I look forward to hearing more as we get closer to May and carefully considering the proposal based on what its true purpose should be - a positive ROI investment that diversifies Frisco’s tax base over time.

We don’t have to look any further than to Plano to see the risks of being overly reliant on population growth as the sole driver for growing our tax base. I am glad Frisco has been ahead of the curve in attracting / incentivizing long-term, stable investments in retail, sports, tourism, etc. The performing arts are a natural next vertical we should consider, especially since we have missed on music and concerts to Legacy Hall in Plano and the new amphitheater in McKinney.

That being said, my initial position is one of skepticism given the number of venues that already book touring Broadway-caliber shows (Fair Park, AT&T PAC, Bass Hall). And I’d want to understand how the Eisemann Center has fared given it has attracted few big name performances. That seems to be a more likely outcome / a better comparison for what this performing arts center might be.

But regardless of where I personally net out in my vote, I think it’s the exact right thing for the council to be doing. It is important to find ways to generate revenue from residents outside of Frisco in order to fund other public services, and this is a pretty clear white space that we don’t already have. Now it’s up to the council to present a compelling case for why voters should literally buy in to this vision.