American Airlines Center - Dallas Mavericks Arena Guide

The American Airlines Center was built as a replacement facility to the Reunion Arena; the arena didn’t officially break ground until September of 1999 and wasn’t finished until July of 2001.

The design framework was designed by the Driehaus Prize winner and New Classical architect David M. Schwarz. American Airlines Center was designed to be the heart of a new downtown commercial area set to reignite the city of Dallas called Victory Park.

The facility itself features a traditional design with wide brick-faced siding and gentle arches and features many of the awards that the teams that play in the arena have claimed. The interior includes retractable seating, several public art pieces, and a state-of-the-art technological arena. Because of the design of its roof and it is named after an airline company, several fans have come to refer to it as “The Hangar.”

On the south side of the arena, PNC Plaza serves as the main entrance into the arena. Artist, Athena Tacha designed this entrance. This plaza provides an open environment with fountains with retail and office buildings off to the sides. With many HD video displays mounted on the side of the arena and office buildings, the area is often used as a watching area for games and concerts.

While the team’s lease in the arena runs until 2031, team owner Mark Cuban will take a few years to decide whether to move the team into a new facility.

Interior view of American Airlines Center

Below is a seating plan of Dallas Mavericks's American Airlines Center:

Several popular bars are located within walking distance to the arena, with a few of the favorites being Saint Ann Restaurant & Bar, Medina Oven & Bar, Medina Oven & Bar, and Happiest Hour. Located just steps away from the American Airlines Center, Happiest Hour is one of Dallas’ most popular bars with the most extensive patio bar and lounge, which features a rooftop deck with a fantastic view and includes four bars spread. The menu consists of signature cocktails, wines on tap, and more than 50 different beer selections.

While several of the bars and pubs in the area offer several food options, a few other food options are a favorite of the locals and are right around the arena that you can stop at before tip-off. Some of the local favorites include Mesero – Victory Park, Medina Oven & Bar, Shooters, Billy Can Can, and many more. Since Dallas is a very popular sports city, there are several spots near the united center that are sports-themed and will be great places to catch a bite to eat before the game or even watch the game while you eat.

The “American Airlines Center Experience” tour allows the public to go behind the scenes and see the sports industry’s operations side. The tour begins in the bowl, where the guide starts with an overall experience and logistics discussion. Then the tour leads you to the event level, where you will visit the press box, luxury suites, party rooms, and several other locations in the arena. The tour’s pricing goes as follows: Standard Ticket $5, Seniors (65+) $4, and Children (3-17) $3. Tours are scheduled by appointment only Monday through Friday on non-event days. Tours are expected to start at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and are based on availability.

Typically, Mavericks tickets vary on who they are playing on the given night, but tickets can be found for as low as $18, with an average price of $106.

The Platinum is the premium seating option as ticket buyers have access to the premium restaurants and bars on the dedicated Platinum level concourse. This level offers an in-seat wait service. This is the most premium level of the arena as it is the level that also contains the luxury suites.

Since the American Airlines Center is located near the heart of Dallas, there are several travel options you can choose from. The most popular transportation methods would include the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) that includes buses, light rail, commuter rail, high-occupancy vehicle lanes, various forms of care services, and thousands of parking spots you chose to bring your vehicle.

The address for American Airlines Center is as follows:
• 2500 Victory Ave, Dallas, TX 75219

While traffic during game nights will drive larger crowds than usual down to Dallas, you should be in the clear of heavy traffic if you leave a few hours before tip-off. If you are coming from surrounding suburbs, you will most likely be coming into the city on a major highway then transitioning into city street driving.

With over 5,000 parking spaces are available for American Airlines Center visitors, and a majority of these parking spaces are comfortably located within two blocks of American Airlines Center. On top of the 5,000 spaces, there are over 3,000 parking spaces to the South and East of American Airlines Center within easy walking distance. If you are early to a game, you should have no problem finding parking within walking distance to the arena.

For public transportation, you are most likely looking to be on the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit). The DART is a transit agency serving the Dallas–Fort Worth metro area. It operates buses, light rail, commuter rail, and high-occupancy vehicle lanes in Dallas and twelve of its suburbs.

If you are coming from out of state and flying, you will most likely fly into Dallas Love Field (DAL) or Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW). If you’re flying into DFW, the drive is roughly 20 miles and will take around 25-45 minutes to reach the arena. If you are flying into DAL, the drive is 5.6 miles and will take you 10-20 minutes to get to the arena.