Question @ the American Airlines Arena for anyone who's been

I was in Dallas over the weekend and drove by the American Airlines Arena several times along I-35. A couple of questions for my Mavericks friends or anyone else who's been there:<br>
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From I-35, am I essentially looking at the back of the arena? I saw nothing but parking around it. Is there any "grounds" to the arena?<br>
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Also, will they be doing more development in the immediate surroundings of the arena. Tis not a very scenic spot, although it is nessled nicely near downtown with the skyline beyond it.<br>
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I may have had a drink or two too many, but it also looked like they blacked it out at night. Why don't they light that sucker up more?<br>
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What are they doing with Reunion? I see it's still standing.<br>
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Finally, just want to say that personally, I love the design of the exterior. I love anything old school. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=pitter5008@sanantoniospurs62937>Pitter5008</A> at: 6/23/03 1:19 am<br></i>

Note: The <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.aaarena.com/" target="top">American Airlines Arena</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> is the home of the Miami Heat located in Miami. The <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://americanairlinescenter.com/" target="top">American Airlines Center</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> or AAC as I like to call it, is located in Dallas. <br>
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Here are a few links for you taken from their website. <br>
1. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/page/PageID/57" target="top">FAQ</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
2. A. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/page/PageID/46" target="top">Architecture</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
B. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/page/PageID/47" target="top">Architectural Facts</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
3. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://americanairlinescenter.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/page/PageID/73" target="top">News links</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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The overall project is called <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.victorydallas.com/" target="top">Victory</a><!--EZCODE LINK END-->. Here are a few links from their website.<br>
1. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.victorydallas.com/project_overview.cfm" target="top">Project Overview</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> <br>
2. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.victorydallas.com/victory_phase1.cfm" target="top">Victory Phase I</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
3. <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.victorydallas.com/history.cfm" target="top">Victory History</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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As you can see from reading the links from VictoryDallas.com there "is" a whole Downtown Dallas revitalization planned around the AAC. I'll give the <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.hillwood.com/" target="top">Hillwood</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> people (headed up by Ross Perot Jr. former Mavs owner) the benefit of the doubt, but I said "is" because many people in Dallas, including Mayor Laura Miller feel that when the AAC bond election was voted on in Dallas several years back that Hillwood over-promised and under-delivered. It's still relatively early though, so hopefully all of the planned development around the AAC will still come to pass. <br>
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When heading south toward Downtown from the direction of D/FW airport, you are basically seeing the back of the AAC. On the other side looks like this.<br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.masonrymagazine.com/4-02/art/C&I9_1st-Place.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--> <br>
I couldn't really find a good picture of it, but it does have many trees and fountains etc... <br>
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Here is pic of it lit up at night, but on a game night. <br>
<!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.cectexas.org/Category%20C%20Walter%20P.%20Moore.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br>
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I glad you like it, I've toured it and been there many times and it is definately the coolest Arena I've ever been to. BTW, <!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.reunionarena.org/event.html" target="top">Reunion Arena</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--> is owned by the city of Dallas and the City council has no plans to "get rid of it". Besides demolishing Reunion would be a total waste of a perfectly useable arena for all kinds of events. <br>
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Since we are on the topic, What ever happened to the Hemisfair Arena? <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SuperB2000.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SwDfAqwVoSVoAA32Jm63CuxkhPlLG1RqItvUz6P0G2ZGqaXsdIsZvNTNsBVZMxIZNDjzIfjswtSZoXeps8JXpUlpuKtG4PcrvHag9GcALTXKmz0fMIgxVA/super-B20001.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=superb2000>Super B2000</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.torchrecords.com/Graphics/texas%20flag.JPG" BORDER=0> at: 6/24/03 1:06 pm<br></i>

yes Pitter GOD FORBID you call the arena by the wrong name!! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :b --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":b"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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the arena was torn down to make way for expansion of the convention center. <p><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Get used to it World, because it's only the beginning. </em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
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<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Besides demolishing Reunion would be a total waste of a perfectly useable arena for all kinds of events. <hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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The Dallas Desperados of Arena Football and the Dallas Sidekicks of indoor soccer currently make use of Reunion Arena. <p></p><i></i>

Sorry to rain on the whole praise for AAC parade, but I don't like it. I think it looks like a wannabe old building when in fact it's a new one. It looks retarded to me, but oh well, I don't really care about the outsides of arenas. The one in SA looks like a barn, but I don't care, cuz the Spurs play there and all that matters is that you get to see the game inside. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.SpursCentral.com"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TQDfAuEY1Po4tGk57aFqwOStnpkKcMLZ17GGbRn8jLZ9Omy35iNyPIJuYDt!sYYAWCQ9PIsuGjVPWExKMv3YA1jDOnu3kygI1Yi8uSWyC*arL9m3rhpYRA/missallthatbannercopy.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>

