🌮 McKinney's new airline just added Denver, Atlanta, Nashville and New Orleans

Hey neighbor 👋 Welcome back to Taco & Tell, your weekly rundown of what's opening, what's being built, and what local government decided in Frisco, Prosper, McKinney, Celina and Little Elm. Happy October. The pumpkin spice is out, and so is a new budget in pretty much every city hall around here.

The big one: Avelo doubles down on McKinney ✈️

Avelo Airlines announced Sept. 24 that it's adding four new nonstop routes from McKinney National Airport. Flights to Denver and Atlanta start Dec. 16 and run four days a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). Flights to New Orleans and Nashville start Dec. 17 and run twice a week (Thursday and Sunday). One-way fares start at $99, including a checked bag.

That brings the airport to nine nonstop destinations. Service begins on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, when the new passenger terminal opens, with Las Vegas and four Florida cities (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa) rolling out over the first couple of weeks. Avelo is also basing a third 184-seat Boeing 737 at the airport, and the city expects more than 100 jobs, from pilots and flight attendants to mechanics and gate agents. At the announcement, the Federal Aviation Administration presented the airport with its operating certificate, the official green light for passenger flights.

Before you book: there are no Tuesday flights, and several of these routes are only twice a week, so check the schedule before you promise grandma a Tuesday visit. In booking sites, the airport shows up as DTX.

Why it matters: for a lot of us, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport or Love Field means a long drive and a longer parking walk. A small terminal close to home could turn a vacation into a much shorter day. It's also a turnaround story: in 2023, about 59% of McKinney voters rejected a $200 million airport bond, and the city went ahead using sales tax money instead. Our read: Denver and Atlanta matter most, because they're big hub cities that connect you to almost everywhere else.

Frisco

Dick's House of Sport sets a three-day grand opening 🏀

Dick's Sporting Goods is opening one of its big House of Sport stores at Stonebriar Centre, 2605 Preston Road, with a grand opening weekend Oct. 23 to 25. Former Cowboys star DeMarcus Ware cuts the ribbon at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson signs autographs Saturday, Oct. 24, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and basketball star Azzi Fudd signs Sunday, Oct. 25, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Autograph wristbands are limited and handed out when the store opens each day, one per person. These stores usually have climbing walls and batting cages, so plan to leave with at least one thing you didn't need.

Fourth Street Plaza gets its big debut Oct. 13

The last big piece of Frisco's Rail District makeover, Fourth Street Plaza between Elm and Main streets, has its grand opening Tuesday, Oct. 13. It's already open, with a stage, a lawn, covered tables, public art and restrooms, and it's been hosting morning yoga. Plaza Live!, a free music series, runs there on the first and third Wednesdays of each month from 5 to 7 p.m., so the next one is Wednesday, Oct. 7. Bring a lawn chair. Also on downtown watch: the Trader Joe's plan the City Council tabled in August still hasn't come back for a vote. We'll tell you the moment it does.

Prosper

Prosper ISD names a familiar face for superintendent

The Prosper ISD board voted unanimously last night, Sept. 30, to name Dr. Greg Bradley as its lone finalist for superintendent. Bradley was Prosper's deputy superintendent until May 2025, when he left to lead Ennis ISD. If the board confirms him, he'll be the district's 20th superintendent, leading nearly 35,000 students on 32 campuses. State law requires a 21-day wait, so the final vote is expected later in October. Until then, Acting Superintendent Bill McLaughlin stays in charge. Some people leave town and never call. Bradley left town and came back with a promotion.

The Eagles run up 63 points on McKinney 🏈

Prosper High School beat McKinney 63-26 last Thursday, the Eagles' first district win over McKinney. Quarterback Tyler Albert threw for 360 yards and accounted for four touchdowns, and Prosper piled up 584 yards of offense. That's a lot of yards. It's also about how far it feels to walk from the parking lot to the stadium.

Mountain Mike's Pizza is coming to Frontier Parkway 🍕

Mountain Mike's Pizza plans to open at 220 W. Frontier Parkway, near the Prosper and Celina line, around late March or early April. The owners also run the Mountain Mike's in McKinney. Expect pizza, wings and garlic knots, and a good spot to send the kids' team after a Saturday game.

McKinney

Your McKinney utility bill goes up starting today 💧

New water, sewer, trash and drainage rates take effect today, Oct. 1. The monthly base charge for water goes from $19.80 to $21.60 (about 9%), and the sewer base charge goes from $28.10 to $31.20 (about 11%). Trash and recycling goes from $20.36 to $20.99 a month, and the drainage fee goes from $5.25 to $5.50. The city points to higher treatment costs from the regional water district and the cost of keeping up with growth. If you've been watering the lawn at noon, this is a great month to stop.

