American Airlines Center
Dallas, TX · Home of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars
Upcoming games
Schedule data syncs from our events feed. Ticket links go to SeatGeek.
No upcoming games currently listed for American Airlines Center.
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TPKLOOKTA5Parking
Reserve a spot in advance — game-day parking near American Airlines Center fills early.
Getting there
American Airlines Center sits in Victory Park just north of downtown Dallas, immediately off I-35E (Stemmons Freeway) and Woodall Rodgers Freeway. DART light rail's Victory Station drops fans directly outside the arena and connects to the Green and Orange Lines, with easy transfers from downtown stations. Driving uses I-35E exit 429 (Continental Avenue) or Woodall Rodgers; arena parking lots and garages ring the building. Rideshare zones are signed at the Victory Plaza side. Confirm bag and entry rules on the arena's official site before going.
The neighborhood
Victory Park around the arena is a purpose-built mixed-use district that took years to fill in — it now houses hotels, the W Dallas Victory, restaurants, residential towers, and the plaza fronting AAC. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science sits a short walk south, and downtown Dallas and Uptown extend in either direction. The West End historic district is a few blocks south. Walk north and the Victory Park boardwalk and surrounding restaurants get you most of what you'd want pre-game without leaving the neighborhood. For a denser dinner scene, the Uptown blocks along McKinney Avenue (a short ride east) offer one of Dallas's most concentrated restaurant strips.
Where to eat & drink nearby
Closest pre-game options include Cane Rosso Victory Park (Neapolitan pizza outside the arena), Happiest Hour (one of the largest bars in Texas, a few blocks from AAC), and Hero by HG Sply Co. (a sports-bar concept on Victory Plaza). Sambuca 360 brings supper-club Mediterranean, and Bowlski's combines bowling and food. For Uptown, The Rustic on McKinney is a longtime live-music and food yard worth the short ride. Pre-game crowds on Victory Plaza build within an hour of tipoff or puck drop.
First-timer tips
Arrive 60–90 minutes before tipoff or puck drop — Victory Park parking lots fill steadily and DART transfers can add time. The Victory Plaza side is the canonical first-time entry, with the Mavericks and Stars team stores both accessible from there. The seating bowl converts between hardwood and ice between events. Mobile-only ticketing and cashless concessions are standard, and bag policy follows arena-standard small-bag rules — check the official site rather than older guides. The arena is one of the more architecturally distinctive HOK Sport (Populous) builds of its era, with its red-brick facade and arched window pattern intentionally referencing Dallas's older train-station architecture.
Best games to catch
For the Mavericks, marquee dates are Lakers, Warriors, Celtics, and divisional rivals Spurs, Rockets, and Grizzlies — those games consistently price above the season average. Visits from any finals-caliber West team also peak demand. For the Stars, divisional matchups against the Avalanche, Golden Knights, Wild, and Predators are the most heated current rivalries, with Blackhawks and Original Six visitors carrying heritage weight. Stars–Avalanche in particular has become one of the league's hardest tickets in Dallas when the playoff implications align. Both teams publish promotional calendars on their official sites — themed nights, jersey giveaways, alumni appearances — that vary year to year.
What to know
American Airlines Center opened in July 2001, replacing Reunion Arena (which stood a short distance south and was demolished in 2009) as the home of both the Mavericks and Stars. The red-brick exterior, arched windows, and clock tower were designed by HOK Sport (now Populous) to echo Dallas's classic train-station architecture rather than a generic modern arena look. The Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999 at Reunion Arena and most recently in 2025 at AAC — wait, the franchise won in 1999; the 2024 and 2025 finals appearances did not yield a title. The Mavericks won the NBA championship at AAC in 2011. The seating bowl is built tight to the floor and ice with one of the steeper upper-deck rakes among modern multi-purpose arenas. Victory Park, the surrounding mixed-use district, took until the mid-2010s to fill in but is now one of Dallas's livelier evening destinations.
Frequently asked questions
What time do doors open at American Airlines Center?
Doors typically open about 90 minutes before tipoff or puck drop for standard games, sometimes earlier for premium-ticket holders or special events. Check the arena's official event page for the specific game's door time.
How do I get to American Airlines Center on DART?
DART light rail's Victory Station drops fans directly outside the arena and connects to the Green and Orange Lines, with easy transfers from downtown stations. It's the simplest transit option from most downtown hotels.
Where can I park at American Airlines Center?
Arena parking lots and garages ring the building, with additional options across Victory Park. Reserving in advance via the parking link above typically beats showing up. Rates and lot availability change year to year — confirm before driving.
Are the Mavericks and Stars in the same building?
Yes — both the Mavericks (NBA) and Stars (NHL) play their home games at American Airlines Center. The arena floor converts between hardwood and ice between games.
What's the bag policy at American Airlines Center?
AAC enforces a small-bag policy with size limits; large bags and hard-sided coolers are prohibited. Specific dimensions and the clear-bag rule for certain events change — check the arena's official bag policy before heading in.
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