American Airlines Center Game Day Guide
Dallas Mavericks · Dallas, TX
Know Before You Go
Essential details checked against official venue information.
- 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.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- 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.
- Bag storage
American Airlines Center does not provide storage or a check area for oversized bags or luggage.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Gate opening
Doors typically open 90 minutes before tipoff for Mavericks games.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Check the individual event page because opening times can change.
- Mobile tickets
All tickets are digital and must display the live Ticketmaster barcode in Account Manager, Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet; screenshots are not accepted.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Guests without a smartphone should bring their confirmation email and photo ID to the box office for assistance; no tickets are held at Will Call.
- Re-entry
Re-entry is not allowed; a Guest Services Supervisor at the door may approve an exception for a medical need.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Prohibited items
The arena prohibits weapons and knives, outside alcohol or illegal drugs, outside food and drink, aerosols, drones, professional cameras and recording gear, hard containers and flasks, fireworks, lasers, coolers, noisemakers, backpacks, large totes, and other dangerous items.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- A prohibited item must be returned to the vehicle or discarded; event-specific restrictions can change, so review the current official list.
- First aid
First Aid stations staffed by certified medical professionals are near Sections 111 and 313.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Contact the nearest arena employee for emergency assistance; AEDs are installed throughout the building.
- Nursing and lactation
A private nursing room is across from the Modelo Golden Lion Bar & Grill on the Plaza Level.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- The locking room includes an ottoman, outlet, side table, and privacy curtain.
- Family restrooms
Gender-neutral family restrooms are beside the public restrooms in the corners of every concourse on all levels.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Baby-changing facilities are available in all public restrooms.
- Tickets for children
Children younger than 2 do not need a ticket for Mavericks games if they sit on an adult's lap and do not occupy a seat.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Children who have reached their second birthday need their own ticket and ticketed seat.
- Guest services
Guest Relations is across from Section 104 on the Plaza Concourse and Section 326 on the Terrace Level.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- It opens one hour before each event and remains open until one hour afterward; during those hours call 214-665-4535 or use TellAAC.com for immediate assistance.
- Service animals
Task-trained service dogs and service animals in training are permitted; emotional-support and comfort animals are not.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Service animals must remain leashed or harnessed. The relief area is in Lot F.
- Smoking and vaping
The building is smoke-free and vape-free; smoking is limited to the Patron Tequileria Patio and ULTRA Club Patio.
Applies to: Dallas Mavericks games
- Guests using those designated patios must be screened again before returning inside.
Game Day Timeline
What the day looks like at American Airlines Center, hour by hour.
Arrive at Victory Park
Park in a Victory Park garage or take DART rail. Explore the shops and restaurants surrounding the arena.
Pregame dining
Eat at one of the Victory Park restaurants, Happiest Hour, Hero, or Meso Maya.
Doors open
Enter the arena to watch warm-ups. The Mavs team store is on the main concourse.
Find your seat
Settle in. The arena's sound system and video board are excellent.
Game time
Dallas fans are energized, especially for big matchups. Total game time is about 2-2.5 hours.
Halftime break
The brisket sandwich and Tex-Mex nachos are the must-try concession items.
Post-game scene
Victory Park bars stay open after games. Uptown Dallas is a 10-minute walk for more nightlife.
Tips & Fan Reports
Victory Park around AAC has become a full entertainment district - arrive 2 hours early to explore.
The arena shares with the Stars. Check for scheduling conflicts during hockey season.
DART Victory Station is a short walk from the arena. Skip the parking hassle.
Deep Ellum (2 miles east) is Dallas's live music district and a great postgame option.
DART Victory station is the easiest way in and out. It's right at the arena entrance.
Texas BBQ is available inside the arena, the brisket sandwich is worth the line.
Weather
American Airlines Center is indoor, so these are the conditions for the parking lot and the walk in, not the seats.
Across the NBA season the warmest month is October, with an average high of 80°F, and the coldest is January, when the average low is 38°F. October is the wettest month at 4.8 inches and January the driest at 2.6 inches.
That January low ranks 20th coldest of the 30 NBA venues, and October here ranks 6th wettest.
October
4.8 inchesDecember
3.2 inchesJanuary
2.6 inchesMarch
3.5 inchesApril
3.1 inchesDallas Mavericks Clear Bag Policy
Most venues require a clear bag. Get an approved one before you travel.
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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.
- Game day timeline
Gate opening time checked against the venue's own gate-opening policy: Doors typically open 90 minutes before tipoff for Mavericks games.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals
- Venue policies
Current American Airlines Center FAQ, accessibility, food-and-beverage, ticketing, and app pages reviewed for Dallas Mavericks game-day policies.