A handmade button expressing opposition against venue taxes to help bring a new Dallas Stars arena to Plano is seen at Haggard Library on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 in Plano.
Chris Swann/The Dallas Morning News
After Plano voters rejected a slate of venue taxes to help fund the Dallas Stars’ next arena, city leaders will reassess the project’s funding plan, the city manager said in a statement Wednesday.
The Stars can still move up the tollway from American Airlines Center when their lease expires in 2031. The city just won’t have access to taxes on ticket prices, event parking, hotel rooms, car rentals and on teams using the arena to help pay for it.
“Without authorization for these venue taxes, the proposed financing approach would need to be reassessed before City Council considers any actions related to the arena,” City Manager Mark Israelson said in a statement. “Our focus will be on providing [the council] with a clear understanding of the financial implications and the options available.”
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The rejection of the taxes, while not an impediment to the arena itself, signals local resentment toward using public funding for the project at the site of the ailing Shops at Willow Bend mall.
Related: Plano voters reject taxes for proposed Dallas Stars arena, election results show
Brad Alberts said in an October interview he is confident the project will go forward regardless. The Stars did not immediately respond to a request for comment following the election.
The city has committed $700 million in bonds backed by a tax increment reinvestment zone toward the $1 billion arena, which Plano would own and the Stars plan to lease for three decades.
The school district is also contributing up to $250 million through the zone, which could leave the city with $450 million left to cover. The team would pay for costs above the $700 million.
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Proposition A’s taxes would have helped pay off this debt faster, officials said. The city also plans to pursue financing through the state Legislature and is tapping consultants to advise on different funding options.
A resident points to a rendering during a community open house event regarding the Dallas Stars arena project at The Shops at Willow Bend on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Plano.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Some residents who opposed the proposition said public money should not go toward benefiting a private company. Kenley Ladishew, 40, said at the polls Tuesday she voted against the proposition.
“There’s certain things that I’m willing to pay for as a taxpayer,” Ladishew said. “But building new sports arenas? That’s not one of the things.”
Traffic topped the list of concerns for some voters. The city’s traffic consulting firm published an early study, but questions remain on how officials will mitigate congestion.
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“I’m very unhappy,” said Judith Walsh, who lives near Willow Bend and fears event traffic. “I’m going to be stuck at home. I can’t go to Costco, can’t go to PetSmart. I can’t go to any of those places.”
Walsh supported the Stop the Stars Arena PAC, which raised more than $13,000 against Proposition A from residents in a David-versus-Goliath campaign in which the underdog won out.
Voters cast their ballot at the Harrington Library in Plano, Texas, on Election Day, November 3, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
The Stars’ corporate entity backed a competing committee, which raised over $1 million in its campaign supporting the failed proposition.
Decades of past and current city leadership advocated for the proposition, saying taxes were aimed at those using the arena, not at residents. Past mayors said the arena will bring tax revenues, economic vitality and community benefits to Plano. Plans include a $2 billion entertainment district, funded privately, with hotel space, housing, retail and restaurants.
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Mayor John Muns said the redevelopment of the mall site, which has failed to attract business for decades, “remains an important opportunity.”
“We are committed to thoughtful reinvestment and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars as we consider what comes next,” Muns said in a statement following Tuesday’s election. “I appreciate everyone who made their voice heard.”
Related: Stop the Stars Arena PAC celebrates rejected tax proposal for arena
Plano resident Michael Funnell said Tuesday he was torn on Proposition A.
“It would bring business to the city,” Funnell said. “But on the other hand, the way it had been worked out … was rather rushed and could lead to some long-term consequences.”
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The Stars announced their intent to move in June and could play in Plano as early as 2031.
Apart from the financing, the arena project still has hurdles to jump before becoming a reality. The master agreement, site plan and specific community benefits are still under negotiation.
Staff writers Jacquelyn Burrer, Charlotte Kratom and Lily Peck contributed to this report.
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