There’s growing buzz, via The Dallas Morning News, around the Dallas Mavericks potentially relocating their home arena to the Valley View area. Making it a strategic anchor within Dallas’s planned International District, a 450-acre vision for mixed-use redevelopment at Preston Road and LBJ.
Rather than a simple venue move, the project represents a transformation of 110-plus acres and a reimagining of North Dallas’s economic core. It has the potential to reshape the region’s core drivers by elevating housing, retail and hospitality, and the office market in truly transformative ways.
Housing: Revitalization, Demand And Redevelopment
An arena development instantly creates gravity by attracting residents who want to live where energy, entertainment and employment intersect.
But in North Dallas, the opportunity goes beyond new construction. It could breathe new life into one of the region’s most established and desirable residential corridors.
Much of the housing along the Tollway corridor, from West Plano and Addison to Farmers Branch and Preston Hollow, is already undergoing a meaningful wave of renovation and redevelopment supported by municipal incentives. These neighborhoods have consistently performed well thanks to their central location, proximity to top-tier public and private schools, and access to major dining and retail hubs, fueling steady value appreciation. A Mavericks arena would only enhance this desirability, accelerating investment and drawing even more interest to the area as a vibrant place to live, work and spend time.
This type of placemaking development would continue to spur reinvestment into the aging housing stock, including the numerous condos and townhomes surrounding the Galleria Dallas and Valley View corridors, creating opportunities for thoughtful modernization and higher-quality residential offerings. As demand strengthens, both single-family and multifamily communities would benefit from improved leasing performance, faster absorption and the continued rise of home values. The result is a more energized and resilient housing market, one that reinforces confidence for homeowners, investors and future residents alike.
With the right strategy, this becomes a story of reinvestment over sprawl, reinforcing the desire to invest in the region’s most established neighborhoods while enhancing livability, preserving character and building for the future in the places people already love to call home.
Retail And Hospitality: Reimagining The Corridor
The Galleria remains a leading retail destination, but as the traditional mall model continues to decline nationally, it’s clear that the malls thriving today are those infused with experiential environments where shopping, dining and entertainment merge. With the Galleria’s infrastructure aging and its competitive edge challenged by destinations like NorthPark, a new arena could serve as the catalyst to anchor the area it needs to stay vibrant, modern and relevant.
Revitalizing this corridor isn’t simply about adding more retail; it’s about creating an experience. A Mavericks arena would introduce energy that extends beyond the game: chef-driven restaurants, rooftop lounges, immersive entertainment and activities that draw visitors both before and long after the final buzzer.
The current home of the Dallas Mavericks. Photo: Dorti | Shutterstock
Dallas has already seen this model succeed. The site for the American Airlines Center in Victory Park was once a power plant, rail yard and grain-elevator zone that is now transformed into a thriving district of restaurants, residences and nightlife. That evolution shows how a sports anchor can turn underutilized land into a dynamic destination that people want to explore. A similar story could unfold at Valley View, but with a stronger foundation already in place, thanks to surrounding neighborhoods and existing retail anchors.
This momentum naturally extends into hospitality. Existing hotels, including the Westin Galleria, the Hilton Dallas and the Le Méridien, would benefit from increased occupancy driven by sports, business and leisure travel. Meanwhile, short-term rentals such as Airbnb-style accommodations would thrive as more visitors seek flexible lodging, creating new opportunities for homeowners and investors.
With thoughtful investment in walkability, transit connectivity and placemaking, North Dallas could attract new-to-market luxury brands, international retailers and Michelin-caliber dining, elevating the district into a destination that competes not only regionally but nationally and globally.
Done right, this redevelopment positions the Galleria corridor to become a destination again, driving the next evolution of North Dallas: vibrant, relevant and more aligned with what consumers want.
Office: Repositioning Aging Stock And Attracting New Business
The North Dallas office market includes a substantial amount of aging inventory properties that no longer match the amenities, connectivity and workplace experience today’s companies expect. But when major investments in entertainment, hospitality, infrastructure and international commerce converge in one corridor, the economics shift.
A Mavericks arena at the former Valley View Mall site would help drive that shift. With walkable amenities, elevated dining, hotels and active public spaces right outside the front door, nearby office properties suddenly become far more attractive to employers focused on talent recruitment and the employee experience.
That momentum is already taking shape. The city of Dallas purchased the Prism Center to anchor the emerging International District, bringing in global organizations like the European American Chamber of Commerce and the French Trade Office, alongside educational and workforce anchors, including Dallas ISD’s new International STEAM Academy and Workforce Solutions. These early moves signal a future that combines business, education and innovation in a truly global environment.
Meanwhile, the broader Platinum Corridor, the commercial spine along the Dallas North Tollway, continues to attract corporate relocations, especially within the financial sector, as Texas grows its profile in capital markets and stock-exchange operations. This regional momentum strengthens office demand and reinforces North Dallas’s competitiveness as a business destination.
As visibility increases and land values rise, older properties become strong candidates for reinvestment, whether through modernization, adaptive reuse or full redevelopment, where teardowns become economically viable. Supportive planning tools and incentives, including Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and SB 840, which allows commercial properties to convert to multifamily or mixed-use residential by right, expand development optionality and unlock higher-value uses.
With mobility and streetscape improvements underway, the corridor is poised to unify Dallas, Addison, Farmers Branch and Plano into a cohesive employment ecosystem, one that blends access, amenities, lifestyle and global business connectivity.
This isn’t simply about absorbing outdated office space, it’s about unlocking a more productive, innovative and economically powerful commercial market in the heart of Dallas-Fort Worth.
The Bigger Picture: A North Dallas Renaissance
Beyond adding a new home court, the opportunity advances Dallas’s role as a leader in global business, sports and culture. A Mavericks arena in North Dallas would accelerate investment, attract global companies and create a thriving commercial ecosystem that benefits everyone, including the team.
The goal reaches past economic development to create a destination that unites fans, families, and businesses. And for the Mavericks, this move offers more than a new arena; it creates a legacy. A chance to partner with a community that’s ready to rise, ready to evolve and ready to rally behind a bold vision for the future.
North Dallas is prepared for this moment. Mavs, the welcome mat is out.
Frances Cruz is a district sales manger for CENTURY 21 Fine Homes & Estates Judge Fite Company.
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