Two-minute impact
Previously referred to as the Frisco Performing Arts Complex, updated plans for the Frisco Center for the Arts were presented to Frisco City Council members during a June 25 work session.
The updated plans could help bring down the price, which was estimated to be $464 million with all of the original amenities, said Gena Buhler, a principal with Theatre Projects.
A new cost analysis is expected to be presented to council members during an Aug. 20 meeting, where officials will have the chance to approve other major details for the project.
“In August there will be a sign-off on, ‘This is where, and how and how much,’” Buhler said.
The city will likely use public-private partnerships and other non-Frisco sources to help fund the project, Mayor Jeff Cheney said.
The bigger picture
The Frisco Center for the Arts business plan would not be possible without a Broadway partnership, which is a “critical piece” of the project, Buhler said.
“As you start to look at the numbers and the revenue generated alone, and the economic impact of Broadway alone, it's significant,” she said.
Buhler said consultants have found an interested partner, and they had recommended adding seats to the large hall. The other changes were based on community feedback, she said.
Offering input
Project consultants have been gathering community feedback since February with more than 1,750 participants across community surveys and open houses, Buhler said.
Another round of open houses is tentatively scheduled for July, she said.
Multiple survey participants indicated they would prefer staying in Frisco for shows instead of commuting to surrounding cities, Keen Independent Research Principal Alex Keen said.
One resident who spoke on the project during citizen input said removing the smaller spaces from the project would hurt Frisco’s local arts groups.
The hope is that nonprofits would use the 300-space community hall the most, Buhler said. Both the community hall and large hall could also be available for groups that cannot perform in the Frisco ISD performing arts center, which is set to open in 2026.
A representative from the Frisco Arts Foundation also spoke during the meeting and said the organization is “ready and able” to assist the city in making the center a reality.
“This is something that I believe is more than a building—it’s a game changer for the arts in the region,” council member Tammy Meinershagen said.
Editor's note: This story has been updated. Gena Buhler is a principal with Theatre Projects and Alex Keen is a principal with Keen Independent Research.
