Dallas Mavericks choose Valley View site for 104-acre arena plan
The dallas mavericks have entered option agreements to pursue about 104 acres at the former Valley View Mall site for a new arena and entertainment hub. The move keeps the team centered on Dallas while it works against a 2031 lease deadline at the American Airlines Center.
Gina Miller said the Valley View site meets most of the criteria the team set at the start of its evaluation process. She added that it is the team’s goal to stay in the City of Dallas and that the site offers the strongest opportunity to do that.
Valley View Mall and 104 acres
The Mavericks said the project could turn the site into a mixed-use destination anchored by a state-of-the-art arena. Their plan also includes restaurants, entertainment options, public green spaces and family-friendly experiences, with the team describing the development as a possible economic catalyst for Dallas and its residents if handled thoughtfully and with community engagement.
Cara Mendelsohn reacted online with, “Mavs, welcome to Far North Dallas.” She also said, “I love that this location will drive redevelopment and help Southern Dallas with infrastructure dollars through the Mall TIF.”
Rick Welts and the Dallas lease
Rick Welts said months ago that the Mavericks were focused on two potential sites, including Dallas City Hall and the former Valley View Mall in North Dallas. The new option agreements show that the North Dallas site has moved ahead, and they do so while the team’s lease at the American Airlines Center runs toward 2031.
Last month, a Texas judge ruled in favor of the Mavericks in their lawsuit against the Dallas Stars and handed over control of the American Airlines Center to the Mavericks. That control matters because the arena is city-owned, the teams shared a corporation that operates it under a long-term lease, and both clubs are required to keep their corporate headquarters in Dallas through 2031.
30 months to opening
The Mavericks have said construction on the new arena is expected to take about 30 months, with a target opening by the end of 2031. That timeline leaves little room for delay, since the club is trying to line up a new home before its current lease expires and while the Stars are also exploring sites outside Dallas.
The team’s best path is now clear: use the Valley View option to push a Dallas-based arena deal forward, or risk losing time in a market where location, lease control and redevelopment pressure are all moving at once.
