American Airlines Center, Dallas

The American Airlines Center (AAC) is a versatile venue situated in the Victory Park neighborhood in downtown Dallas. It serves as the home arena for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association and the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. Additionally, the arena hosts concerts and various live entertainment events. Its construction was completed in 2001, with a total expenditure of $420 million.

n 1998, the Dallas Mavericks, owned by H. Ross Perot, Jr., alongside the Dallas Stars, sought a new arena to replace the outdated Reunion Arena. Dallas taxpayers approved a hotel and rental car tax to help fund the project, with the teams covering the rest, including potential overruns. The new arena was placed just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway, replacing an old power plant. American Airlines secured naming rights on March 18, 1999, investing $195 million, notable as they are based in Fort Worth and operate from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The inaugural event at the AAC was an Eagles concert held the following day, followed by Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames tour finale. The first sporting event occurred on August 19, 2001, featuring the Dallas Sidekicks of the World Indoor Soccer League against the San Diego Sockers. The AAC boasts a practice court for the Mavericks, utilized for regular practices until 2017 when a separate facility was constructed in the Dallas Design District near the arena.

The architectural design of the AAC was primarily overseen by David M. Schwarz, a recipient of the Driehaus Prize, and a prominent New Classical architect from Washington D.C. The arena was envisioned to serve as the focal point of Victory Park, a new urban commercial area aimed at revitalizing the city of Dallas. Its design features classic elements such as sweeping brick facades and smooth arches. Internally, the arena incorporates retractable seating, public art installations, and cutting-edge technological amenities. Some fans have affectionately nicknamed it "The Hangar" due to its roof resembling a Quonset hut and its association with American Airlines.