The American Airlines Center
is an arena located in the Victory Park neighborhood near downtown Dallas, Texas that is used for hockey games, basketball games, football games, concerts and various other events.
The American Airlines Center is home to the following sports teams:
- Dallas Stars (NHL)
- Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
- Dallas Desperados (Arena Football League)
|
AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER TICKETS
|
History
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.
On
18 March 1999,
American Airlines announced that it would be acquiring the naming rights for the arena for
US$195 million.
[1] [2] American Airlines is headquartered in Fort Worth and is based at
DFW Airport.
On
27 July 2001, the facility opened with the largest
ribbon cutting ceremony ever, according to the
Guinness Book of Records. 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
19 August 2001 with the
Dallas Sidekicks of the
World Indoor Soccer League taking on the
San Diego Sockers.
Architecture
Principal design work was carried out by David M. Schwarz Architectural Services of Washington D.C. The American Airlines Center is meant 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." Others just call it the AAC (pronounced "A-A-C," "double A-C,").
On the south side of the American Airlines Center,
Victory Plaza
, designed by artist
Athena Tacha in 2000, provides an open space with fountains in Victory Park. With the
high-definition video screen mounted on the side of the arena, the plaza can be used for outdoor events like movie showings.
[3]
Notable concerts and events
- Britney Spears - Dream Within a Dream Tour - July 22, 2002
- Dixie Chicks - Natalie Maines received her death threat before concert - July 9, 2003
- Maná - Revolución de Amor Tour - October 24, 2003
- WWE Survivor Series 2003- November 16, 2003
- U2 - Vertigo Tour - October 29, 2005
- WWE Saturday Night Main Event- July 15, 2006
- Mariah Carey - The Adventures of Mimi Tour - September 16, 2006
- Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour - September 23, 2006
- Disney's High School Musical: The Concert - December 17, 2006
- Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics Tour - February 21, 2007
- Beyoncé - The Beyonce Experience - July 13, 2007
- Joan Sebastian & Pepe Aguilar - August 26, 2007
- Maná - Amar es Combatir Tour - September 7, 2007
- HDNet FiGHTS - October 13, 2007 & December 15, 2007
- Blue Man Group - How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.1 - October 6–October 7, 2007
- Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony - October 30, 2007
- R. Kelly - Double Up Tour - December 2007, 2008
- Dane Cook - Rough Around the Edges Tour - December 2, 2007
- Billy Joel - Billy Joel North American Tour 2007 - December 4, 2007
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra - December 28, 2007
- Big D NYE - December 31, 2008
- Chris Brown & Bow Wow - Up Close & Personal Holiday Exclusive Tour - January 12, 2008
- Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World & Against Me - Foo Fighters North American Tour - January 23, 2008
- Van Halen & Ky-Mani Marley - Van Halen North American Tour 2007 - January 26, 2008 - April 24, 2008
- Barry Manilow - An Evening of Music and Passion - February 19, 2008
- Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - April 13, 2008
- Bon Jovi - Lost Highway Tour - April 14, 2008
- Juanes - La Vida Tour - April 18, 2008
- The Cure - 4Tour - June 6, 2008
- WWE Night of Champions - June 29, 2008
- George Michael - 25 Live - July 13, 2008
- Nine Inch Nails - Lights in the Sky 2008 - August 18, 2008
- Janet Jackson - Rock Witchu Tour - October 22, 2008
- Tina Turner - Tina: Live in Concert Tour
- October 26, 2008
- Celine Dion - Taking Chances Tour - January 5, 2009
Awards
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
United States EPA
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
Other notes
- Hosted the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game on January 24, 2007.
- The American Airlines Center as well as the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida hosted the 2006 NBA Finals, in which the Dallas Mavericks played the Miami Heat. Because of this, the series was nicknamed by some as the American Airlines series.
- 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.
- Hosted WWE Survivor Series 2003 and Saturday Night's Main Event on July 15, 2006. It also hosted WWE Homecoming on October 3, 2005, Also held Monday Night Raw on 1/29/07 and held a Supershow on 7/2/07 which featured Monday Night Raw, WWE Friday Night SmackDown, and ECW on SciFi. It also hosted WWE Night of Champions on June 29, 2008 and is the regular host for WWE shows in the DFW area.
- After the Dallas Desperados played their first season in the American Airlines Center, they moved to Reunion Arena and played there in their second season.After their second season, they moved back to the American Airlines Center where they currently reside.
- The Center hosted the Big 12 Basketball Tournament in 2003, 2004, and 2006.
References
- American Airlines Center - "American and the Arena Group Announce Agreement To Name New Dallas Facility American Airlines Center." Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- American Airlines Center - "Owners Add Upgrades to American Airlines Center." Retrieved 25 October 2006.
- Entertainment Venue - American Airlines Center