The Mavericks will return next season heartened by the memory of their 53-win regular season and their longest stay in the playoffs since 1988. There are no next years for Reunion Arena as a major sporting venue. The Mavericks and the NHL Stars will move to the American Airlines Center next season. It will be more than a change of address for the teams. The new arena falls in line with the current trend of amenity-laden club seats and lavish luxury boxes.
Some critics say the separation has created a sterile atmosphere in similar arenas.
It looks like we've got a good team that can start a new tradition at the arena. The record will show that Reunion's final major sporting event came Saturday, when the Mavericks stayed alive with a 112-108 victory against the Spurs. The first event was an NBA preseason doubleheader on Sept. 26, 1980. Mavericks assistant coach Del Harris coached Houston in the first game. He kept the game program as a memento.