American Airlines Center, Multi-purpose sports venue in Victory Park, Dallas, US.
The American Airlines Center is a multi-purpose arena in Victory Park, Dallas, home to the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks. Its red brick front carries a tall glass curtain wall inside a broad brick arch, with a wide screen hung before the glass and a curved canopy reading "AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER"; red and blue "AA" letters stand on the roofline. Designed by David M. Schwarz, it seats 19,200 for basketball and 18,532 for hockey.
The arena opened on July 17, 2001, as a replacement for the former Reunion Arena and was built with a construction budget of 420 million dollars. Since opening it has established itself as the central home venue for the city's sports teams and regularly hosts major events.
Fans nicknamed the arena "The Hangar" for its hangar-like roof and the airline that holds its naming rights; the shortened form "The AAC" is also common. PNC Plaza on the south side, designed by artist Athena Tacha in 2000, has fountains and HD screens and is used for outdoor events and movie showings. The Dirk Nowitzki statue there shows the former Mavericks player shooting his one-legged fadeaway.
The best view of the playing floor comes from the middle tiers, while higher seats offer an overall perspective of the entire action. Arriving early allows visitors to explore the entrance hall and find their way more easily before the main crowd arrives.
The curved roof of the venue resembles an aircraft hangar and references the aviation industry of the sponsor. This structural form gives the building a recognizable profile that clearly stands apart from classic round sports stadiums.
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