Mavs, Stars Extend American Airlines Center Stay to 2031

The Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars have agreed to remain at American Airlines Center through the 2030-31 season, providing clarity for fans and the City of Dallas as both franchises advance long-term plans for new arena projects elsewhere in the region.

A new chapter in a complicated arena saga

The agreement keeps the NBA and NHL franchises in downtown Dallas through the end of their current lease, which runs to 2031. Publicly available information shows that both teams had already been contractually committed to American Airlines Center, but recent legal disputes and competing arena proposals had raised questions about whether either might seek an earlier exit.

According to published coverage, the new understanding is framed as a joint commitment to complete the existing term at American Airlines Center while resolving outstanding issues around operations and revenue sharing. The move follows months of tension between the organizations over control of the arena operator and interpretation of lease provisions dating back to the early 2000s.

For fans, the announcement removes near-term uncertainty about where home games will be played and ensures that downtown Dallas will continue to host NBA and NHL contests through at least the 2030-31 seasons. It also gives local businesses around the arena added visibility on event schedules for the rest of the decade.

The decision comes as both teams weigh ambitious mixed-use developments that could eventually replace American Airlines Center as their primary home venues once the lease expires.

Downtown Dallas gets a medium-term reprieve

American Airlines Center has anchored a wave of development in the Victory Park area since opening in 2001. The Mavericks and Stars’ commitment through 2031 means the arena will celebrate its 30th anniversary with both original anchor tenants still in place, even as the building’s long-term future remains uncertain.

Reports indicate that city leaders have sought to keep both franchises inside Dallas city limits, recognizing the economic impact of more than 80 combined regular-season home dates each year, plus playoffs and special events. The renewed clarity around the lease term gives the city additional time to plan for potential changes in the early 2030s, whether that involves continued use of American Airlines Center or a transition to other facilities.

For the surrounding neighborhood, the decision helps sustain hotel bookings, restaurant traffic, and entertainment activity tied to game nights. Event operators also benefit from predictable scheduling at a time when large-scale concerts and touring shows are often routing through newer, suburban venues across North Texas.

While the joint stance does not include any announced major renovation package, it signals that both teams expect American Airlines Center to remain fully functional and competitive as a sports venue for at least another five seasons.

Parallel plans for new arenas move ahead

Even as they recommit to American Airlines Center through 2031, the Mavericks and Stars are continuing to work on separate arena visions outside downtown. Published reports describe the Mavericks’ interest in pairing a basketball-specific arena with a large mixed-use entertainment district, tied to broader development plans that could include hotel, retail and residential components.

The Stars, meanwhile, have been associated with proposals that would move their home games to a new complex in the northern suburbs, reflecting the franchise’s long-standing business footprint in that part of the region. Public statements from team leadership in recent years have emphasized a desire to control more of the game-day environment and to design a building optimized for hockey.

The new agreement to remain at American Airlines Center through 2031 appears to function as a bridge between the current downtown era and those longer-range plans. It gives both clubs a clear timeline to finalize financing, design work and public approvals for their prospective arenas, while preserving a stable home base in the meantime.

For regional planners and transportation officials, the synchronized 2031 horizon also creates a defined window to anticipate changes in traffic patterns and transit demand once any future relocations take place.

What it means for fans and visitors

For visiting sports travelers, the decision effectively locks in American Airlines Center as a marquee destination through the decade. The arena’s central location near Dallas’ hotel clusters and nightlife remains an advantage for out-of-town fans building weekend trips around Mavericks or Stars games.

Travel-oriented coverage has noted that American Airlines Center’s calendar often allows visitors to pair a game with concerts or other events on adjacent nights, an option that continues under the extended commitment. The confirmation that both teams will stay through 2031 supports long-lead planning for supporters’ groups, tournament-style youth trips, and package tours that include premium seating or hospitality experiences.

Local fans gain additional certainty when buying multi-year season-ticket packages or planning family travel around marquee matchups. With both franchises expected to contend regularly in their respective leagues, interest in destination games and playoff trips to Dallas is likely to remain strong.

The announcement also reassures nearby hospitality operators that the flow of visiting supporters in team colors will persist, maintaining the game-day atmosphere that has become part of downtown Dallas’ identity over the past two decades.

Short-term stability amid long-term change

From a broader North Texas perspective, the decision to stay at American Airlines Center through 2031 provides short-term stability in a rapidly evolving sports-venue landscape. Multiple professional teams in the region are evaluating upgrades or relocations, and large mixed-use districts built around new arenas and stadiums have become central to those conversations.

By locking in their existing home for the remainder of the lease, the Mavericks and Stars reduce the risk of an interim scenario in which one franchise departs early while the other remains behind. Publicly available information shows that both teams now appear aligned on using American Airlines Center as a springboard toward their next generation of facilities, rather than an obstacle.

The coming years are expected to feature continued debate over public participation in arena financing, land use and transportation priorities. Within that broader discussion, the 2031 timeline functions as a clear deadline and planning marker for local governments and private developers.

For now, though, the message to fans is straightforward. The Mavericks and Stars will keep calling American Airlines Center home through the 2030-31 season, preserving one of the NBA and NHL’s most established dual-team venues while the next phase of arena development in North Texas takes shape behind the scenes.