I always pass through it when I go to Big D, it's nice but it looks weird. It looks like it's just another buss. building and not the AAC. <br>
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I liked RA, I always went there for Stars games and used to take my cousins to the Ringling Bros. Circus. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030618/capt.sge.ulp28.180603220833.photo00.default-275x370.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.spurscentral.com">Kiss My As*terisk!</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
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Wow, <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>SuperB</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->, so much information!<br>
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I like the looks of it, too. <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>I think it looks like a wannabe old building when in fact it's a new one.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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It doesn't really look an old building to me. <br>
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<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Sorry to rain on the whole praise for AAC parade, but I don't like it.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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No problem, this is not a parade of praise for the AAC. The man simply asked a few questions and I answered them. If you don't like the topic, you don't have to respond in the thread. That's what I do when I don't care about a particular topic, I don't respond to it. The way I figure it is, if my heart is not into the topic, that means I would not have anything positive to contribute, so why bog down the entire thread. <p><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.sahoops.net/SuperB2000.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BR START--><br /><!--EZCODE BR END--><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0SwDfAqwVoSVoAA32Jm63CuxkhPlLG1RqItvUz6P0G2ZGqaXsdIsZvNTNsBVZMxIZNDjzIfjswtSZoXeps8JXpUlpuKtG4PcrvHag9GcALTXKmz0fMIgxVA/super-B20001.jpg" style="border:0;"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub179.ezboard.com/bsanantoniospurs62937.showUserPublicProfile?gid=superb2000>Super B2000</A>  <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://www.torchrecords.com/Graphics/texas%20flag.JPG" BORDER=0> at: 6/24/03 1:04 pm<br></i>

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Thanks Super for the info on the AAC. I went there for a Stars game in November.<br>
PROS -- It's a nice new facility with the bells and whistles to help draw talent to the Stars and Mavs.<br>
CONS -- The interior (halls and corridors) reminds me of a hospital. The corridors of the upper levels are too narrow.<br>
I just haven't warmed up to the facility yet, especially after the Mavs dropped all three games there during the Western Conference Finals. <p></p><i></i>

By the way, thanks for the picture of the AAC and the Dallas skyline. It makes me homesick (a little at least) and reminds me of many wasted nights in Deep Ellum. I'll leave the AAC subject alone since I'm sure there will be a "THIS IS A SPURS SITE, NOT A MAVS SITE/SPURS ARE CHAMPS,MAVS ARE NOT" post forthcoming. <p></p><i></i>

^^<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :wtf --><img src=http://www.myezboard.com/projects/ezboard/ezboard_userimages/wtf.gif ALT=":wtf"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ...what's stuck up your butt???<br>
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This is not like DB.com, you go and TRY to say something about your team that's postive and a day later theres like 6 news posts saying GO BACK TO A SPURS FORUM, etc... <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20030618/capt.sge.ulp28.180603220833.photo00.default-275x370.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
<!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.spurscentral.com">Kiss My As*terisk!</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
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I've breezed through DB.com only briefly and therefore I'm not too familiar with it. Surely you can understand the fine posters at DB.com for being a bit surly considering the current state of Dallas pro sports..i.e. Western Conference Finals, the Cowboys 5-11 (especially the Texans-Cowboys debacle), No Stanley Cup and the continuing ineptitude of the Rangers. Oh well, carry on... <p></p><i></i>

fair enough but the majority of the posters here are very respectful to visiting team's fans, you would think that the same courtesy would be extended to those Spurs fans who do not cause problems on other teams sites. <p><!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Get used to it World, because it's only the beginning. </em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--><br>
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You took the words right out of my mouth Mikey. I guess their favorite team reflexs on how their fans are. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.sahoops.net"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-6/230696/admbklack.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--><br>
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I'm sorry for my mean post about the arena. I had just returned from my not so great stay in the Dallas area. I wasn't treated nicely when I asked if they had Spurs championship jerseys at many stores, and I know it might have seemed like a mean thing to do, but I really wanted a shirt and couldn't go to SA, so I was trying to get one there. I'm over that whole thing now though, but I'm still a little disappointed with how rude a lot of the people up there were when they found out I was a Spurs fan. I know I don't treat the Mavs fans that I know like that. As for the arena, I personally don't like the way it looks and since this thread is about the arena, I thought I could post my opinion here since it's relevant (I guess in the future I won't). However, it's an arena where you can watch b-ball, and that's all that matters, who cares what the outside looks like? Like I said, ours looks like a barn and that's not so great if you ask me, but once you go inside and see the game, it's not that bad. <p><!--EZCODE CENTER START--><div style="text-align:center"><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.SpursCentral.com"><!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TQDfAuEY1Po4tGk57aFqwOStnpkKcMLZ17GGbRn8jLZ9Omy35iNyPIJuYDt!sYYAWCQ9PIsuGjVPWExKMv3YA1jDOnu3kygI1Yi8uSWyC*arL9m3rhpYRA/missallthatbannercopy.jpg"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--></a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></div><!--EZCODE CENTER END--></p><i></i>