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The site of the demolished Valley View Mall sits vacant in Dallas, Friday, May 29, 2026. (Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News)
The Dallas Mavericks announced a major decision this week, choosing the former site of Valley View Mall for their new arena.
The team notably chose that site over keeping the project in downtown Dallas. According to The Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend, the seismic decision could reshape Dallas' sports and entertainment landscape for decades.
So, why did the Mavericks choose the Valley View site? Here's a breakdown:
The Mavericks have a timeline they're following for arena construction
The Mavericks were seeking at least a 50-acre footprint for the project, the centerpiece being a basketball-specific arena to be completed by the time its American Airlines Center lease expires on July 28, 2031.
That timeline was a significant factor in Monday’s decision, multiple people familiar with the negotiating process told The Dallas Morning News.
The Mavericks already had pushed their site selection deadline from the end of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026 to an “absolute” July 1 cutoff. The Valley View purchase agreements were executed 29 days before that deadline.
Why not downtown Dallas?
The only viable downtown option pitched to the Mavericks encompassed the land that includes City Hall. However, multiple people close to Mavericks governor Patrick Dumont say he grew increasingly leery of becoming the face of a tear-down-City Hall movement, especially since it wasn’t the Mavericks’ idea in the first place.
What stands out about the Valley View location?
Unlike the potential months, perhaps years, it would take to tear down and clear City Hall, the Valley View site has been vacant since 2015 and structure-free since 2023. There’s also no footprint-size concerns. The 104 acres are more than twice the amount the Mavericks said they needed for a downtown site. And there are ingress-egress options with Interstate 635 to the south, the Dallas North Tollway to the west and Preston Road to the east.
“We have the opportunity to create a vibrant mixed-use destination anchored by a state-of-the-art arena, along with restaurants, entertainment options, public green spaces and family-friendly experiences,” the Mavericks’ statement Monday continued.
“Done thoughtfully and with community engagement, a project of this scale will serve as a meaningful economic catalyst for Dallas and its residents. We believe in Dallas and our priority has been clear from the beginning: keeping the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas.”
Staff writer Brad Townsend contributed to this post.
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