People tend to think that Dallas is all about football. The Cowboys are a marquee name in the sports industry, but that doesn’t mean that the city isn’t full of diehard hoops enthusiasts as well. The Dallas Mavericks are not only one of the most popular teams in Texas but also one of the most entertaining teams to watch in the NBA. And, as such, they need an arena that suits their fast-paced, offensively-explosive style and where people can comfortably enjoy witnessing Luka Doncic working on his magic.
Gladly for them, the Mavericks count with the best arena in the city and the pride of downtown Dallas: the American Airlines Center. Whether you talk about an NBA or NHL arena, or a venue to attend concerts, sports games, or other events, the American Airlines Center must always be a part of the conversation.
Retractable seating, great food, top-notch technology, and classy decoration make this place a top-notch point for sports events. That’s why today, we’re going to let you know everything there is about this beautiful building at Victory Park, home of the NHL Dallas Stars and the Dallas Mavericks.
What Is The Dallas Arena Called?
The Dallas Mavericks center is called American Airlines Center. Besides being a multi-purpose indoor arena for sports, it also hosts many events. Also, it shall not be confused with the American Airlines Arena, although both the American Airlines Center and the American Airlines Arena are obviously sponsored by American Airlines, a registered trademark who acquired the naming rights.
Does Reunion Arena still exist?
Unfortunately, no. The American Airlines Center replaced the older Reunion Arena, which was located at 777 Sports Street, Dallas, Texas. Nonetheless, the site is still a landmark place in Dallas, as it’s now called Reunion Park.
Why did Reunion Arena close?
The city of Dallas needed a new arena for its NHL and NBA games. The Dallas Mavericks had already outgrown the Reunion Arena. The city approved a rental car tax and hotel tax to help pay for the new arena, which was also expected to host the Dallas Stars.
How old is the American Airlines Center in Dallas?
The ground broke in 1999 but it opened its doors in July 2001. The construction cost a whopping $420 million, but American Airlines agreed to buy the naming rights for $195 million, helping pay for some cost overruns.
Located at Victory Park, this beautiful arena also has the PNC Plaza, formerly known as Victory Plaza. Located at the south side of the venue, this square isn’t only the south entrance to the arena but also used for movie showings or any other major outdoor event in the area.
What is the American Airlines Center capacity?
The capacity of American Airlines Center is massive. It can host up to 19,200 people up to 21,146 with standing room for basketball, and 18,532 people, up to 19,323 with standing room for Dallas Stars games. Its first event was a massive Eagles concert with 21,000 people in attendance.
Who owns the American Airlines Arena in Dallas?
The American Airlines Center is owned by Center Operating Company, L.P. The Dallas Mavericks’ lease at AAC runs through July 2031 and there are some rumors about Mark Cuban’s plans to build a new arena to replace the American Airlines center by the end of that deal.
Dallas Mavericks: From Dirk Nowitzki to Luka Doncic
The Dallas Mavericks have had their fair share of ups and downs throughout their history. Nonetheless, every time there’s a maverick game there, thousands of fans still flood the American Airlines Center to root for their team, which is one of the most popular sports teams in Texas.
Founded in 1980, the Mavs haven’t been around the league for as long as other franchises. Don Carter convinced the NBA to allow them to have another team in Texas, as the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets were also located in the state.
Gladly, it didn’t take long before the team became a perennial playoff contender, with stars like Mark Aguire and Rolando Blackman leading the way. However, they constantly fell short of their goal and were unable to win a championship, only winning their division once in 1987.
The 90s were tough for the Mavs. They were far from a good basketball team and looked like they were stuck in the midst of what seemed to be a never-ending rebuild. It wasn’t until 1994 when Jason Kidd came to the city and instantly turned the franchise around but once again, the success didn’t last for long, as he left in 1996.
Kidd’s departure paved the way for the new era in Dallas Mavericks basketball: The Dirk Nowitzki era. The Milwaukee Bucks traded one of the greatest stars in NBA history during the 1998 draft night, and while it took him some time to blossom and prove his worth, he’d end up becoming a worldwide sensation and the best player in franchise history. Just two years after his arrival, business mogul and season-ticket holder Mark Cuban would buy the franchise.
From 1998 to 2018, Dirk led the Mavericks to the playoffs more often than not. Arenas all over the country were flooded by fans wanting to watch Dirk play, even winning MVP in 2007. They made it to the NBA Finals in 2007 but the Miami Heat and an unstoppable Dwyane Wade got the best of them in six games.
Dirk stood put and was loyal to the organization, even orchestrating arguably the greatest playoff run in NBA history by beating the Heat in 2011 by beating them in the NBA Finals, having perhaps the best game of his career in Game 6.
The Luka Doncic Era
Mark Cuban failed to lure more stars to the city, the Mavericks failed to keep up with the rest of the powerhouses around the NBA. Then, following a subpar year, they were able to get a generational talent and what might as well be a franchise-defining event for them. They traded the fifth overall pick and a protected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to land Luka Doncic, the most talented prospect outside of North America.
Doncic became an instant sensation all over the world. Tickets sales went north and sold-out crowds at all arenas, he was just embarrassing all teams with his craftiness, poise, and an unmatched skillset, often drawing comparisons to Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and even LeBron James. Luka Doncic has everything it takes to become not only one of the best players in Mavericks’ history but also one of the biggest stars to ever make it to the NBA.
He brings fans to the arena, is charismatic, and has the skills to do everything on the offensive end of the floor. With him, their games have become must-watch television even for non-hoops fans. Hopefully, he’ll be healthy and loyal enough to lead the Mavericks to their second (and many more) NBA championship and will stay in Dallas for years to come.
The Dallas Mavericks haven’t been able to find the same success as the other Texans teams, as the Houston Rockets have won 2 championships, whereas the San Antonio Spurs have won five. Nonetheless, they have a bright future and a nice young duo with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis. On top of that, they have a loyal fanbase and an owner that’s willing to go the extra mile and spare no expenses to make the franchise competitive.
It may take them a while as no player can win on his own and Doncic is just getting started in the league. But once he reaches his prime, he’s going to be the face of hoops, for sure. He’s already embraced his leadership role and has been used to being in the spotlight since his days at Real Madrid, so it’s just a matter of time before he takes the next step and wins multiple MVPs and, while not, a couple of rings as well. That’s what it’ll take to take down Dirk as the best Mavs player to ever do it, but if someone can pull that off, that’s definitely the Slovenian wunderkind.
The Mavs are here and won’t go away any time soon. They continue to get more adepts all over the globe and it seems like it won’t be long before we see them back at the biggest stage in all of the sports. So, if you’re planning on visiting downtown Dallas around November and want to watch an NBA Dallas Mavericks game or any of the upcoming events at American Airlines Center, don’t hesitate to do it. The food is great, the people are nice, and the match will be plenty of fun. This venue will knock you off your feet and you’ll instantly see why this arena has become that popular as the years go by.
