Instead, it’s the Dallas Stars who are shaking things up.
Game 1 of the NHL’s Western Conference Finals between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers is now scheduled for the same night as Perry’s concert, forcing a last-minute venue swap that’s left some fans frustrated and asking: How does this happen?
Here’s what to know.
May 17, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; The Dallas Stars fans celebrate after the Stars defeat the Winnipeg Jets in the overtime period in game six of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jerome Miron Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
That means the Dallas Mavericks get first pick when it comes to locking in dates, followed by the Dallas Stars. Concerts, festivals and other shows are third in line.
So even if a tour date like Katy Perry’s has been on the books for months, it can still be pushed if one of the arena’s sports tenants makes the playoffs and needs the space.
And because playoff games are often set on short notice, the arena has to make quick changes based on how far teams advance.
How do they decide who gets the arena?
It comes down to contracts and timing. Professional sports leagues like the NBA and NHL have built-in clauses that give teams scheduling priority, especially during playoffs.
That means once the Stars clinched their spot in the Western Conference Finals, they automatically took over the date.
Concerts, on the other hand, are more flexible. Tour schedules can shift, and artists typically have more wiggle room to adjust than live sports do, especially when national broadcasts and ticket demands are involved.
Nicki Minaj crammed more than 30 songs into her nearly 150-minute “Pink Friday 2” Tour Friday night at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Stefan Stevenson Special to the Star-Telegram
Have other artists been bumped before?
Yes, and not just Katy Perry. In fact, this isn’t even the first time she’s had to adjust for a playoff run.
Just last week, her show at Ball Arena in Denver was postponed to make room for a Nuggets playoff game.
And she’s not alone. Big-name artists like Bad Bunny and Nicki Minaj have had to shift concert dates at the AAC in past years due to Mavericks playoff games.
Katy Perry at the American Airline Center, Jan 14, 2017. Photos by Scott Fischer, Special to DFW.com
What if you already had tickets to Katy Perry?
If you were planning to be at the show on Wednesday, your ticket is still good for Thursday night. Same venue, same seats, same show—just one day later.
Tiffani is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions about life in North Texas. Tiffani mainly writes about Texas laws and health news.
