Plano voters rejected Proposition A, which would have authorized new taxes tied to a planned arena for the NHL's Dallas Stars. Unofficial results from Tuesday's vote showed 54.6% of the more than 102,000 votes cast were against it.
The proposed taxes would have applied to tickets, parking, car rentals, hotel rooms and the professional teams that use the arena. They were meant to help the city pay off up to $700 million in bonds committed to a proposed $3 billion mixed-use development at The Shops at Willow Bend. The $1 billion arena would be part of that project. The vote covered the taxes, not whether the arena could be built.
Plano Mayor John Muns said in a statement that the redevelopment remains an important opportunity for the community and that the city is committed to thoughtful reinvestment and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. The city would own the hockey arena, and the Stars plan to lease it for 30 years. Stars officials hope to move there in 2031.