Dallas officials have engaged Hillwood Urban Services to help identify potential locations for a new arena for the Mavericks, according to a report by the Dallas Morning News. The city signed a $75,000 consulting contract with Hillwood this spring. The three-month agreement, which did not require City Council approval, directed Hillwood to evaluate sites, analyze feasibility, and make recommendations on where the NBA team could relocate after its lease at American Airlines Center ends in 2031.
Details about which sites were considered have not been made public. Both the city and Hillwood declined to share specifics on site evaluations. When asked for related documents, Dallas denied a public records request from the outlet, citing confidentiality rules related to ongoing economic development talks. The city has appealed to the Texas Attorney General in an effort to keep these details confidential while negotiations continue.
Mavericks CEO Rick Welts stated last month that “officials floated several possible locations and said the team is assessing two of them, though he cautioned that ‘neither may work.’” Potential options discussed by sources include land near the planned convention center downtown and the former Valley View mall site in North Dallas. Another suggestion involved county-owned jail property; however, officials say no discussions have taken place regarding that location.
Welts previously managed construction of San Francisco’s Chase Center during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors. He indicated that the Mavericks are considering building a basketball-only facility. His appointment as CEO last year has also contributed to speculation about connecting any new stadium project with casino development.
Financing remains uncertain as Dallas explores options for a new arena. In comparison, San Antonio is considering funding its proposed $1.3 billion Spurs arena through tourism taxes and city funds alongside contributions from the team itself (https://therealdeal.com/texas/san-antonio/2024/05/13/spurs-arena-plan-tests-san-antonios-appetite-for-billion-dollar-bets/).
