American Airlines Center

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name=American Airlines Center
nickname= "The Hangar" "AAC"


location=2500 Victory Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
broke_ground=September 1999
opened=July 17, 2001
owner=Center Operating Company, L.P. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/center-operating-company-l-p?cat=biz-fin Center Operating Company L.P.: Information and Much More from Answers.com ] ]
construction_cost=$420 million USD
architect=David M. Schwarz/Architectural Services, Inc.
HKS, Inc.
Johnson/McKibben Architects, Inc.
tenants=Dallas Stars (NHL) (2001-present)
Dallas Mavericks (NBA) (2001-present)
Dallas Desperados (AFL) (2002, 2004-present)
seating_capacity=Hockey: 18,532 18,584 (standing room only)
Basketball: 20,000–21,041

The American Airlines Center is an arena located in the Victory Park neighborhood near downtown Dallas, Texas that is used for hockey games, basketball games, football games, concerts and various other events.

The American Airlines Center is home to the following sports teams:
*Dallas Stars (NHL)
*Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
*Dallas Desperados (Arena Football League)

History

By 1998, the Dallas Mavericks, then owned by H. Ross Perot, Jr., and the Dallas Stars were indicating their desire for a new facility to replace the dated Reunion Arena. Dallas taxpayers approved a new hotel tax and rental car tax to pay for a new facility to cover a portion of the funding, with the two benefiting teams, the Mavericks and the Stars, picking up the remaining costs, including cost overruns. The new arena was to be built just north of Woodall Rodgers Freeway near Interstate 35E on the site of an old power plant.

On 18 March 1999, American Airlines announced that it would be acquiring the naming rights for the arena for US$195 million. [ [http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/ American Airlines Center] - " [http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Page/PageID/73/ArticleID/126 American and the Arena Group Announce Agreement To Name New Dallas Facility American Airlines Center] ." Retrieved 25 October 2006.] [ [http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/ American Airlines Center] - " [http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/Page/PageID/73/ArticleID/71 Owners Add Upgrades to American Airlines Center] ." Retrieved 25 October 2006.] American Airlines is headquartered in Fort Worth and is based at DFW Airport.

On 27 July 2001, the facility opened with the largest ribbon cutting ceremony ever, according to the Guinness Book of RecordsFact|date=April 2007. The first event occurred the next day with an Eagles concert. On the next night, the arena hosted the last show of Michael Flatley's Feet of Flames tour. The first sporting event took place on 19 August 2001 with the Dallas Sidekicks of the World Indoor Soccer League taking on the San Diego Sockers.

Architecture

-like appearance of its roof and the fact that American Airlines holds the naming rights some fans have come to refer to it as "The Hangar." Others just call it the AAC (pronounced "A-A-C," "double A−C,").

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Notable concerts and events

*Britney Spears - Dream Within a Dream Tour - July 22, 2002
*Dixie Chicks - Natalie Maines received her death threat before concert - July 9, 2003
*Maná - Revolución de Amor Tour - October 24, 2003
*WWE Survivor Series 2003- November 16, 2003
*U2 - Vertigo Tour - October 29, 2005
*WWE Saturday Night Main Event- July 15, 2006
*Mariah Carey - The Adventures of Mimi Tour - September 16, 2006
*Shakira - Oral Fixation Tour - September 23, 2006
*Disney's - December 17, 2006
*Christina Aguilera - Back to Basics Tour - February 21, 2007
*Beyoncé - The Beyonce Experience - July 13, 2007
*Joan Sebastian & Pepe Aguilar - August 26, 2007
*Maná - Amar es Combatir Tour - September 7, 2007
*HDNet FiGHTS - October 13, 2007 & December 15, 2007
*Blue Man Group - How to Be a Megastar Tour 2.1 - October 6–October 7, 2007
*Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony - October 30, 2007
*R. Kelly - Double Up Tour - December 2007, 2008
*Dane Cook - Rough Around the Edges Tour - December 2, 2007
*Billy Joel - Billy Joel North American Tour 2007 - December 4, 2007
*Trans-Siberian Orchestra - December 28, 2007
*Big D NYE - December 31, 2008
*Chris Brown & Bow Wow - Up Close & Personal Holiday Exclusive Tour - January 12, 2008
*Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World & Against Me - Foo Fighters North American Tour - January 23, 2008
*Van Halen & Ky-Mani Marley - Van Halen North American Tour 2007 - January 26, 2008 - April 24, 2008
*Barry Manilow - An Evening of Music and Passion - February 19, 2008
*Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band - April 13, 2008
*Bon Jovi - Lost Highway Tour - April 14, 2008
*Juanes - La Vida Tour - April 18, 2008
*The Cure - 4Tour - June 6, 2008
*WWE Night of Champions - June 29, 2008
*George Michael - 25 Live - July 13, 2008
*Nine Inch Nails - Lights in the Sky 2008 - August 18, 2008
*Janet Jackson - Rock Witchu Tour - October 22, 2008
*Tina Turner - ""- October 26, 2008
*Celine Dion - Taking Chances Tour - January 5, 2009

