Mavericks’ new arena location is already dividing fans

The Dallas Mavericks announced on Monday that they have chosen a site for their new arena, as the organization recently signed an option agreement for 104 acres of land at the site of the former Valley View Mall in Far North Dallas, and Mavericks fans are already completely split in half over this move by the organization for multiple reasons.

For one, the American Airlines Center is conveniently located in Downtown Dallas, allowing many public transportation routes with buses and trains, which is why one section of the fanbase is angered by the Mavericks' move. The vibe of being able to walk outside the AAC before or after a Mavericks game is always vibrant, with the lights and skyscrapers of downtown surrounding the arena, and the Mavericks have called the AAC home for 25 years now.

Mavericks fans are split into two groups with new Valley View location

The AAC has hosted NBA Finals games in three different seasons as well as countless memorable playoff moments. While maybe not the most historical arena in the NBA, it's certainly in the top 10, and has showcased many of the greatest NBA players of all-time that have boasted a Mavericks uniform at one point or another, such as Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Michael Finley, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, and Kyrie Irving.

It's extremely understandable why fans are split on the decision to move to the Valley View location, as there is a ton of nostalgia for Mavericks fans inside the walls of the AAC, and it's also where the Cooper Flagg era is currently taking off. With the Dallas Stars electing to move to Plano, the City of Dallas won't have any teams in downtown after 2031, which could very well detract from the lifeblood of downtown.

On the flip side, though, many fans are happy about the arrival of a new arena in a new location, citing modernization and new amenities as some of their reasons for excitement about the move to the Valley View location.

Fans have a right to feel however they want over this pending change

At the end of the day, the Mavericks will still technically be within Dallas city limits, and the Valley View location is closer to many of Dallas' surrounding suburbs, which probably house a majority of the Mavericks fans in DFW.

Dallas North Tollway, I-35, and I-45 can all be a complete mess on the evening of Mavericks games, as traffic for the game only adds on to the already heavy rush-hour traffic near Downtown Dallas, so perhaps the Valley View location could help to mitigate some of these issues a little bit.

The Valley View location will be next to I-635, and the Mavericks will need to work to establish some easier access points, but they could certainly make a friendlier parking situation compared to what the AAC has right now.

Regardless, the Mavericks still have roughly five seasons left in the AAC at the very least, and construction on this new arena hasn't even started yet. Fans are justified in whatever their opinion on the new arena is, and it will likely vary on a case-by-case basis, but the fact that the Mavericks are staying within Dallas city limits in general, and will have a modernized venue, is something all fans can agree is a net positive, regardless of personal opinion about the new location.

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