American Airlines Center Urban Event Venue Excites Sports & Entertainment Fans

The Challenge

To design a multipurpose arena that allows the venue to be reconfigured from NBA basketball and NHL hockey to maximize revenues while providing luxurious amenities for basketball and hockey fans as well as concert goers.

The Design Solution

HKS designers delivered a 20,000-seat arena that can be converted from basketball to hockey within two hours or less, which allows the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and the NHL’s Dallas Stars to play home games on the same day. The flexibility of the American Airlines Center (AAC) is also one of the country’s’ top concert venues. The $218 million facility includes three premium levels with 110 private suites, upscale restaurants, lounges and outdoor environments. The AAC was the first arena in the NBA or NHL to install a 1080 high-definition video system.

The interior of the structure competes with music halls or museums with terrazzo floors that incorporate artist panels, natural light through the four main entry lobbies and a five-level seating bowl with unique features at each end that generate revenue.

The Design Impact

Since opening in 2001, the AAC has hosted an NBA Finals; the NCAA Division I Men’s basketball tournament; the NCAA Division I Women’s Final Four; the NHL All-Star Game; a host of A-list entertainers and other sporting and entertainment events. In 2015, Billboard Magazine named the AAC the fifth-busiest arena in the United States and 10th-busiest in the world.