The Mavericks and Stars reached an agreement ending their arena dispute, keeping both teams at American Airlines Center through 2030-31.
DALLAS — American Airlines Center will remain home to the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars through at least the 2030-31 season after the organizations reached an agreement over their arena dispute.
Both clubs announced the agreement Monday in a two-sentence joint statement. Their leases with the city of Dallas expire in 2031.
"The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have reached an agreement that resolves the outstanding matters between the two organizations," the clubs said. "American Airlines Center will continue to serve as the home of both teams at least through the 2030-31 season."
Neither team revealed the financial details nor explained the structure of the arena entities for the remaining lease. The statement also omitted any mention of the Stars' upcoming appeal.
In October 2025, Dallas Sports Group filed a case in Texas Business Court, requesting recognition as the exclusive owner of the entities managing American Airlines Center. The 253-page petition claimed that Stars ownership had hindered maintenance and upgrades at the arena.
The Stars filed a countersuit a few weeks later, accusing the Mavericks' action of being a hostile takeover attempt that would make the club a tenant.
The Mavericks cited a clause in their 1998 agreement, which mandates both teams to keep their corporate headquarters within Dallas city limits until 2031. Meanwhile, the Stars moved their headquarters and practice facility to Frisco in 2003 and continue to practice at the Comerica Center.
In 2024, the Mavericks sent the Stars $110 with a letter stating that they were exercising a contractual right to buy out the Stars' ownership interests in the arena entities. The Stars returned the money.
A jury trial was set for May 11, but on May 20, Business Court Judge Bill Whitehill issued a final judgment. He determined that the Stars had moved from Dallas and that Dallas Sports Group held the contractual right to buy the Stars' ownership interests and operate the arena independently.
The Stars filed a notice of appeal with the Fifteenth Court of Appeals later that week. The Mavericks had filed a notice of non-suit on their tortious interference claim in April.
American Airlines Center opened July 17, 2001, at a cost of $420 million. The city of Dallas owns the building, and Center Operating Company, a joint venture between the Mavericks and Stars, has operated it. The Mavericks moved there from Reunion Arena.
Center Operating Company submitted plans to the state in 2024 for approximately $30 million worth of work at the arena. The scope included installing elevators, escalators, and a 4,950-square-foot floor slab infill.
On June 1, the Mavericks announced option agreements for approximately 104 acres at the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas near Interstate 635 and Preston Road. Mavericks CEO Rick Welts has overseen the arena search since Patrick Dumont hired him in January 2025. Welts previously oversaw the Golden State Warriors' move to Chase Center.
Dallas is targeting the 2031-32 season for its first year in a new arena. The Stars have settled on the Willow Bend area of Plano.
On July 8, Mavs Roundtable's Mike Fisher first reported that Mark Cuban had filed a Rule 202 petition in Dallas County District Court. Cuban was seeking information about financing for the Valley View project and how potential sites were identified.
Dumont later asked the business court to send the dispute to private arbitration. He also said the Valley View option has not been exercised.
Dallas Sports Group acquired 69% of the Mavericks in December 2023 in a sale valued at approximately $3.5 billion. Cuban retained 27%.
The WNBA's Dallas Wings will also use American Airlines Center before the current Mavericks and Stars leases expire. The Wings announced Aug. 3 that they will play their entire 2027 schedule at the arena.
