Mavericks, Stars to Remain at American Airlines Center Through 2031

The long running uncertainty around the future of downtown Dallas’s American Airlines Center has eased, as publicly available information indicates the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and NHL’s Dallas Stars have agreed to resolve their venue dispute and remain in the arena through the 2030-31 season, preserving a key anchor for sports-driven travel and events in the city.

A Downtown Anchor Secured Through the 2030-31 Season

According to recent coverage of the settlement between the franchises, the Mavericks and Stars have agreed to keep playing at American Airlines Center through the 2030-31 season, aligning with the end of their current lease window and ending months of legal wrangling over control of the building’s operations. The development follows a series of court decisions tied to the arena’s operating company and a countersuit from the Stars, which had raised questions about long term tenancy.

American Airlines Center opened in 2001 and has since become one of Dallas’s most visible sports and entertainment venues, drawing NBA and NHL fans along with concerts and major touring events. The confirmation that both primary tenants will stay in place through at least 2031 maintains a high density of marquee dates on the calendar and sustains the arena’s role as a top tier stop for national tours.

For local tourism and hospitality businesses that depend on predictable event traffic, the agreement through the 2030-31 season reduces the near term risk of a fragmented schedule or early departure by one of the anchor teams. Hotels, restaurants and bars within walking distance of the arena can continue planning around a consistent mix of basketball, hockey and concert nights over the next several years.

Tourism and Event Impact for Victory Park and Downtown Dallas

American Airlines Center sits at the heart of the Victory Park district on the northwest edge of downtown, an area that has added hotels, residential towers and restaurants since the building opened. The confirmation that both the Mavericks and Stars will continue to play there through 2030-31 helps preserve Victory Park’s status as a focal point for game day activity and visitor spending.

Travel related businesses often build marketing packages around full season schedules, including weekend series that lure regional visitors from across Texas and neighboring states. With two major league teams remaining at the arena, Dallas tourism planners can continue to promote multi day itineraries that combine games with dining, shopping and cultural attractions in the Arts District and nearby neighborhoods.

The agreement also supports large scale events that rely on a fully active arena district, from fan festivals to watch parties and corporate hospitality gatherings. Maintaining both tenants at American Airlines Center for the rest of the decade keeps the venue’s utilization rate high, which is often a key factor when event organizers consider Dallas against competing host cities.

New Arena Plans and the Future Beyond 2031

Even as the 2030-31 commitment stabilizes the short term picture, publicly reported plans show the Mavericks continuing to move ahead with a proposed basketball specific arena and entertainment district at the former Valley View Mall site in North Dallas. Team leadership has previously indicated a desire to open that venue in time for the 2031-32 season, which would coincide with the end of the current American Airlines Center term.

The Stars, by contrast, have been linked in coverage to a range of options, from remaining at a renovated American Airlines Center to pursuing a future home that better aligns with the geographic distribution of their season ticket holders. Earlier commentary from team executives pointed to the appeal of staying in the current building’s central location if a viable long term arrangement could be reached.

For travelers and event planners, this creates a clear timeline. Through the 2030-31 season, both major league winter sports remain downtown at American Airlines Center. After that point, Dallas’s arena landscape could shift, potentially splitting basketball and hockey into separate buildings and reshaping how visitors move between lodging, dining and game venues across the metro area.

Economic Ripple Effects Across North Texas

The decision to keep both teams in American Airlines Center through 2030-31 also has implications beyond the city core. Dallas’s regional transportation links, including light rail connections and major highway corridors, have helped make the arena accessible to fans from Fort Worth, the northern suburbs and communities across North Texas. Continued use of the building by both teams supports those established travel patterns for another half decade.

At the same time, the parallel discussions about a new Mavericks arena and possible long term solutions for the Stars are already influencing where future development could cluster. Suburban cities and mixed use districts are positioning themselves to attract practice facilities, hotels and entertainment projects that often accompany new major league venues, while Dallas continues to emphasize the advantages of its existing urban infrastructure.

For now, though, the practical outcome for visitors is continuity. Fans booking trips for regular season games, playoff runs or back to back NBA and NHL doubleheaders through the 2030-31 season can expect American Airlines Center and the surrounding Victory Park district to remain the primary hub for big ticket winter sports in Dallas.

What the Extension Means for Fans and Visiting Supporters

Supporters of both the Mavericks and Stars benefit directly from the decision to stay at American Airlines Center through 2030-31. The arena is a familiar venue with established transportation, parking and pregame routines, making it easier for visiting fans from around Texas and neighboring states to plan travel without having to adjust to a new location or configuration in the near term.

For international visitors and out of town travelers pairing sports with broader tourism, the stability of the arena situation simplifies trip planning. Downtown Dallas hotel options, proximity to the city’s cultural attractions and walkability around the arena district continue to be strong selling points for multi day visits built around marquee NBA and NHL matchups.

As the 2030-31 horizon approaches, the conversation around where the teams will play next is likely to intensify, and future venue decisions could redistribute visitor flows around the region. Until then, the shared commitment to American Airlines Center ensures that Dallas’s downtown remains one of the most concentrated hubs for big league sports and entertainment in Texas.