Dallas pursuing relocation of WNBA’s Wings to downtown

As the Mavericks’ playoff journey commenced with a downtown watch party on Sunday, Dallas is actively pursuing the relocation of another sports franchise to its city center.

The Dallas City Council is set to vote this week on a proposal aiming to move the WNBA’s Dallas Wings from Arlington to a downtown convention center arena.

Outlined in a draft resolution, the council would approve a 15-year lease agreement for the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, situated within the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center downtown. This agreement coincides with plans for the auditorium’s renovation, slated for completion by 2026, as part of a broader redevelopment effort including the construction of a new convention center.

The proposed deal involves the city offering $19 million in incentives to facilitate the relocation of a current professional sports franchise. The lease terms would permit operation between April 15 and November 1, aligning with the WNBA league calendar.

Jaime Resendez, representing Dallas City Council District 5 in Pleasant Grove, expressed anticipation for the council’s deliberations on Wednesday, highlighting the potential of a downtown WNBA franchise to advance gender equality in sports.

The Dallas Wings, formerly the Tulsa Shock, made Arlington their home in 2016, playing at the College Park Center on the University of Texas at Arlington campus with a seating capacity of around 7,000.

In response to ongoing discussions with the city of Dallas regarding renovations to the Memorial Auditorium, Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb expressed optimism about the prospects of relocating to downtown Dallas, pending approval from the city council and the WNBA’s Board of Governors.

At the Mavericks’ Game 1 watch party in the AT&T Discovery District on Sunday, fans voiced their enthusiasm for the potential addition of another professional team to downtown Dallas, citing the city’s vibrant sports scene as a compelling reason for expansion.