American Airlines Center Lacking Atmosphere For Stars, Mavs

	Fans Still Adapting To American Airlines Center

American Airlines Center "provides everything a home team could want except for one thing: an advantage," according to Tim Cowlishaw of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS, who asked, "Is this opulent new home quiet because the Mavs and Stars haven't been winning, or have the Mavs and Stars struggled to win because the place is all too quiet?" Cowlishaw: "You watch games on TV, and all the empty gray seats near the ice or the court stare back at you. You go in person and notice long stretches of fan inattention or indifference. There's something about those three levels of empty chairs in the suites at the one end that makes you wonder if all the beautiful people have found something better to do." But Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban insists that the team "has fewer no-shows than a year ago and that fans are just wandering the concourses, patronizing the shops and bars, getting a feel for the building." Cuban: "I'm sure it will get louder every game as people go from checking out the arena to focusing on the game" (DALLAS MNG. NEWS, 12/1).