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American Airlines Center

Coordinates: 32°47′26″N 96°48′37″W / 32.79056°N 96.81028°W / 32.79056; -96.81028
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For the arena in Miami, Florida, see American Airlines Arena.
American Airlines Center
AAC
File:American Airlines Center Logo.svg
American Airlines Center
Map
Location2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
Coordinates32°47′26″N 96°48′37″W / 32.79056°N 96.81028°W / 32.79056; -96.81028
OwnerCity of Dallas[1]
OperatorCenter Operating Company, L.P.
(a joint venture between the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars)[2]
CapacityBasketball: 19,200, up to 21,146 with standing room
Ice hockey: 18,532, up to 18,584
Concerts: 21,000
Construction
Broke groundSeptember 1, 1999
OpenedJuly 17, 2001
Construction cost$420 million
($723 million in 2024 dollars[3])
ArchitectDavid M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc.
HKS, Inc.[4]
Johnson/McKibben Architects, Inc.
Project managerInternational Facilities Group, LLC.[5]
Structural engineerWalter P Moore[6]
Services engineerFlack & Kurtz Inc.[6]
General contractorAustin Commercial[7]/H.J. Russell[8]
Tenants
Dallas Mavericks (NBA) (2001–present)
Dallas Stars (NHL) (2001–present)

The American Airlines Center (commonly AAC) is a multi-purpose arena, located in the Victory Park neighborhood, near downtown Dallas, Texas.

It is home to the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA, and the Dallas Stars of the NHL.

The arena is also used for concerts and other live entertainment.

History and construction

By 1998, the Dallas Mavericks, then owned by H. Ross Perot, Jr., and the Dallas Stars were indicating their desire for a new facility to replace the dated Reunion Arena. Dallas taxpayers approved a new hotel tax and rental car tax to pay for a new facility to cover a portion of the funding, with the two benefiting teams, the Mavericks and the Stars, picking up the remaining costs, including cost overruns. The new arena was to be built just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway near Interstate 35E on the site of an old power plant.[citation needed]

On March 18, 1999, American Airlines announced that it would be acquiring the naming rights for the arena for US$195 million.[9][10] American Airlines is headquartered in Fort Worth and is based at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

On July 27, 2001, the facility opened with the largest ribbon-cutting ceremony ever, according to the Guinness Book of Records[citation needed]. The first event occurred the next day with an Eagles concert. On the next night, the arena hosted the last show of Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames tour. The first sporting event took place on August 19, 2001 with the Dallas Sidekicks of the World Indoor Soccer League taking on the San Diego Sockers.[11]

Design

Athena Tacha, ground-plan of AT&T Plaza with star fountains, in front of the American Airlines Center (2,000 sq ft (190 m2), 40,000 sq ft (3,700 m2), in collaboration with SWA)

Principal design work was carried out by David M. Schwarz Architectural Services of Washington D.C. The American Airlines Center was designed to be the heart of a new urban, commercial area designed to reinvigorate the city of Dallas called Victory Park. The facility itself features a conservative, traditional design with sweeping brick façades and smooth arches, and has been graced with a number of awards (below). The interior includes retractable seating, public art and a state-of-the-art technological arena. Because of the Quonset hut-like appearance of its roof and the fact that American Airlines holds the naming rights some fans have come to refer to it as "The Hangar".

On the south side of the arena AT&T Plaza (also called Victory Plaza) serves as the principal entrance into the facility, designed by artist Athena Tacha in 2000. The plaza provides an open space with fountains flanked by retail and office buildings. With several high-definition video displays from Daktronics mounted on the side of the arena and office buildings, the plaza is often used for outdoor events and movie showings.[12]

  • Interior of the AAC during a Dallas Stars game with the old scoreboard.
    Interior of the AAC during a Dallas Stars game with the old scoreboard.
  • The AAC and the high-definition screen as seen from AT&T (Victory) Plaza.
    The AAC and the high-definition screen as seen from AT&T (Victory) Plaza.
  • American Airlines Center
    American Airlines Center

