Who controls American Airlines Center? That’s the question at the center of a legal battle between the Mavericks and the Stars.

DALLAS — Since opening in 2001, American Airlines Center has been home to the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars — bringing fans of basketball and hockey to common ground in Victory Park. But behind the scenes, a feud has been brewing over the arena, pitting the franchises against one another.

Tuesday morning, the Mavericks brought that feud to court, filing a lawsuit against the Stars. 


Why are the Mavericks suing the Stars?

The lawsuit stems from the two franchises’ original contract with the City of Dallas, which allowed the Mavs and Stars to jointly operate the City-owned AAC. 

In 1999, both franchises entered into an agreement, giving them an even split of control over the arena and its operations. The Stars and Mavs shared ownership through two companies, Center Operating Company, L.P., which leases and operates the arena, and Center GP, LLC, which manages that partnership.

According to the Mavs’ lawsuit, the agreement stipulated both teams must keep their corporate headquarters and practice facility inside Dallas city limits. If that was violated, the contract states that the other team could buy out the other’s ownership of the companies that operated American Airlines Center.

In 2003, the Stars relocated both their headquarters and practice facility to Frisco, a move the Mavericks claim opened them up to that contract stipulation. 

In October 2024, the Stars refused to move their HQ back to Dallas, and shortly after, the Mavs followed through, buying out the Stars’ ownership stakes in a “last resort” decision under contract terms, the lawsuit states. After buying out the Stars, the Mavericks claim they became the sole owners of the companies and therefore had sole control over the operations of the AAC.

That claim was corroborated by Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert, who stated as much in a letter to Stars owner Tom Gaglardi and Mavericks Governor Patrick Dumont on Oct. 3, 2025.


Holding the AAC hostage

In the year since that buyout, the Mavs claim “the Stars are holding the American Airlines Center hostage.”

According to the Mavericks’ lawsuit, the Stars have unilaterally vetoed investments and payouts to employees, a power the Mavs claim they no longer have.

In one such instance, the Mavericks claim the Stars blocked annual bonuses to arena employees in July 2025. Embedded in the lawsuit is an email relaying a text from Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts, stating: “We aren’t going to approve any bonuses until the arena’s business can be returned the the normal state. At that point the bonuses for employees can be evaluated.”

The Mavericks claim they offered to pay out the $512,000 bonuses themselves, but the arena’s management companies declined.

The lawsuit also details a time when the Mavericks identified necessary maintenance investments for the nearly 25-year-old arena that would total anywhere from $75 million to $100 million. According to the filing, the Stars concluded that with just six years left on the arena’s lease, they would rather pocket the remaining profits than make such a significant investment.

The lawsuit claims both the failure to pay bonuses to arena employees and the refusal to invest in the AAC have caused reputational harm to the Mavericks organization, hurting arena employees and violating both franchises’ contract with the City.


What do the Mavericks want out of the lawsuit?

The Mavericks are asking that the court hold a hearing within two weeks. They’re seeking for the court to recognize them as the sole operators of the AAC and eventually permanently block the Stars from interfering in arena operations. Additionally, the Mavericks are seeking damages for the harm to their reputation, financial losses and attorney fees.