The Dallas Mavericks announced Monday they have secured option agreements to purchase about 104 acres at the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas for a new arena and entertainment district targeted to open in 2031.
Opened in August 1973 as Valley View Center by Homart Development Company, the mall initially thrived with anchors including Sears (built in 1965), Dillard's, JCPenney and later Macy's. It served as a popular shopping and social destination for North Dallas residents through the 1980s and 1990s.
Decline set in during the 1990s and accelerated in the 2000s amid retail shifts and competition. Anchor stores closed progressively, with Sears departing in 2017. The mall largely shut down around 2015, though the AMC theater lingered until early 2022. Full demolition wrapped up in May 2023 after multiple fires at the vacant property, including one that injured firefighters.
For years, the sprawling site near LBJ Freeway and Preston Road sat largely empty, becoming an eyesore and occasional safety concern despite redevelopment talks under names like Dallas Midtown. The Mavericks' decision transforms this vacant land into a major opportunity. Team officials say the location best meets their timeline and goal of staying within Dallas city limits as their American Airlines Center lease expires in 2031.
The project envisions a state-of-the-art basketball arena surrounded by restaurants, entertainment venues, public green spaces and family attractions. It promises economic revitalization for far North Dallas while ending hopes of using the site for a downtown arena tied to City Hall redevelopment.
Community reactions mix excitement over new investment with nostalgia for the mall's heyday and questions about traffic impacts. Next steps include design, approvals and negotiations with the city and property owners including Beck Ventures.
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