Two major North Texas sports franchises, the Dallas Mavericks and the Dallas Stars, are involved in a legal dispute regarding control of the American Airlines Center. The conflict follows both teams’ ongoing efforts to secure new arena sites as their current leases approach expiration.
The Mavericks, led by owner Miriam Adelson and her family through the Dallas Sports Group, filed a lawsuit on October 28 in Texas Business Court. Their complaint alleges that the Stars, owned by Tom Gagliardi’s Northland Properties, violated a partnership agreement related to the entity managing the arena. According to the Mavericks, the Stars breached a clause requiring both teams’ headquarters to remain in Dallas when they moved their corporate offices to Frisco in 2003.
As a result of this alleged breach, the Mavericks claim they exercised their contractual right this month to redeem the Stars’ stake in the operating entities of the arena. The lawsuit also accuses the Stars of retaliating by blocking maintenance work at American Airlines Center and withholding employee bonuses. One court filing asserts that “the NHL club has ‘held the American Airlines Center hostage.’”
In response, Joshua Sandler of Winstead, representing the Stars, described the case as “an attempted hostile takeover” intended “to marginalize the Dallas Stars to the role of a mere tenant.” Brad Alberts, CEO of the Stars, denied allegations that his team backed out of a $300 million renovation deal for American Airlines Center. He told The Dallas Morning News that “the team had agreed to pay half the cost.”
Both franchises are currently exploring options for new arenas. The Mavericks have been looking at possible locations for a future site within city limits and aim to select a 30- to 50-acre location by year’s end. Meanwhile, Collin County and Plano have emerged as potential destinations for a new home for the Stars; one proposal includes building a $1 billion arena at Plano’s Shops at Willow Bend if relocation proceeds.
Despite these developments and ongoing legal proceedings, both teams have stated that games will continue as scheduled until their current leases expire in 2031.
The dispute highlights an underlying power struggle over one of Dallas’ most prominent sports venues and could influence where these major teams play in coming years.
