Dallas Mavericks Search for Arena Site

The Dallas Mavericks’ long-gestating plan for a new arena and entertainment district is running into a time crunch, just as competition is growing in the Dallas City Hall relocation search.

Team CEO Rick Welts said the franchise is “on the clock” as it pursues a new home, acknowledging added urgency around a project that hinges heavily on city-controlled real estate, according to the Dallas Business Journal. Speaking on the Intersections Podcast, Welts pointed to the uncertain future of Dallas City Hall as a key variable slowing progress on a potential downtown arena.

City officials earlier this month voted to explore relocating City Hall from its current site at 1500 Marilla Street, opening the door to a possible redevelopment that could include the Mavericks’ arena. Welts called the property a “very viable option,” but noted the team has no control over the site — a major constraint as timelines tighten.

The city’s parallel search for a new municipal headquarters is adding another layer of competition. Among the properties in the mix is The Epic, an 8-acre mixed-use development on the edge of Deep Ellum, backed by Westdale. CEO Joe Beard said city officials have toured the project multiple times, pitching its office space, parking and proximity to downtown as a strong fit for City Hall, according to the outlet. Earlier this month Pacific Elm Properties proposed its vacant downtown 40-story Bryan Tower as a potential spot for a new city hall.

The Epic, at 2550 Pacific Avenue, includes two office towers totaling roughly 750,000 square feet, a luxury apartment building, restaurants and a Kimpton hotel. But the development has also grappled with vacancy after Uber sharply downsized its planned regional hub there, leaving a large block of space to backfill, according to the outlet.

The stakes are higher than just site selection for the Mavericks. Welts pointed to the seven years it took to complete San Francisco’s Chase Center — a timeline that leaves little margin if the team hopes to keep pace with modern arena development cycles.

So far, the franchise has narrowed its search to two options: a downtown site tied to City Hall’s fate and a northern alternative at the former Valley View Center mall. While Welts reiterated a commitment to keeping the team within Dallas city limits, he stopped short of guaranteeing a downtown outcome, according to the publication.

That ambiguity reflects a broader reality: While city leaders have voiced support for a downtown arena, the district’s limited land supply and competing redevelopment priorities may ultimately push the Mavericks elsewhere.

— Eric Weilbacher