WNBA's Wings could move to downtown Dallas

The Dallas City Council is scheduled to vote today on paying $19 million in incentives to the Dallas Wings in a 15-year deal to bring the WNBA to downtown.

Why it matters: This is the city's chance to attract one of its eponymous sports teams to play inside the town limits, instead of in Arlington or Frisco.

State of play: The Wings — like the rest of the WNBA — are growing in popularity. Moving to Dallas from Arlington can help the team attract more fans.

• The team has sold out season ticket memberships for the first time and has seen a 220% increase in ticket sale revenue this year, per the Wings spokesperson.

The latest: If approved, the Wings would play at the renovated Dallas Memorial Auditorium starting in 2026. The auditorium redo is part of the larger plan to build a new convention center .

• The arena has about 10,000 seats, more than the UT Arlington College Park Center where the Wings currently play.
• Dallas' agreement with the Wings would include an estimated 3,000 parking spaces per game with 70% of parking revenues going to the city. The team would split concession revenue with the city. The Wings would keep all the revenue from team merchandise sold at games.

Flashback: Mayor Eric Johnson created a committee two years ago to attract and retain professional sports franchises with the hopes of keeping the Stars and Mavericks in Dallas and possibly get an NFL team.

• The committee was tasked with assessing the economic impact the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers and Wings have on Arlington and FC Dallas has on Frisco.

What they're saying: " The possibilities of relocating to downtown Dallas are boundless," Dallas Wings president and CEO Greg Bibb said in a statement.

• "The City of Dallas' proposal offers a fitting, world-class stage for our remarkable athletes and devoted fans," Bibb said.

The intrigue: The Stars and the Mavericks both end their leases at American Airlines Center in 2031.

• The Mavs' new ownership has talked about building an arena in North Texas that would be part of a large, Vegas-like entertainment complex.

Fun fact: WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes and renowned baller and coach Nancy Lieberman are joining this year's Wings broadcast team .

• Lieberman was a rookie in 1980 when she was signed to the Dallas Diamonds , the city's first professional basketball team. The Diamonds played at SMU's Moody Coliseum after moving from the Dallas Convention Center — go figure.

What's next: The Wings host the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark for a preseason game next week in Arlington.

• Dallas opens the season against the Chicago Sky on May 15.