Two major North Texas sports franchises are engaged in a legal dispute over the control and future of the American Airlines Center. The Dallas Mavericks have filed a lawsuit against the Dallas Stars, intensifying an ongoing conflict as both teams consider relocating to new arenas.
The suit was filed on October 28 in Texas Business Court by the Mavericks’ ownership group, which is led by Miriam Adelson and her family through the Dallas Sports Group. The complaint accuses the Stars, owned by Tom Gagliardi of Northland Properties, of breaching a partnership agreement connected to the entity that leases and manages the arena.
According to the Mavericks, the Stars forfeited their ownership rights when they moved their corporate offices from Dallas to Frisco in 2003. The Mavericks claim this violated a clause requiring both teams’ headquarters to remain in Dallas. As a result, they say they exercised their contractual right earlier this month to redeem the Stars’ stake in the operating entities. The lawsuit further alleges that the Stars retaliated by obstructing arena maintenance and withholding bonuses for employees. One filing asserts that the NHL club has “held the American Airlines Center hostage.”
Representing the Stars, attorney Joshua Sandler of Winstead described the case as “an attempted hostile takeover” intended to “marginalize the Dallas Stars to the role of a mere tenant.” CEO Brad Alberts also disputed allegations that his team withdrew from a $300 million renovation agreement for the arena, telling local media that “the team had agreed to pay half the cost.”
Both organizations are exploring options for new venues as their current leases expire in 2031. The Mavericks have been evaluating potential locations for a new arena within city limits and aim to identify a 30- to 50-acre site by year’s end. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Collin County and Plano are possible destinations for a new home for the Stars, with plans for a $1 billion arena at Plano’s Shops at Willow Bend if relocation occurs.
Despite these developments, both teams have stated that scheduled games will proceed without interruption. The outcome of this legal battle may influence where Dallas’ leading sports teams play in coming years.
