American Airlines Center Pregame Guide
Dallas Mavericks · Dallas, TX
Tailgating is not permitted at American Airlines Center, and the ban is unusually complete: grilling, open flames, food preparation and the consumption of alcoholic beverages are all prohibited in any parking area at any time. What is left is the logistics of arriving. The colour-coded lots and the Commons and Comerica garages open two hours before tip-off and close two hours after, with no in-and-out privileges and no overnight parking. If nothing was booked ahead, F-Lot needs no pass at all and takes a credit card at the gate, and the lot at 2601 Victory Avenue does the same.
Tips & Fan Reports
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.
F-Lot needs no pass at all and takes a card at the gate, which is the simplest option if nothing was booked.
Where to Go Before the Game
The colour-coded lots and garages
Inspiration Lot, Blue, Orange, Gold, Purple, Brown and Green parking, plus the Commons and Comerica garages. Additional lots open two hours before the event and stay open two hours after, with no in-and-out privileges once you are in.
Known for Open 2 hours before · No in-and-out · Colour-coded
The 2601 Victory Avenue lot
A lot on Victory Avenue that opens two hours before events for guests paying by credit card, so no pass has to be arranged in advance.
Known for Opens 2 hours before · Credit card at the gate
F-Lot
The lot that requires no parking pass for entry at all — you pay by credit card on arrival, which makes it the fallback when nothing was booked ahead.
Known for No pass needed · Pay on arrival · Card only
Rules to Know
What American Airlines Center allows, and what it does not.
- For the safety of all Center patrons and guests, grilling, open flames, food preparation and consumption of alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any parking area at any time.
- Additional parking lots open two hours prior to the start of each event and remain open two hours after the end of each event.
- Overnight parking and in-and-out privileges are not permitted.
- The lot at 2601 Victory Ave. opens two hours prior to events for credit card paying guests.
- F-Lot does not require a parking pass for entry, and can be paid for by credit card on arrival.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
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.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and beverages, including bottles, cans, thermoses, and coolers, are prohibited.
- A card or a phone wallet
The arena is cashless at concessions, merchandise, and parking and accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
All tickets are digital and must display the live Ticketmaster barcode in Account Manager, Apple Wallet, or Google Wallet; screenshots are not accepted.
- A layer for the walk in
January evenings average 38°F outside American Airlines Center.
- A rain layer for the walk in
October averages 4.8 inches of rain outside American Airlines Center.
Dallas Mavericks Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Dallas Mavericks gear for the ultimate tailgate.
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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.
- Pregame
American Airlines Center official site: Parking, and Arena FAQs/policies
- Venue policies
Current American Airlines Center FAQ, accessibility, food-and-beverage, ticketing, and app pages reviewed for Dallas Mavericks game-day policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals