Texas: Irving zoning approval moves casino resort, Mavericks arena project one step closer

The Irving Zoning Commission has approved a zoning change that could pave the way for a casino resort and arena near the former Texas Stadium site, despite Texas law currently prohibiting casino gambling. The decision, made in the early hours of Tuesday morning, advances the issue to the Irving City Council, which will take up the matter at its next meeting on March 20.

The commission voted 5-4 in favor of two proposals. The first redesignates a 1,001-acre area around State Highways 114, 183, and Loop 12 for high-intensity mixed-use development. The second changes zoning for two specific tracts within that area, on the northeast side of State Highway 114, across from the old Texas Stadium, from transit-oriented mixed-use community to high-intensity mixed-use.

The zoning changes could allow Las Vegas Sands, which owns both the proposed development site and the Dallas Mavericks, to build a casino resort and a 15,000-seat arena. However, Texas law does not yet permit casinos, and there is no clear timeline for potential legislative changes.

If casino gambling is legalized, the zoning adjustments would provide the necessary groundwork for a North Texas resort casino, adjacent to a sports and entertainment complex.

The proposal has also sparked speculation about the Mavericks relocating from Dallas to Irving, as the new site would be just eight miles from the team’s current home at American Airlines Center. Philip Sanders, assistant city manager for Irving, said that Las Vegas Sands owners, the Adelson family, see the site as a destination resort opportunity that could transform the area.

"It maximizes the opportunity for a transformational development, which is really what I think the city envisioned on that property," Sanders said during a council meeting last month.

A February presentation to the Irving City Council outlined a project including at least 1,750 hotel rooms, along with either a 15,000-seat arena or a 4,000-seat indoor theater. The lengthy Monday night zoning meeting, which stretched into the early hours of Tuesday, included public comments both for and against the project.

Irving City Councilman Mark Cronenwett voiced support: "We have a vision in Irving for a premier destination in that spot ever since Texas Stadium was demolished. It will drive visitors to our city. Our tax base will increase immensely."

Opponents raised concerns about the social impact of a casino. Some Irving residents argued that introducing casinos could negatively affect the community’s character.

During the meeting, Las Vegas Sands Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud was met with boos from the audience but told WFAA that the company understands community concerns and has faced resistance in other projects.

The five commission members who voted in favor of the zoning changes were Alicia Reyes, Debbi Haacke, Gerald Sangunio, Ricky Lightfoot, and Terry Prichard. Those who opposed were April Myrick, Daniel Denny, Fahad Ahmed, and Joshua Skinner.