Awards

[http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/page/PageID/46 American Airlines Center - Awards 2001-Present]

American Builders and Contractors North Texas Excellence in Construction Award of Merit, 2007American Airlines Center Platinum Club Renovation

Readers Pick, Best Sports Venue, 2007Dallas Observer

Concert Venue of the Year, 2006Pollstar Magazine

Slam Dunk Award, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007Harlem Globetrotters

Top Dog Venue of the Year, 2003Tour Guide Magazine

"Voice of the Fan" Program, 2002 & 2003Top ranking facility in most customer services and design related categories

Best Sports Venue, 2002 & 2003Dallas Observer

Facility of Merit, 2002Athletic Business

QUOIN Award, 2002Associated General Contractors of America/Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter

Engineering Excellence Award, 2002American Council of Engineering Companies

Real Estate Deals Award, 2002Dallas Business Journal

Project of the Year Award, 2002Masonry Construction

Record for Longest Ribbon and Largest Ribbon Cutting, 2001Gunniess Book of World Records

Best New Major Concert Venue for 2001Pollstar Magazine

Phoenix Award, 2001United States EPA

Golden Trowel Award of Excellence, 2001United Masonry Contractors Association

International Excellence in Masonry Award, 2001Masonry Contractors Association of America

Mega Project Over $100 Million, 2001Associated Builders and Contractors

Best of 2001 Judges Award, 2001F.W. Dodge

Outstanding Project Team of the Year, 2001American Subcontractor Association

Outstanding Project Over $25 Million, 2001American Subcontractor Association

Minority Business Development Agency Outstanding Corporate Award for its M/WBE achievements, 2000 & 2001

City of Dallas Senior Affairs Commission and Friends of Senior Affairs has recognized Center Operating Co. with the 2003 Employer of the Year award, which was presented at MayFair 2003, the City's Fourteenth Annual event for Older Americans Month

Other notes

*Hosted the 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game on January 24, 2007.
*The American Airlines Center as well as the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida hosted the 2006 NBA Finals, in which the Dallas Mavericks played the Miami Heat. Because of this, the series was nicknamed by some as the American Airlines series.
*A few weeks after the first event, it was found that the glass installed in the bathrooms was not the same as what was originally intended. Many who drove by the arena complained they had a clear view into the restrooms. The glass was quickly changed to the correct type the next week.
*Hosted WWE Survivor Series 2003 and Saturday Night's Main Event on July 15, 2006. It also hosted WWE Homecoming on October 3, 2005, Also held Monday Night Raw on 1/29/07 and held a Supershow on 7/2/07 which featured Monday Night Raw, WWE Friday Night SmackDown, and ECW on SciFi. It also hosted WWE Night of Champions on June 29, 2008 and is the regular host for WWE shows in the DFW area.
*After the Dallas Desperados played their first season in the American Airlines Center, they moved to Reunion Arena and played there in their second season.After their second season, they moved back to the American Airlines Center where they currently reside.
*The Center hosted the Big 12 Basketball Tournament in 2003, 2004, and 2006.

References

External links

* [http://www.americanairlinescenter.com/ The American Airlines Center]

succession box
title = Home of the Dallas Mavericks
years = 2001 – present
before = Reunion Arena
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the Dallas Stars
years = 2001 – present
before = Reunion Arena
after = currentsuccession box
title = Home of the Dallas Desperados
years = 2002
2004 – present
before = first arena
Reunion Arena
after = Reunion Arena
currentsuccession box
title = Host of the NHL All-Star Game
years = 2007
before = Xcel Energy Center
after = Philips Arena