The Dallas Mavericks are narrowing their search for a new arena to two sites within the city of Dallas, according to comments from team CEO Rick Welts. The NBA franchise is now focused on a downtown location 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 possible downtown site could be the land beneath Dallas City Hall. However, this option depends on whether the city decides to preserve or demolish the building designed by architect I.M. Pei. Other downtown parcels near the planned convention center redevelopment have also been considered in recent months.
The Valley View site in North Dallas, which was previously home to a regional mall, is seen as another leading candidate. Its large size is appealing for what the Mavericks describe as a mixed-use entertainment district anchored by a new arena.
A third location—the county jail site at 111 Commerce Street—has been mentioned as a theoretical possibility. This 15-acre riverfront property is owned by Dallas County and valued at $109 million, but county officials say no formal discussions have occurred regarding its use for an arena.
No final decision has been made yet. The Mavericks’ lease at American Airlines Center lasts through 2031. Welts said an earlier goal to announce a new site by March has been delayed, with an updated timeline targeting July 1—around the end of the NBA season—for making a decision.
“Right now, our hope is somewhere around July 1 … that we are in position to be able to make a decision,” Welts said, noting that factors outside of the team’s control have contributed to delays.
Last summer, Dallas contracted Hillwood Urban Services for $75,000 to help identify and evaluate potential sites for a new NBA arena.
Welts stressed that while there appears to be ample time before their current lease ends, planning must move quickly: “We want to open in 2031,” he said. “That means we’re on the clock.”
He added that developing a roughly 50-acre mixed-use district with an arena and public spaces will require careful timing and coordination.
