Dallas Mavericks push back arena decision as team narrows search for new home
January 20, 2026
Dallas Mavericks push back arena decision as team narrows search for new home
13 comments
The Dallas Mavericks have narrowed their focus to two locations in the city of Dallas for their new arena, but a decision may not be made until July 1.
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts said, “We have identified, with the city, two city of Dallas locations that we are focusing all our time and attention on now, and hoping to bring one of them to success.”
The two locations the Mavericks have zeroed in on are downtown and the Valley View Center property, a sprawling 110-acre site at the corner of Preston Road and Interstate 635.
The land where City Hall resides is one possible downtown location, but the city is still having conversations on whether to preserve or demolish the I.M. Pei-designed structure.
No decision on the site for a new arena is imminent for the Mavericks, who plan to move into a new facility when their lease with the American Airlines Center expires in 2031.
Welts had previously said the team planned to announce the location of a new arena by the end of March. That timeline has changed.
“Right now, our hope is somewhere around July 1, the end of the NBA season, that we are in position to be able to make a decision,” Welts told The News.
“But a lot of that is out of our control, out of the city’s control. I’ve been out there saying first quarter [of the year] before. We are not going to make first quarter. Another two or three months after that,” he added.
“We want to open in 2031. That means we’re on the clock. Sounds like a long time, but for a 50-acre mixed-use entertainment district, an arena, public gathering places — we’re on the clock.”
Personally I hope they stay Downtown. Victory park is a nice place and how could they leave Nowitzki Way?
I would benefit directly from them moving to the Valley View Center property because it’s easy to move up and down Preston/Tollway, but what an absolutely shitty move it would be to have the Dallas Mavericks playing north of 635.
That is a soulless area. Basketball is THE quintessential urban sport in the US…arenas should be built in downtown or in close proximity to downtown. A quick search on Gemini told me that like 27 teams play within 2 miles of their downtown. That’s how it should be for basketball.
It’s going to be Valley View Mall, for better or worse
As someone who moved away from Dallas to East Coast, can someone explain what is wrong with the current arena? I almost called it “new arena” because I grew up going to Reunion Arena and the one in West End still seems so nice and perfect location. This seems like a recurring trend locally as the Texas Rangers just built a brand new stadium when the old one (which was great) opened in 94.
Whichever one is the most difficult to turn into a casino.
honestly i’m just glad we are keeping it in dallas and not the burbs (or god forbid… arlington 😳).
neither of these places are super appealing rn tho ngl, especially with the rumors under the cuban era that he wanted to move from the AAC to the design district which is much nicer than these two areas.
the valley view mall land is the more likely one imo, there’s a shit load of empty land and while the area around it is rough, so was the area around the AAC when it first popped up and now it’s bougie as fuck.
personally i would love the downtown arena but man i really don’t want the city to demolish the city hall building bc it’s so iconic.
Wait what does this mean? Will we be rebranded?
The current location is good. Too bad they’re gonna move. Lot’s of nice restaurants and hotels close, within walking distance.
It’d be a shame to demolish City Hall but it’s still relatively accessible by DART so if we have to move I hope it’s there
13 comments
The Dallas Mavericks have narrowed their focus to two locations in the city of Dallas for their new arena, but a decision may not be made until July 1.
In an interview with The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts said, “We have identified, with the city, two city of Dallas locations that we are focusing all our time and attention on now, and hoping to bring one of them to success.”
The two locations the Mavericks have zeroed in on are downtown and the Valley View Center property, a sprawling 110-acre site at the corner of Preston Road and Interstate 635.
The land where City Hall resides is one possible downtown location, but the city is still having conversations on whether to preserve or demolish the I.M. Pei-designed structure.
No decision on the site for a new arena is imminent for the Mavericks, who plan to move into a new facility when their lease with the American Airlines Center expires in 2031.
Welts had previously said the team planned to announce the location of a new arena by the end of March. That timeline has changed.
“Right now, our hope is somewhere around July 1, the end of the NBA season, that we are in position to be able to make a decision,” Welts told The News.
“But a lot of that is out of our control, out of the city’s control. I’ve been out there saying first quarter [of the year] before. We are not going to make first quarter. Another two or three months after that,” he added.
“We want to open in 2031. That means we’re on the clock. Sounds like a long time, but for a 50-acre mixed-use entertainment district, an arena, public gathering places — we’re on the clock.”
Personally I hope they stay Downtown. Victory park is a nice place and how could they leave Nowitzki Way?
I would benefit directly from them moving to the Valley View Center property because it’s easy to move up and down Preston/Tollway, but what an absolutely shitty move it would be to have the Dallas Mavericks playing north of 635.
That is a soulless area. Basketball is THE quintessential urban sport in the US…arenas should be built in downtown or in close proximity to downtown. A quick search on Gemini told me that like 27 teams play within 2 miles of their downtown. That’s how it should be for basketball.
It’s going to be Valley View Mall, for better or worse
As someone who moved away from Dallas to East Coast, can someone explain what is wrong with the current arena? I almost called it “new arena” because I grew up going to Reunion Arena and the one in West End still seems so nice and perfect location. This seems like a recurring trend locally as the Texas Rangers just built a brand new stadium when the old one (which was great) opened in 94.
Whichever one is the most difficult to turn into a casino.
honestly i’m just glad we are keeping it in dallas and not the burbs (or god forbid… arlington 😳).
neither of these places are super appealing rn tho ngl, especially with the rumors under the cuban era that he wanted to move from the AAC to the design district which is much nicer than these two areas.
the valley view mall land is the more likely one imo, there’s a shit load of empty land and while the area around it is rough, so was the area around the AAC when it first popped up and now it’s bougie as fuck.
personally i would love the downtown arena but man i really don’t want the city to demolish the city hall building bc it’s so iconic.
Wait what does this mean? Will we be rebranded?
The current location is good. Too bad they’re gonna move. Lot’s of nice restaurants and hotels close, within walking distance.
It’d be a shame to demolish City Hall but it’s still relatively accessible by DART so if we have to move I hope it’s there
Sell the team back to Cuban!!!
New home –> Las Vegas
I hear all the cool kids are moving to Plano.