The Dallas City Council unanimously approved a 15-year agreement with the Dallas Wings on Wednesday, paving the way for the WNBA team to move from College Park Center in Arlington to the Dallas Memorial Auditorium, which is undergoing renovations as part of a larger development plan for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
The move is set to take place for the 2026 WNBA season, pending approval by the WNBA Board of Governors and the completion of planned renovations to the arena and convention center.
The Dallas Wings expressed gratitude to the City of Dallas, especially Mayor Eric Johnson, for his vision and commitment. They also acknowledged the continued partnership with the City of Arlington, the University of Texas at Arlington, and College Park Center, where they will continue to play their 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The Dallas Memorial Auditorium, with a capacity of about 10,000, offers a larger venue than College Park Center, which seats approximately 7,000, while providing easy access via public transportation.
As per the resolution, the Wings will occupy the auditorium for a minimum of 70 days between April 15 and November 1 annually, with the agreement also including year-round use of the facility for training and office space.
The agreement further outlines $19 million in incentives to be paid by the city to the Wings over a period of three calendar years. City officials anticipate offsetting these costs through projected annual revenues of at least $1.5 million over the 15-year term of the agreement.
Mayor Johnson’s creation of the city council’s ad hoc committee on professional sports recruitment and retention in 2022 aligns with his goal of drawing more sports franchises to the city. This agreement reflects a growing interest in women’s basketball, exemplified by the Wings selling out home season ticket agreements in advance of the upcoming season for the first time, attributed in part to the popularity of players like Caitlin Clark.
