Dallas Quietly Hires Hillwood to Scout Mavericks Arena Sites

Dallas has been working behind the scenes to map out a new home for the Mavericks, even as officials keep the details under wraps.

The city hired Hillwood Urban Services this spring under a $75,000 consulting deal to identify potential sites for a new NBA arena, the Dallas Morning News reported. The three-month contract — approved administratively without City Council sign-off — tasked Hillwood with site evaluations, feasibility analysis and final recommendations for where the Mavs might land after their lease at American Airlines Center expires in 2031, in time to open an arena by the 2031-2032 NBA season.

Neither the city nor Hillwood, the developer behind the AAC and Victory Park, disclosed what sites were studied. Dallas rejected a public records request from the outlet for related documents, citing confidentiality exemptions tied to economic development negotiations. The city appealed to the Texas Attorney General to keep the information sealed, saying disclosure would reveal incentive offers still in play.

The cloak-and-dagger approach comes as speculation mounts. Mavericks CEO Rick Welts confirmed last month that officials floated several possible locations and said the team is assessing two of them, though he cautioned that “neither may work.” Sources have suggested possibilities ranging from land near the planned convention center downtown to the former Valley View mall site in North Dallas. The county-owned jail land has also been floated, though officials say no talks have occurred.

Welts, who previously oversaw the development of the $1.4 billion Chase Center in San Francisco during his time with the Golden State Warriors, said the Mavericks are leaning toward a basketball-only facility. Hiring Welts to lead the organization last year might also provide fuel to the idea of anchoring a new stadium to a casino.

The hunt for a site is only half the battle — financing could prove far trickier. In San Antonio, where officials are mulling a $1.3 billion arena for the Spurs, the funding plan includes $311 million in tourism taxes and up to $489 million in city money, alongside $500 million from the team.— Eric Weilbacher