Mavs, Cowboys Team To Pursue NBA All-Star Game For New Stadium

Mavs, Cowboys Consider Teaming For NBA  All-Star Game At New Cowboys Stadium

The Mavericks and Cowboys have teamed up in an attempt to "bring the NBA All-Star Game to the new Cowboys stadium" in Arlington, Texas, as early as 2010, according to sources cited by David Moore of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. While no bid has been submitted, the "unusual alliance has piqued the interest of NBA officials and satisfies divergent goals for the local franchises." The Cowboys have "aggressively pursued a wide range of sporting and entertainment events" for their new $1.1B stadium, and Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban has been "reluctant to host the game at American Airlines Center [AAC] because the league's corporate obligations would kick season ticket-holders out of their seats." Moore notes one option would be to "hold the game at the Cowboys stadium and the lead-up events at AAC." NBA officials recently "conducted a site survey of the Cowboys stadium to get a feel for the facility." Phoenix will host the '09 NBA All-Star Game, making 2010 the "first potential date." If the Mavericks and Cowboys are "unable to pull that off, it's unlikely an NBA All-Star Game would return to North Texas before 2012," due to Super Bowl XLV at the Cowboys stadium in 2011 (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/28). Cuban said in an e-mail, "We put out inquiries to all the major stadiums in the area. I just wanted to find a place that could hold our season ticketholders and visitors for an All-Star game" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5/28).

SUMMER SERIES: In Dallas, Jeff Mosier reported the Cowboys next summer hope to have a concert series "as ambitious as" their new stadium. Cowboys Exec VP & COO Stephen Jones said that he would "like to see a three- or four-night series of concerts featuring a variety of music styles, although he hasn't approached any performers yet." Jones added that plans for the concerts are "in the earliest stages and are still just being discussed internally" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/27).