The AAC’s busy 14-day kickoff is on Wednesday. The arena will manage conference finals, concerts, and watch parties.
DALLAS, Texas — The American Airlines Center is used to juggling concerts, Stars, and Mavs games any given week during the regular season for both teams.
But starting Wednesday, it will be the first time operations and facilities employees will be juggling preparations for all three this late in May.
Yes — for the first time, the American Airlines Center will host the conference finals for its respective NHL and NBA teams. That feat has only happened under one arena roof four other times in North America since 1982. The last building to pull it off was the Continental Airlines Arena in 2003, home to the New Jersey Devils and New Jersey Nets. The Devils and Nets advanced to their respective championship series, but the Devils were the only team to reign victorious.
So it’s been 21 years! Dave Brown, the COO and GM of the American Airlines Center told WFAA on Tuesday that this is a rare moment for his industry, and a lot of work still lies ahead.
“It’s unprecedented for us–it’s never happened in Dallas. It’s a privilege; we’re finding the energy to plow through it all. It’s a special time for us at the American Airlines Center,” Brown said.
Energy is important. On Wednesday, crews will start covering the ice at the arena (which stays stationary until the Stars’ season ends) for Melanie Martinez’s concert, which was moved up due to the conference finals.
Martinez was the fourth performer who had to reschedule due to a Mavericks or Stars playoff game.
The ice will return for Thursday’s Stars’ opening game against the Edmonton Oilers. Then, the ice gets covered Friday night for a concert featuring Diljit Dosanjh, only to return for Game 2 of the NHL Western Conference Finals the following night.
When the Mavericks return home from their road trip to Minnesota, the hardwood will cover the ice for Sunday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Then, on Memorial Day, the Stars will hold a watch party at the AAC as they play Game 3 of their series. The cycle will continue if both series continue beyond Game 4.
Rapper NF may need to reschedule his June 1 concert at the AAC if the Mavericks’ series goes to Game 6. It’s scheduled for the same night on June 1.
The AAC will only host a Game 7 for the Stars, scheduled for June 4 if it makes it that far.
It’s a lot of spinning plates but Brown said that crews at the AAC are pumped. Despite history, it’s business as usual.
“This is why we do this,” Brown said. Many of our folks work here for this—the excitement of being part of something special like this. During the regular season, we have events every night. Typically, it’s not this time of year, though. We’re trying to downplay it a little bit. Everyone is worn out from the grind, and there are many moving pieces, but we’re finding the energy.”
Brown has been the GM of American Airlines Center since its opening in 2001. Before that, he was part of the arena management team for Reunion Arena.
He’s seen plenty of seasons–but nothing quite like 2024.
“It just seems like it’s their time,” Brown said of the Mavs and Stars.