The Dallas Wings, the second-best WNBA team in the western conference, is expected to relocate to the convention center auditorium in downtown Dallas after city leaders approved a $19 million incentive in a move luring the team from Arlington's College Park Center.
The resolution was unanimously approved on Wednesday for the Wings to play its games at the city-owned Dallas Memorial Auditorium and ancillary meeting rooms within the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as part of a 15-year incentive agreement with the city. The auditorium is expected to undergo a renovation as part of the larger redevelopment of the convention center.
In the presentation to the Dallas city council, the Wings expressed a desire to relocate to the city, according to the resolution tied to the economic incentive package. The Wings have played at Arlington's College Park Center since the team moved to North Texas from Tulsa in 2016. Arlington, Texas is the third largest city in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, the nation's fourth largest metropolitan area with more than 8.1 million residents, between Dallas and Fort Worth.
A Wings spokesperson told CoStar News the 15-year agreement still needs approval from the WNBA before the team makes a potential move.
The city of Dallas has been seeking to bring another sports team to its municipality. The Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars both play at the American Airlines Center in Dallas' Victory Park, with the Mavericks' headquarters and practice facility located near the arena.
The addition of the Wings is expected to bring a minimum of 70 game days a year to the facility, as well as a year-round office and training space for the team's organizational needs. The $19 million economic incentive is expected to be dispersed over a three-year period, according to city documents.
Officials say they expect the Wings arrival to Dallas to "stimulate business and commercial activity in the city," as well as helping attract other major sports teams and events, the resolution stated. The 15-year agreement will have three five-year renewal options tied to it.
In exchange for the incentive deal, the Wings are expected to pay a base fee of $10,000 per game to the city upon execution of the contract. The fee is expected to be adjusted annually beginning in year 4 by a percentage equal to the change in consumer price index.
The deal also puts new pouring and concession rights up for grabs, with both the city and team sharing a percentage of those revenues. The Wings are expected to handle the team's merchandise. The facility will need a final certificate of occupancy by March 1, 2026, to accommodate the team, the city said.