Imagine this: Broadway hits like Hamilton, Wicked and The Lion King lighting up a stage in Frisco — a dream, right? Depends on who you ask.
The $340 million Frisco Center for the Arts isn't just about world-class performances. It's a cultural gamble, with some residents cheering for its promise of entertainment and economic growth, while others question its impact on their community. Will this bold venture put Frisco further on the map? Will it be a costly mistake? Will it even become a reality?
On April 7, 2025, Frisco residents were invited to a public hearing at Frisco City Hall to give their input on the proposed center for the arts. For four hours, residents shared their opinions, concerns and passion for the project.
“The public input part of this process has been really great,” Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney said during the meeting. “Hearing concerns from the public has made this a better project.”
Support For The Project
The public input section of the meeting kicked off with one resident sharing his strong approval of the project. Jason Young, a Frisco resident, hopes voters will approve the center for the art. Despite being known as Sports City USA, Young notes that this project will be for everyone, regardless of athletic ability or interest.
“Frisco has an opportunity to truly touch every citizen. You don't have to be able to run fast, kick a ball, throw a ball,” Young said. “Do we care about our souls as much as we do our sports?”
Another resident, Jerry Keenan, pointed out that a project like this has been discussed since 2010 when they first moved to Frisco. He explained that he and his wife, avid theater enthusiasts are tired of making the drive to Fair Park. He explained that the drive is accessible to many, especially those who are unable to make that drive. Keenan was part of a large group wearing matching red shirts, showing support for the arts.
“After 20 years of waiting, I don’t want to wait anymore.” Amy Hardin, another red shirt-wearing speaker said.
Arguments Against The Project
However, not all residents were as supportive of the costly project. Melina Preston said she isn’t anti-arts, but instead wants council to prioritize other parts of the city before spending this amount of money.
“Frisco ISD, is already investing in a state-of-the-art performing arts center funded by taxpayers, that facility will meet the educational and cultural needs of our students and community building another city-funded center at the same time is redundant, unnecessary and frankly, a poor use of public funds,” Preston said.
(Cheney, though, argued that the city’s demand study found that the community needs three facilities, a community center, a twelve-hundred-segment center and a twenty-eight hundred-seat Broadway hall. “Since Frisco ISD is building their facility, we removed that from the scope of the project,” Cheney explained.)
Another resident, Burk Thakur — who is running for Frisco City Council against Meinershagen — argued that with McKinney already building a similar facility, Frisco should shift its focus to long-overdue priorities like an animal shelter and expanded mental health services.
“I speak to you tonight as a Frisco resident who is deeply concerned about the welfare of our community,” Thakur said. “Many friends and neighbors have watched as their 401 K's in retirements plummeted by almost 25% over the last couple of days, mortgage delinquencies have gone up by almost 16% most people can't even pay their rent, and many people — including the Uber driver who drove me here — is working two to three jobs just to make ends meet. And yet, in this climate, the city council is asking for people to approve a bond, which basically helps to fund over 50% of a performing arts center.”
What Is The Frisco Center for the Arts
Frisco proposed the development of the Frisco Center for the Arts (FCFA) in collaboration with Prosper Independent School District (PISD) and Broadway Across America/Broadway Dallas.
The FCFA is envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility featuring a 2,800-seat performance hall for Broadway productions and large events, alongside a 300 to 400-seat community hall primarily serving PISD but also accessible to local organizations. The proposed center would be located along US 380 and the Dallas North Tollway. The site is within the shared boundaries of Frisco and Prosper ISD on EDC-owned land.
The project has an estimated budget of $340 million, with PISD contributing $100 million from its 2023 Performing Arts Center bond funds. The city is exploring additional private and philanthropic funding sources, aiming to fund the project without increasing property taxes. Frisco voters will decide on funding measures in a ballot scheduled for May 3, 2025. If approved the project would be complete in Spring 2029.
Frisco Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Tammy Meinershagen Meinershagen previously explained that the center is designed to offer accessible opportunities for local and regional artists, as well as for Frisco residents and visitors — something the city is currently missing.
“The city’s leadership has done an incredible job putting the building blocks of a sustainable, world-class city, especially on the sports side,” Meinershagen told Local Profile. “There’s already sports, education, business and health. The missing piece is the arts. We don't have that at the scale as we do everything else. It’s not at the world-class level like we have seen in the sports sector.”
How To Make Your Own Voice Heard
The city of Frisco is committed to making the FCFA a cornerstone of the region’s cultural and artistic landscape, and public participation remains a vital part of shaping its future. As part of this initiative, the project team will provide an update on the planning process and project dependencies at the Frisco City Council’s winter work session. Additionally, a meet-and-greet with members of the architectural concept design team will follow the April 7 public presentation.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Community Room at Frisco Public Library on the following days for more information on the project:
- Monday, April 14 | 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, April 17 | 5-8 p.m.
While many Frisco residents have voiced their opinions on the project, their voices will only truly count at the ballot box. Learn more about the Frisco election here.
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