Dallas never ceases to impress with its variety of exciting events, festivals, and concerts. While many of them take place outdoors, some require a dedicated venue — and the city certainly delivers. Among Dallas’s most iconic locations is the American Airlines Center, a multifunctional indoor arena situated in the downtown area. It serves as the home of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Today, we’ll take a closer look at the history and development of this remarkable arena. Read more about it on dallaski.com.
How It All Began
The story of the American Airlines Center began at the end of the 20th century. In 1998, Dallas Mavericks owner H. Ross Perot Jr. and the leadership of the Dallas Stars raised the issue of building a new arena. They wanted to replace the outdated Reunion Arena with a larger, more modern facility. The old venue could no longer meet the modern standards required for joint NHL and NBA games, world-class concerts, and large-scale shows.
The idea was supported by city officials, but funding was an obstacle. To make the project possible, Dallas approved special hotel and car rental taxes, which helped raise a significant portion of the construction budget. In 1999, American Airlines purchased the naming rights for $195 million. Interestingly, the airline’s headquarters are located in nearby Fort Worth, at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
Most of the architectural work was carried out by David M. Schwarz, a Driehaus Prize-winning architect from Washington, D.C., known for his new classical style. The building features a traditional design with wide brick facades and smooth arches. The total construction cost exceeded $420 million.
The arena officially opened in 2001, with its first event being a legendary Eagles concert. That same year, it also hosted the final show of Michael Flatley’s Feet of Flames tour.
The first sporting event took place on August 19, 2001, when the Dallas Sidekicks of the World Indoor Soccer League faced the San Diego Sockers.
A Modern Dallas Landmark
Today, the American Airlines Center stands as a major sports and entertainment hub in Dallas. The arena covers more than 850,000 square feet and can seat 21,146 fans for basketball games, 19,323 for hockey, and about 21,000 for concerts.
A notable feature of the complex is Victory Plaza, the main entrance area designed as a dynamic outdoor public space for various events and gatherings.
Each year, the American Airlines Center hosts more than 260 events, including Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars games, international music tours, and large-scale shows.
Over the years, countless world-famous artists have performed here — from Blink-182, the legendary American pop-punk band, to Cardi B, Nine Inch Nails, Dua Lipa, Maroon 5, Pat Benatar, Los Tigres del Norte, Burna Boy, and TWICE, among many others.
We hope this article gave you new insights into one of Dallas’s most exciting landmarks. Do you enjoy the concerts and events held at the American Airlines Center?