The Dallas Mavericks announced on Monday that they have eyed 104 acres of land in North Texas for their new arena after months of speculation over whether the N.B.A. team would stay downtown.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes amid fierce debate over the future of Dallas City Hall, an aging building in downtown Dallas that was designed by the famed architect I.M. Pei.<\/p>\n
In recent City Hall meetings, preservationists argued that a building designed by Mr. Pei, who also designed the Louvre pyramid in Paris, should be maintained. Developers and others, however, were interested in the prospect of a project in the area where City Hall rests, on the south side of downtown Dallas, which is teeming with new construction.<\/p>\n
The Mavericks signed option agreements that will give the team the opportunity to buy about 104 acres on the former site of Valley View Mall, which was demolished in 2023. The land, 11 miles north of the team\u2019s current arena, is near two major thoroughfares, Interstate 635 to the south, and the Dallas North Tollway to the west. Another mall, the Galleria Dallas, is nearby.<\/p>\n
Public buses serve the area around the former mall, but it is not accessible by Dallas Area Rapid Transit light rail, which fans can take to the team\u2019s current arena, the American Airlines Center, and other parts of downtown. The Mavericks\u2019 lease at the arena ends in 2031.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Valley View site meets most of the criteria established at the outset of our evaluation process,\u201d the Mavericks said in a statement. \u201cIt is our goal to stay in the City of Dallas, and we believe this site provides the strongest opportunity to achieve that goal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mavericks said the purchase gives them the opportunity to build a mixed-use development, anchored by a new area.<\/p>\n
\u201cDone thoughtfully and with community engagement, a project of this scale will serve as a meaningful economic catalyst for Dallas and its residents,\u201d the Mavericks said.<\/p>\n
It was unclear what this decision could mean for the future of City Hall. A report released this year suggested it could cost roughly $1 billion over 20 years to adequately repair the building.<\/p>\n