Arwa Yemeni Coffee is coming to west McKinney ☕

Arwa Yemeni Coffee is opening a shop at 1935 Prestwick Hollow Drive, on McKinney's western edge, and the owners are pointing to October. It'll serve traditional Yemeni coffees and teas, plus drinks like a date matcha latte. The shop is owned by six friends who were regulars at Arwa's Richardson location for years. That's the most wholesome business plan we've heard all year.

Celina

Celina locks in the land for a 296-acre park 🌳

The Celina City Council approved a land swap with Prosper ISD and developer Tellus Group that clears the way for Earthman Park, a planned 296-acre park north of Parvin Road and east of Smiley Road. In the deal, the city gives Prosper ISD about 113 acres for a future high school and gets about 107 acres of land from the Mosaic neighborhood's developer. Combined with land the city already owns, that's enough for one big park. There's no construction timeline yet, and building it will depend on funding. For scale, that's more than twice the size of Frisco's brand-new Northwest Community Park.

The Bobcats are 4-0 in their first 5A season

Celina High School football beat Frisco Panther Creek 48-14 on Friday to stay unbeaten at 4-0, and 2-0 in district play. It's the program's first season in the bigger Class 5A. Running back Evan Koehne ran for 179 yards, and quarterback Zane Lacrue threw a 92-yard touchdown to Lamar Taylor. After two nail-biters to start the year, the Bobcats have discovered the concept of a comfortable lead.

Little Elm

State of the Town is tonight 🎤

Little Elm's State of the Town and Community Expo is tonight, Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Little Elm ISD Administration Building, 400 Lobo Lane. The expo with local businesses and groups runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and the town's presentation runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. It's free, and adults who stay through the presentation get a $25 voucher to spend at a local business. That's right: the town will pay you to learn about the town.

Little Elm's new budget starts today

Little Elm's new budget, about $177.9 million, took effect today with the start of the fiscal year, along with a property tax rate of about 55 cents per $100 of value. The council adopted both in September. It's the plan that pays for police, fire, parks and streets for the next 12 months, which is a lot of responsibility for something nobody reads.

Clean out the garage, then meet a firefighter

Saturday, Oct. 3, is a busy morning in Little Elm. The town's Clean Green event lets residents drop off unwanted items, and you'll need your water bill as proof that you live in town. Little Elm Fire Rescue is also holding an open house the same day. Kids get to climb on fire trucks. Parents get a garage they can park in.

Register by Monday, then here's what's on your ballot 🗳️

Monday, Oct. 5, is the last day to register to vote in the Nov. 3 election. If you moved here recently, you need to register at your new address. Frisco ISD high schools have been helping students sign up, and you can check your status with the state.

What's on the ballot, in brief: Collin County is asking for an $817.5 million bond, split into four propositions. Collin College is asking for $600 million. McKinney ISD voters will decide on a tax rate election for teacher pay and programs, plus a $500 million bond. Early voting runs Oct. 19 through Oct. 30. We'll break each one down before early voting starts.

Check your voter registration

Weekend plans 🍻

Celina Oktoberfest: Saturday, Oct. 3, 3 to 7 p.m. on the downtown square. It's free, with polka bands, dachshund races and keg rolling. Details
Little Elm Fire Rescue open house and Clean Green: Saturday, Oct. 3. Little Elm events calendar
State of the Town, Little Elm: tonight, 5 to 8 p.m., 400 Lobo Lane. Details
State Fair of Texas: open daily at Fair Park in Dallas through Oct. 18. Details

New and coming soon 👀

Potbelly has leased space at 4520 S. Preston Road in Celina, north of Ownsby Parkway, and plans to open in summer 2027.
Mountain Mike's Pizza (Prosper, 220 W. Frontier Parkway) is aiming for spring 2027.
Dick's House of Sport (Frisco, Stonebriar Centre) celebrates its grand opening Oct. 23 to 25.

Dates to know 📅

Oct. 5: Last day to register to vote.
Oct. 7: Plaza Live! on Fourth Street Plaza in Frisco, 5 to 7 p.m.
Oct. 13: Fourth Street Plaza's grand opening in Frisco.
Oct. 13: Little Elm Town Council takes up e-bike rules.
Oct. 15: Prosper's new water and wastewater rates take effect.
Oct. 19 to 30: Early voting.
Oct. 23 to 25: Dick's House of Sport grand opening in Frisco.
Oct. 27: Prosper Town Council is expected to take up The Marco.
Nov. 3: Election Day.
Nov. 11: First Avelo flights from McKinney.

That's the week. Register to vote, polka responsibly, and start planning that Nashville weekend. See you next Thursday!

— Taco & Tell