Dallas Mavericks suing Dallas Stars over arena; Stars file counterclaim
The Dallas Mavericks are suing the Dallas Stars, alleging breach of contract against the NHL team, in a filing in Texas Business Court on Tuesday, according to The Dallas Morning News.
The filing alleges that the Stars are in breach of a 1998 franchise agreement that stated the Stars’ corporate headquarters had to be located in the city of Dallas.
The Stars’ headquarters has been located at 2601 Avenue of the Stars in Frisco since 2003.
The Mavericks also allege that additional improvements and upgrades to American Airlines Center, the teams’ shared arena, were obstructed by the Stars.
The Mavericks brought up the clause shortly before a deal between the teams and the city to renovate American Airlines Center that would’ve seen the Mavericks and city split the costs 50-50 and have both teams stay at the AAC till 2061, the Mavericks and the city said.
The Stars deny that. They say they agreed to a deal that would only extend the lease until 2035 and would’ve seen the Stars and Mavericks split costs, the Morning News said.
“To put it plainly, the Stars are holding the American Airlines Center hostage,” the Mavericks allege in the filing, according to the Morning News.
The Mavericks, with the city of Dallas in agreement, took control of the Stars’ half of AAC’s operating company days after the aforementioned deal was nixed and have since withheld arena proceeds in an escrow account, an amount the Stars described as in the “tens of millions,” the Morning News said.
Dallas Stars file countersuit
The Stars filed a countersuit late Tuesday seeking to return to regular operations and avoid what they called a “hostile takeover” by the Mavericks.
The Stars claim the Mavericks seek to reduce the Stars to the role of tenants and drive them out of Dallas. They also responded the Mavericks’ suit, saying only the city of Dallas had a legal right to determine if the Stars relocated.
The Mavericks’ and Stars’ lease with American Airlines Center ends in 2031, with the Mavericks planning on a new arena, still located in the city of Dallas, likely in the downtown area.
The Stars are considering moving, with Plano a likely destination, but the team hasn’t ruled out staying in Dallas, Front Office Sports reported.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM.
