Curious Texas investigates: What’s next for the old Texas Stadium site in Irving

The land where the former iconic Dallas Cowboys stadium once stood for 38 years has turned into a scene of construction.

Recently, a Curious Texas reader asked, “What is planned to be developed on the old Texas Stadium site in Irving, Texas?”

We turned to Beth Bowman, the president and CEO of the Irving Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development for more insight. Here’s what we uncovered.

Goals for redevelopment and City planning

In the time since the former Texas Stadium was demolished in 2010, the site – which is owned by the city – has been used by the Texas Department of Transportation for staging vehicles in preparation for local highway construction projects, such as the Irving Interchange, according to Bowman.

Irving is transforming the industrial space into a mixed-use and transit-oriented area. That’s according to a document detailing the Stadium Site Redevelopment Plan, which the city shared with Curious Texas.

They aim to develop 400 acres, including the almost 80 acres the former Texas Stadium occupied. The land is divided into eight sections for development, with plans for over 9,200 residential units. The project is estimated to generate 20,500 jobs.

Those developments include “corporate headquarters, an international business district, retail, and services, with a mix of residential buildings in a walkable urban environment, accessible to the region and the globe,” according to the City of Irving’s website.

Bowman envisions a significant impact on the local landscape.

“The ultimate project built on the stadium site, as well as the adjoining tracts of land, will benefit and, therefore, create a sustainable development environment in this area for the City of Irving and the North Texas region to enjoy,” she said.

Irving Interchange

The development also encompasses a transportation hub.

A reconstruction project known as the Irving Interchange or Diamond Interchange will reconstruct Loop 12, Spur 482, and State Highway 114 and 183 interchanges, Bowman said. The roads will expand from six to eight lanes. It’s 81% complete, according to the TxDOT, which is supporting the project.

The $355 million project is planned to be completed in 2025 according to the city.

The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Light Rail Transit Station (DART) nearby will be utilized in creating a mixed-use transit-oriented development.

The city approved a $45 million “Signature Bridge” that will extend across State Highway 114. The bridge will connect the stadium site to the DART LRT station, with vehicle access and pedestrian entry.

“Many of the transportation infrastructure pieces needed for such a large-scale development are present, including access to the DART Light Rail and the Signature Bridge,” Bowman said.

Irving residents can expect a modernized freeway and improved area accessibility after highway reconstruction, according to the city’s plans.

The city is no stranger to economic success. Bowman refers to the Irving-Las Colinas area as the “Headquarters of Headquarters.”

The city has received many requests about potential development opportunities for the site.

“The Chamber, City of Irving, Convention and Visitors Bureau, and all neighboring stakeholders are focused on finding the right partners for a development that will serve Irving residents and North Texans well into the coming years and decades,” she said.

An entity connected with the Adelson family, owner of the Sands Casinos which recently bought a majority share of the Dallas Mavericks, purchased a 249-acre parcel of land adjacent to the stadium last summer. The Adelsons have not disclosed what they plan to do with the property.

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Assistant Business Editor Kyle Arnold contributed to this report.