From Tip-Off to the Final Buzzer: Accessibility at a Dallas Mavericks Game at AAC

Going to a Dallas Mavericks game is always exciting, but accessibility can truly make or break the experience. Recently, my brother, my dad, and I headed to the American Airlines Center (AAC) for a Mavs game, and from start to finish, it turned out to be a smooth and enjoyable outing.

Getting There & Parking

Getting to the AAC was easy, and parking was just as straightforward. Just like during our last Dallas Stars game, the arena offers a dedicated ADA parking lot, which made arrival stress-free and convenient.

Pre-Game Stop: CardVault by Tom Brady

We arrived early so we could check out the new card shop outside the AAC, CardVault by Tom Brady, and also exchange our tickets for ADA seating. The shop itself was spacious, and my wheelchair was able to move around without much trouble.

Because all the cards and memorabilia were kept behind locked glass, you had to ask staff if you wanted to see anything up close—but that wasn’t an issue. The staff was friendly and helpful, and it was really cool seeing all kinds of cards and memorabilia on display.

Inside the AAC

Once inside, exchanging our tickets for ADA seats was just as easy as it had been for the Stars game, which was great to see. The Hangar Team Store was also just as accessible as I remembered, with plenty of space to move around and browse comfortably.

Getting to our seats was simple, and the elevator attendant was extremely helpful. Our seats were fantastic and offered a great view of the court.

The Game Experience

We hadn’t been to a Mavericks game since about two months before Luka Dončić was wrongfully traded by Nico Harrison to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 2, 2025—a move that still hurts. So going to this game in late October 2025, after hearing that Nico had finally been fired as GM, made this night even sweeter.

The atmosphere was electric. We had an absolute blast watching players like Naji Marshall, Daniel Gafford, and Cooper Flagg take the court. The game itself was incredible and easily the best we’d been to in a while, going all the way to double overtime. Even though the Mavericks ended up losing to the LA Clippers, the experience was unforgettable.

Heading Out

Leaving the arena was easy and well-organized, wrapping up a night that felt seamless from arrival to departure.

Final Thoughts

Between the easy parking, accessible ticket exchange, helpful staff, great seating, and an overall smooth experience, both the Mavericks game and CardVault delivered when it came to accessibility.

⭐ 5 out of 5 rating.

 An exciting night of basketball paired with solid accessibility—exactly how game day should be.