Dallas City Council approves 15-year use agreement for WNBA Dallas Wings to play in Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Arena

 Dallas City Council on Wednesday approved a 15-year, $19-million use agreement for WNBA’s Dallas Wings to play in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas Memorial Auditorium.

The historic auditorium will be upgraded as part of the larger redevelopment and expansion of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and surrounding area.

The Wings’ move to downtown Dallas from Arlington was facilitated by Mayor Eric L. Johnson’s advocacy for attracting professional sports teams to the City of Dallas. The mayor created the Ad Hoc Committee on Professional Sports Recruitment and Retention in 2022 and began meeting with Wings officials that year.

“Dallas is the place to be right now – for residents, for businesses, and for professional sports teams and their fans,” said Mayor Johnson. “This deal has been a top priority for us because we know the Dallas Wings will soar in the city they represent. We will be thrilled to welcome the Wings to the heart of our city – and we are even more excited to see this franchise anchor our new convention center district that will transform downtown Dallas for decades to come. Now is the right time to provide our world class athletes with a world class venue to train and play and our fans with a best-of-class arena to call home.”

“This proposed deal comes at a time when interest in women’s sports, the WNBA, and the Wings is at record levels, bringing a valuable community asset to a historic city venue,” said Dallas Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb. “The Wings saw record attendance in 2023, and virtually every business metric record has been, or will soon be, broken during the 2024 season. We have sold out of Season Ticket Memberships while experiencing unprecedented ticket sales growth year to date.” 

The potential 15-year use agreement for Memorial Auditorium, with an optional 15-year extension, would take effect after the 2025 season, pending approval by the WNBA.

“Dallas Wings provide valuable and richly varied players, staff, and fans reflecting our vibrant City,” said District 3 Council Member Zarin Gracey, Chair of the Ad Hoc on Professional Sports Recruitment and Retention.

“Dallas has plenty of capacity for leagues like the WNBA, teams like the Wings, and our new Convention Center District to grow together,” said Sports Commissioner Monica Paul. “The City has been a dream teammate leading this valuable partnership and we look forward to more victories.”  

Memorial Auditorium is currently connected to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, but was originally a standalone building. The Auditorium, which was designed by famed Dallas architect George Dahl, hosted legendary musical acts such as The Beatles, the Jackson 5, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin. It was also once the home of the Dallas Chaparrals, an American Basketball Association team that later became the San Antonio Spurs franchise.

Council Members also approved $19 million in incentives over three years which would be offset by anticipated revenues from parking, facility rental, food & beverage (pouring rights and concessions), ticket fees, and in-arena advertising in excess of $1.5 million annually.

The City of Dallas and the Dallas Wings plan to formally release further information following WNBA league approval and the finalization of agreements.