A casino and resort from Dallas Mavericks owners could be closer to reality after a zoning commission vote in Irving on land along Highway 114.

At a late-night meeting on March 17, the City of Irving’s Zoning Commission voted 5-4 to rezone the area around the Cowboys' former home at Texas Stadium for a casino from Las Vegas Sands Corp and mixed-use development. It will next head to the City Council for a vote on Thursday, March 20.

The proposed Sands Casino that's currently under consideration comes from Miriam Adelson and the Adelson family, who purchased the Mavericks from Mark Cuban in 2023.

It's part of a Planned Unit Development 6, or PUD 6, which seeks to add "high intensity mixed use buildings"

According to the city agenda, about 1,001 acres could be rezoned to include retail, residential, office, hotel, and services. Though gambling hasn’t been made legal under Texas law except for those on tribal land, the owners of Sands still plan to pursue their retail and mixed-use projects if the constitution isn't amended to allow a casino.

Regardless, many residents and locals are against the casino. They listed potential issues that could come from a casino if approved, including gambling, increased traffic and wait times, and the proximity to schools and colleges.

"Casino gambling does not align with the values that have made Irving a great place to live, work, and raise a family," said one resident during the public hearing. "The long-term costs to our community far outweigh any short-term financial benefits."

"The area around there is filled with educational institutions like Cistercian Preparatory and University of Dallas," another resident shared. "The calm and quiet area that is currently conducive to learning will be forever polluted with commercial ventures like casinos. Please don't spoil the ambience there."

Additionally, an arena with at least 15,000 seats could still be in the cards to be included with the resort because it tracks with their previous properties.