A yearlong breakdown in the Mavericks and Stars’ relationship came to a head Tuesday morning when Dallas’ NBA franchise filed suit against the city’s NHL team.
The Mavericks allege the Stars are in breach of a clause in their 1998 franchise agreement that requires their corporate headquarters to be located within the city of Dallas, while also claiming in the injunction that the Stars have obstructed further maintenance and improvements to American Airlines Center.
Here’s a timeline of the events that led to the Mavericks’ 253-page petition for injunctive relief against Stars’ ownership, seeking legal finality on the breach of contract dispute the team first raised a year ago.
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Mavericks
July 28, 1998
The Stars and the Mavericks agree to lease terms with the City of Dallas, which state, “Throughout the Term, the Owner shall continuously designate the City as the location (a) in which the Home Games shall be played, and (b) in which the principal corporate and executive offices of the Team shall be maintained.”
July 17, 2001
AAC opens at a cost of $420 million and the teams’ 30-year lease term begins.
Aug. 4, 2003
The Dr Pepper StarCenter opens in Frisco, where the Stars’ practice facility and corporate offices would be located.
Sept. 25, 2023
The Mavericks and Stars unveil new scoreboards and 19,134 new seats among $20 million in upgrades, the largest round of capital improvements in the arena’s history.
Feb. 12, 2024
Patrick Dumont flies to Dallas for his first in-person game as team governor and first meets with Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts. They discuss a shared vision to significantly upgrade AAC, regardless of whether the Mavericks build a new arena.
Aug. 20, 2024
Alberts says he agreed to terms that the Stars, the Mavericks and the city would extend the AAC lease agreement through 2035-36 and the teams would work through details of the renovation.
Sept. 16, 2024
Center Operating Company files for state licensing for a $30 million project for elevator and escalator modernization and extensive slab work to improve “patron circulation.”
Oct. 4, 2024
The City of Dallas finalized the proposed agreement and shared it with the Mavericks and Stars, the first time Alberts says he had seen the proposed terms since the August meeting.
Oct. 8, 2024
According to a City of Dallas document, the Stars, Mavericks and city verbally agree to a $300 million AAC renovation, in which the Mavericks and city would split the costs. However, the Stars say they planned to share costs in any renovation and that no verbal agreement was reached. During that meeting, Alberts apologizes for the Stars moving their headquarters to Frisco, which was a violation of their 1998 franchise agreement, saying the franchise was unaware of the lease breach and would commit to returning to Dallas by December 2025.
Oct. 14, 2024
Alberts alerts Dallas assistant city manager Robin Bentley the deal is off.
Oct. 20, 2024
Alberts indicates the Stars would extend their AAC lease agreement to 2035 if the Mavericks also do so.
Oct. 25, 2024
The Mavericks send the Stars $110 in cash and a letter informing them that in light of the franchise agreement breach, they are exercising their contractual right to purchase the Stars’ interest in Center Operating Company.
Sept. 9, 2025
According to a letter from City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert to Stars owner Tom Gaglardi, Alberts in a Sept. 9 text message finally tells potential starting points for renewed negotiations, including the Stars upping their AAC improvements request to at least $400 million to $500 million.
Oct. 3, 2025
A news report emerges that the Stars are eying Plano as a destination for a new arena and have engaged in talks with Frisco, The Colony, Arlington and Fort Worth.
The Stars say it was later that afternoon when City Manager Tolbert sends the 4-page letter recapping the Stars’ “baffling change of course” and ensuing fallout. Tobert also writes: “This letter shall serve as our notice of the Stars’ default with regard to Section 2.1 of the Franchise Agreement.”
Oct. 7, 2025
The Mavericks send the Stars a letter referring to Tolbert’s breach notice as legal reinforcement of their action last October to buy their interest in Center Operating Company.
Oct. 28, 2025
The Mavericks file their petition for injunction, seeking legal finality on a breach of contract dispute.
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