Dallas Mavericks Arena Poll: Public Support Tested

0:00It's April 21st. From your city to your ears, this is Dallas News today, powered by AI. A mystery survey just hit Dallas, testing folks' views on using tax dollars for a new Maverick Serena. It quizzed over 30 questions on local leaders, the American Airlines Center, and spots like City Hall, the Old Valley View Mall site, the Current, Arena, or even somewhere outsized city limits but still in Dallas County. The push comes as the Mavs' lease ends in 2031, with CEO Rick Welts eyeing a decision by July. Tots between a team and city are heating up, especially with plans to maybe swap City Hall for an arena bid. The survey floats a 2% hotel tax and 5% car rental tax to fund it, plus polls worry over crime near potential sites. It even test messages like job creation, better traffic ramps, and out of towners footing the bill through those taxes. Political pros like Brian Mays and Vinnie Manchillo call it pro-level work, dipping toes into public support for a public-private deal where the Mavs chip in hundreds of millions.

1:06They see it prepping for a possible ballot measure, maybe as soon as November, when younger voters might back a shiny new spot. Experts pegged the cost at $10,000 to $30,000, guessing the Mavs or their allies, bank worlded it to gauge appetite for staying. Downtown are bolting to county suburbs like Irving, land owned by Las Vegas Sands. No one's owning up yet. The Mav stayed mum, but this poll signals big moves ahead to lock down the team's future home, without losing fan buy-in.