Why the Mavericks and Stars are leaving the American Airlines Center - and what it means for Dallas
A legal battle, expiring leases, and a shift toward suburban development are reshaping where Dallas’ biggest teams will play next.
It’s about to be the end of an era in Dallas sports. Within 24 hours, both the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars announced that their future will not be at the American Airlines Center.
The Dallas Stars have made their choice. 🏒
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) June 2, 2026
After more than 30 years in Dallas, the franchise plans to build a new arena in Plano when its American Airlines Center lease expires in 2031.
A Plano City Council agenda released Tuesday indicates city leaders will vote Monday on a… pic.twitter.com/vSpLpQAPfo
After more than two decades as co-tenants in the downtown arena, the two franchises are now heading in different directions. And while the moves may seem abrupt, they’ve been years in the making.
A split that was brewing for years
The Mavericks and Stars have shared the American Airlines Center since it opened in 2001. But behind the scenes, tensions between the two organizations have been simmering for much longer.
At the center of the dispute is control of the arena itself. The Mavericks filed a lawsuit in 2025 claiming the Stars violated their joint operating agreement, a disagreement tied in part to the Stars moving key operations to Frisco years earlier. The Stars pushed back with a countersuit, accusing the Mavericks of attempting to take over the building.
With both teams’ leases set to expire in 2031, the legal battle made it increasingly clear that the partnership was no longer sustainable.
Why both teams are leaving
Rather than continue sharing control, and conflict, both teams have opted for autonomy. The Mavericks have already announced plans to leave the AAC in favor of a new entertainment district at the site of the former Valley View Mall in North Dallas.
Breaking: The Mavericks are leaving the AAC in downtown Dallas and will relocate to the Valley View Mall site in North Dallas pic.twitter.com/AjB5kjEYJr
— Dallas Texas TV (@DallasTexasTV) June 1, 2026
Now, the Stars are following suit, with plans to build a new $1 billion arena and mixed-use development in Plano at the site of the former Shops at Willow Bend mall.
Both projects go beyond basketball or hockey. They’re designed as year-round destinations, combining arenas with retail, dining, and entertainment in a way the AAC, as currently structured, cannot fully match. So this isn’t just about where they play. It’s about owning the entire experience.
The Stars’ move to Plano also highlights a change happening across North Texas. For years, corporate growth and development have been steadily moving north, where there is more space, newer infrastructure, and fewer logistical hurdles. Major companies, including AT&T, have already relocated or expanded in suburban areas.
For sports franchises planning billion-dollar developments, those same advantages apply. More land means more control. More control means more revenue streams. And more revenue ultimately means more leverage in a rapidly evolving sports business landscape.
What this means for Dallas
For the city of Dallas, the departures raise bigger questions than just where fans will watch games. The American Airlines Center has been a cornerstone of downtown since it opened in 2001, backed in part by taxpayer investment and long-term economic promises tied to surrounding development.
If both anchor tenants leave, the future of the arena, and the Victory Park area around it, becomes uncertain. City leaders have already acknowledged the stakes, framing the situation as part of a larger competition with neighboring cities for businesses, residents, and major attractions.
Nothing is finalized just yet. The Stars’ move to Plano still depends on city approval, and the Mavericks have yet to lock in every detail of their new development. Both teams are under contract at the AAC through 2031, meaning any transition will take time.
But the era of the American Airlines Center as the shared home of Dallas’ biggest teams is coming to a close thanks to years of shifting priorities, legal tension, and a changing economic landscape. And when it’s over, it will reshape the future of sports and development across North Texas.
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