Axios Dallas

June 10, 2026
Happy Wednesday! The meaning of life is to give life meaning.
☀️ Today's weather: High near 93.
🎵 Sounds like: "Seeing Stars"
⚖️ Situational awareness: A Collin County jury sentenced 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony to 35 years in prison yesterday for fatally stabbing fellow student-athlete Austin Metcalf at a track meet last year.
Today's newsletter is 881 rendered words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Plano aims for the Stars
After sharing arenas for decades and a recent legal battle, the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars are one step closer to moving out of American Airlines Center by 2031.
Why it matters: Both teams are moving north. But the Mavericks are staying in the city, while the Dallas Stars are taking a greater risk and moving to Plano.
Catch up quick: The Stars intend to build a sports and entertainment district in the Shops at Willow Bend area. The project would include an arena, entertainment venues, shops, restaurants and homes.
The latest: The Plano City Council on Monday approved the team's non-binding letter of intent to move to the city, along with an incentive agreement and tax increment reinvestment zone along the Dallas North Tollway.
- The city would contribute $700 million through the tax reinvestment zone and other public funding as long as the arena costs at least $1 billion to build.
- The city would own the arena, which would also be used for concerts and Plano ISD graduations.
- Property tax rates would not be affected by the project, city officials said.
What they're saying: "This project would present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our franchise," Dallas Stars owner and governor Tom Gaglardi said in a statement.

Yes, but: Some residents are concerned the plan would bring more traffic and drastically change the city's suburban identity.
- The property's owners had initially planned to convert the traditional indoor mall into an open-air shopping center resembling the high-end Shops at Legacy.
- "The neighborhoods surrounding Willow Bend were built around the expectation of a suburban residential environment, not a regional sports and entertainment venue," resident Renee Elgersma told the council at Monday's meeting.
The other side: "We want to protect all the neighborhoods here, but we also still want to be a vibrant, relevant city in the future," Mayor Pro Tem Rick Horne told residents.
What's next: The council plans to call a special election in November and ask voters to approve taxes on short-term motor vehicle rentals, hotel bookings, event parking, event admissions and venue use to help pay for the construction of the arena and related expenses.
- The city is also planning virtual and in-person open houses in July for residents to share their opinions about the project.
2. 💸 Paxton probes FIFA ticket tactics
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating FIFA's ticket sale tactics ahead of this weekend's World Cup matches in Arlington and Houston.
The big picture: Paxton is the latest state prosecutor to target FIFA over ticket sales for the World Cup.
- Last month, California Attorney General Rob Bonta raised similar concerns about seat assignments, and New York and New Jersey's attorneys general subpoenaed FIFA over "sky-high prices."
State of play: Some fans alleged they purchased "Category 1" tickets to matches only to be assigned seats in a "Category 2" location, Paxton says.
- The practice might run afoul of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Paxton said, announcing the investigation.
What they're saying: "I will work to ensure that FIFA is engaging in ethical and honest business practices so that Texas fans are treated fairly," Paxton said in a statement.
- "Sports have a unique power to bring people together, and FIFA must understand that Texans take their competition and their consumer rights seriously," he added.
The other side: FIFA did not respond to Axios' request for comment on the investigation.
What's next: The 2026 World Cup kicks off in Mexico City tomorrow with Mexico vs. South Africa.
3. 🗞 Burnt ends: Bite-sized news bits
⚽️ Sweden's World Cup team held an open practice session in Frisco yesterday to prepare for group stage matches in Monterrey, Houston and Arlington. (Star Local Media)
🐕🦺 A black Labrador will help Royse City investigate internet crimes and offenses against children by detecting hidden electronics like smartphones, hard drives and SD cards. (Fox4)
💉 The Red Cross is asking North Texans to donate blood or platelets to help the organization prepare for summer. (NBC5)
4. 🎨 We asked, you answered: Where in North Texas
We stumped many of you in this week's Where in North Texas contest.
- You won't find this piece of art inside a museum or a mall. It's at AT&T Stadium.
The intrigue: The Dallas Cowboys' art collection includes dozens of pieces that decorate winding hallways, staircases and club areas. There are also two pieces by Anish Kapoor, who designed Chicago's Cloud Gate.
- The one shown above is Danish artist Jeppe Hein's "Please Participate," which deviates from the typical use of neon in marquee and shop signs.
- "The work is a call to take care of yourself, to observe and appreciate your surroundings, to be an individual in the swelling crowd, to participate in the spectacle, and remain true to yourself," an online description says.
Round of applause: Christina B. and James P. were the first Axios Dallas readers to guess correctly.
This newsletter was edited by Bob Gee.
Our picks:
😩 Naheed is looking for your most unhinged tactics for getting rid of lawn weeds.
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