American Airlines Center

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American Airlines Center
"The Hangar"

"AAC"
Image:amaircenlogo.gif
American Airlines Center
Location 2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
Broke ground September 1999
Opened July 17, 2001
Owner Center Operating Company, L.P.[1]
Construction cost $420 million USD
Architect David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc.
HKS, Inc.
Johnson/McKibben Architects, Inc.
Tenants Dallas Stars (NHL) (2001-present)
Dallas Mavericks (NBA) (2001-present)
Dallas Desperados (AFL) (2002, 2004-present)
Capacity Hockey: 18,532

18,584 (standing room only)
Basketball: 20,000–21,041

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:

Contents

[edit] 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.[2][3] 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[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 19 August 2001 with the Dallas Sidekicks of the World Indoor Soccer League taking on the San Diego Sockers.

[edit] Architecture

Interior of the AAC during a Dallas Stars game.
Interior of the AAC during a Dallas Stars game.

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,").

[edit] Notable concerts and events

[edit] 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 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

[edit] Other notes

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ American Airlines Center - "American and the Arena Group Announce Agreement To Name New Dallas Facility American Airlines Center." Retrieved 25 October 2006.
  3. ^ American Airlines Center - "Owners Add Upgrades to American Airlines Center." Retrieved 25 October 2006.

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Reunion Arena		 Home of the Dallas Mavericks
2001 – present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
Reunion Arena		 Home of the Dallas Stars
2001 – present		 Succeeded by
current
Preceded by
first arena
Reunion Arena		 Home of the Dallas Desperados 
2002
2004 – present		 Succeeded by
Reunion Arena
current
Preceded by
Xcel Energy Center		 Host of the NHL All-Star Game
2007		 Succeeded by
Philips Arena

Coordinates: 32°47′25.46″N, 96°48′37.02″W

v • d • e
Current arenas in the National Basketball Association
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
v • d • e
Current arenas in the National Hockey League
Eastern
Conference
Western
Conference
v • d • e
Current arenas in the Arena Football League
American Conference
National Conference
1The Philadelphia Soul play Sunday home games at the Wachovia Center.
2The Philadelphia Soul play Saturday home games at the Wachovia Spectrum.
v • d • e
Dallas Mavericks
The Franchise
Arenas
Reunion Arena • American Airlines Center
Head Coaches
Motta • MacLeod • Adubato • Heard • Buckner • Motta • Cleamons • Nelson • Johnson • Carlisle