Awards

American Airlines Center – Awards 2001–Present

  • American Builders and Contractors North Texas Excellence in Construction Award of Merit, 2007 – American Airlines Center Platinum Club Renovation
  • Readers Pick, Best Sports Venue, 2007 -Dallas Observer
  • Concert Venue of the Year, 2006 – Pollstar Magazine
  • Slam Dunk Award, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 – Harlem Globetrotters
  • Top Dog Venue of the Year, 2003 – Tour Guide Magazine
  • "Voice of the Fan" Program, 2002 & 2003 – Top ranking facility in most customer services and design related categories
  • Best Sports Venue, 2002 & 2003 – Dallas Observer
  • Facility of Merit, 2002 – Athletic Business
  • QUOIN Award, 2002 – Associated General Contractors of America/Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter
  • Engineering Excellence Award, 2002 – American Council of Engineering Companies
  • Real Estate Deals Award, 2002 – Dallas Business Journal
  • Project of the Year Award, 2002 – Masonry Construction
  • Record for Longest Ribbon and Largest Ribbon Cutting, 2001 – Gunniess Book of World Records
  • Best New Major Concert Venue for 2001 – Pollstar Magazine
  • Phoenix Award, 2001 – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Golden Trowel Award of Excellence, 2001 – United Masonry Contractors Association
  • International Excellence in Masonry Award, 2001 – Masonry Contractors Association of America
  • Mega Project Over $100 Million, 2001 – Associated Builders and Contractors
  • Best of 2001 Judges Award, 2001 – F.W. Dodge
  • Outstanding Project Team of the Year, 2001 – American Subcontractor Association
  • Outstanding Project Over $25 Million, 2001 – American Subcontractor Association
  • Minority Business Development Agency Outstanding Corporate Award for its M/WBE achievements, 2000 & 2001
  • City of Dallas Senior Affairs Commission and Friends of Senior Affairs has recognized Center Operating Co. with the 2003 Employer of the Year award, which was presented at MayFair 2003, the City's Fourteenth Annual event for Older Americans Month

Notable events

File:Dallas Arena.jpg
The American Airlines Center (or "Dallas Arena") as seen in The Simpsons

Sports

Wrestling

Concerts

Other Info

  • Built on and in the shadows of the former Dallas neighborhood of Little Mexico, the beginnings of the Mexican American population in the Dallas area.
  • A few weeks after the first event, it was found that the glass installed in the bathrooms was not the same as what was originally intended. Many who drove by the arena complained they had a clear view into the restrooms. The glass was quickly changed to the correct type the next week.
  • The AAC was pictured in Season 20, Episode 8 of the Simpsons, as "Dallas Arena," with the city skyline behind it.

The X Factor USA 2011 Dallas Auditions

References

  1. ^ #6 Dallas Mavericks - Forbes.com
  2. ^ Center Operating Company L.P.: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  3. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  4. ^ American Airlines Center architect: HKS, Inc.
  5. ^ http://www.ifgroup.cc/content/?section=506&section2=508&section3=637&page=637
  6. ^ a b "Architects, Contractors, and Subcontractors of Current Big Five Facility Projects". SportsBusiness Journal. July 20, 2000.
  7. ^ "Special Report: What's On Deck?". SportsBusiness Journal. June 30, 2001.
  8. ^ http://www.emporis.com/application/?lng=3&nav=building&id=236322
  9. ^ American Airlines Center – "American and the Arena Group Announce Agreement To Name New Dallas Facility American Airlines Center." Retrieved October 25, 2006.
  10. ^ American Airlines Center – "Owners Add Upgrades to American Airlines Center." Retrieved October 25, 2006.
  11. ^ August 19: This Date in Dallas Sidekicks History
  12. ^ "Entertainment Venue – American Airlines Center".
  13. ^ [1]
  14. ^ [2]
  15. ^ [3]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to American Airlines Center.
Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the Dallas Mavericks
2001 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Home of the Dallas Stars
2001 – present 		Succeeded by
current
Preceded by Host of the NHL All-Star Game
2007 		Succeeded by
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