend; final results were not established in the briefing.
Plano’s proposal to use venue-related taxes to help finance a new Dallas Stars arena at The Shops at Willow Bend was trailing in early election returns. At 9 p.m. Central on November 3, FOX 4 reported 47,552 votes against Proposition A and 40,579 in favor, a split of approximately 54% to 46%. The figures reflect an early, unofficial count.
The proposition would authorize Plano to use one or more taxes tied to the proposed multipurpose arena. The options include taxes on hotel stays and short-term vehicle rentals, along with charges tied to event admissions, parking and major-league use of the facility. The financing proposal anticipates raising approximately $700 million to $900 million over time, with Plano’s contribution to the arena capped at $700 million.
The arena would serve as an anchor for the proposed Willow Bend redevelopment. That makes the financing question relevant beyond the arena building itself. Its location, event traffic and relationship to surrounding uses would shape how the larger mall property is redeveloped and how individual construction phases are sequenced.
If voters reject the measure, the city and its project partners would have to determine whether another financing structure could support the arena. The early vote count leaves that decision open. A final election outcome, construction contract and groundbreaking date remain unconfirmed.
