Dallas Mavericks
American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX
- Capacity
- 19,200
- Roof
- Indoor
- Surface
- Hardwood (Maple)
- Opened
- 2001
- Tickets
- $25+
- Parking
- $40+
- Beer
- $12+
- Food
- $7+
- Est. total
- $84+
Against the other 29 NBA arenas, American Airlines Center is the 21st cheapest game day: 21st for tickets, joint 29th for parking and joint 12th for food and drink, compared on market ticket medians and published lot and menu prices in US dollars. See the full ranking.
Prices are estimates. See our methodology.
What to Expect
American Airlines Center sits in the Victory Park district, a mixed-use development just north of downtown Dallas. The arena hosts both the Mavericks and Dallas Stars and has been home to the Mavs since 2001. Victory Park has restaurants, bars, and a walkable entertainment area surrounding the arena. Dallas is a car-centric city, but DART rail provides an easy alternative. NBA games run about 2.5 hours. Texas heat is a factor for early-season games, October can still be in the 80s.
View Seating GuideTips & Fan Reports
Game Day
No in-and-out, so anything you want has to come in with you on the first pass.
Lots open two hours before the event, not the four or five a stadium would give you.
There is no tailgate to plan here: grilling, open flames, food preparation and alcohol are all banned in every parking area, at any time.
Parking & Directions
Take the DART train to Victory Station - it is literally one block from the arena. Free parking lot at Market Center Station which is one stop away. Way better than paying $40 to park at the arena.
Lot F has 105 first-come accessible spaces and requires no parking pass.
DART Green and Orange Lines serve Victory Station at the arena; the fare is $3.
Food & Drinks
There is an all-you-can-eat spot inside the arena that is surprisingly cheap at about $15. You can also watch the players walk from the locker room to the court while you eat. Cheapest domestic beer in the arena is there too.
The brisket sandwich is the star of the arena food menu. Don't miss it.
Frozen margaritas are a Texas tradition, available at multiple stands.
Seating
Sections 316-319 are awesome for the price. The low 300s center court have a great view too. 225 to 303 is only a marginal improvement despite the price jump.
Courtside seats include dinner at the restaurant inside the arena. You get that friendly fun atmosphere throughout the entire building. OKC fans are the best comparison - just a good time.
The Platinum level carries five bars and restaurants: The Wine Press, The Zone, The Platinum Club, El Taco Tex and DBQ Barbecue.
Know Before You Go
- Bag policy
Wristlets, wallets, and clutches up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches are allowed at all entrances; larger purses up to 14 x 14 x 6 inches must use a main X-ray entrance.
Backpacks and large totes are prohibited. Medical and diaper bags accompanying a small child must be under 14 x 14 x 6 inches and are inspected.
- Gate opening
Doors typically open 90 minutes before tipoff for Mavericks games.
Check the individual event page because opening times can change.
- Venue payments
The arena is cashless at concessions, merchandise, and parking and accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
Fee-free ReadySTATION kiosks near the Modelo Golden Lion and Michelob ULTRA clubs convert up to $500 cash to a prepaid card.
- Re-entry
Re-entry is not allowed; a Guest Services Supervisor at the door may approve an exception for a medical need.
Guides for American Airlines Center
- Game Day Guide
7 steps from arrival to tip-off, and 21 venue rules checked against official sources. 3 bars, patios and plazas to fill the hours before doors, and what to bring.
- Parking & Directions
2 lots and garages with distances and entry routes, from $40. Or leave the car: the cheapest way in is DART Light Rail (Victory Station), $3.
- Food & Drinks
20 concession stands and 51 items researched from the venue's own menus, cheapest food $7 and drink $5.
- Seating Guide
8 seating areas at American Airlines Center, with the level names printed on the ticket.
- Cost Calculator
Build a total for your own party using American Airlines Center's stored figures.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Venue facts
Wikipedia / Official Venue Page
- Parking prices
American Airlines Center parking page: game parking is priced per tenant, Mavs $40 and Stars $50, third-party events $50. The Victory Park garages and DART fares are not published there.
- Venue policies
Current American Airlines Center FAQ, accessibility, food-and-beverage, ticketing, and app pages reviewed for Dallas Mavericks game-day policies.
Not yet checked against a published source
These figures are estimates. Most venues no longer publish the numbers behind them (concession and ticket pricing moved to dynamic marketplaces), so we hold them as estimates rather than dating them as verified.
- Ticket prices: Secondary market averages (SeatGeek/StubHub)
- Food prices: Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index + venue research
- Drink prices: Team Marketing Report Fan Cost Index + venue research