It may take time to come to fruition, but a new Dallas Mavericks arena could be in the offing after a vote by the Dallas City Council.
On Wednesday, the council granted its approval of a subdistrict within Dallas’ Design District. This will allow for the creation of a development surrounding a team training facility that opened last fall, while also removing zoning restrictions that limited building heights to 85 feet.
The ruling could help owner Mark Cuban‘s quest for a new arena. Cuban has floated the possibility that the Mavericks could leave the American Airlines Center, where their agreement will expire in 13 years.
Though Cuban is expressing frustration with what he says are the increasingly limited parking options around the American Airlines Center, the development of a new arena may not be imminent. However, Cuban is showing signs that it is a part of his long term plan. More from The Dallas Morning News:
Cuban said last year that new residential and retail construction in Victory Park was among the reasons he was looking elsewhere. On Wednesday he said via email that “there is no rush” to leave, “but with the reduction of parking and amenities for AAC event attendees, our hand is being forced.”
Later, before the Mavs tipped off against the New York Knicks Wednesday night, Cuban said that were it not for the existing lease, the team would move “sooner.”
Said Cuban, pointing to recent construction that has devoured parking spots, “Some of the companies that were originally involved with the development of the AAC are some of the neighbors that are creating difficulties for us. I don’t know if there are any caveats in the agreements that allow us to contest the lease. I don’t expect to find anything, but we’ll look at it.”
With the zoning now allowing for the new arena, it gives Cuban more possibilities to discuss a new venue in the Design District. The city-owned American Airlines Center opened in 2001.
