Plano residents deal blow to proposed new arena for Dallas Stars

Voters in Plano have rejected a proposition that would have authorized new taxes related to a planned new arena for the Dallas Stars.

Unofficial results from Tuesday's vote in the city of Plano showed 54.6% of the more than 102,000 votes cast were against the single ballot proposal to authorize taxes on tickets, parking, car rentals, hotel rooms and the professional teams that would use the arena.

Those taxes were to help the city pay off up to $700 million in bonds it has committed to the proposed $3 billion mixed-use development that would include the new arena.

The vote was about the proposed taxes, and not whether the $1 billion arena could be built as part of a large-scale redevelopment project of The Shops at Willow Bend, where the last enclosed mall built in Texas is being demolished. It could include sports, entertainment, retail, dining and public gathering spaces.

“The proposed redevelopment at The Shops at Willow Bend remains an important opportunity for our community," Plano Mayor John Muns said in a statement. “We are committed to thoughtful reinvestment and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars as we consider what comes next.”