<\/p>\n
The Dallas Wings have already played one game at American Airlines Center this season against the Chicago Sky on Sunday, July 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool\/The Dallas Morning News<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Dallas Wings<\/a> will at long last play in the city of their namesake, as the WNBA team has finalized an agreement to host all 2027 regular season home games at\u00a0American Airlines Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s the latest development in what has been a long effort<\/a> by the team to move downtown from UT-Arlington\u2019s College Park Center, where the Wings have practiced and played home games since relocating to North Texas in 2016.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re excited to be taking steps to fulfill what the vision was several years ago,\u201d Wings CEO and managing partner Greg Bibb told The Dallas Morning News.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The Wings played two games at AAC in 2025 and have already played one at the venue in 2026<\/a>, with two more contests in Dallas remaining on their regular season schedule<\/a>. A move to AAC in 2027 will correspond with the opening of the team\u2019s new state-of-the-art practice facility in Far West Oak Cliff<\/a> next spring.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Construction set to begin soon for Dallas Wings’ Oak Cliff practice facility<\/a><\/p>\n But only the practice space will be a permanent facility for the team, which expects to move into a renovated Memorial Auditorium downtown in 2028.<\/p>\n In April 2024, the Wings signed a 15-year, $19 million use agreement<\/a> with the city to move to Memorial Auditorium by the start of the 2026 season. Construction delays resulting from the city\u2019s bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup\u2019s International Broadcast Center<\/a> at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center set up a 2027 move-in date<\/a> that city officials have since pushed to 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope to have a meeting with city leadership later this month to talk about our plan in terms of [our] playing venue beyond 2027,\u201d Bibb said.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Hosting games at AAC was always a contingency plan under the 2024 agreement with Dallas, which guaranteed use of the venue if the city couldn\u2019t deliver a renovated Memorial Auditorium in time for the start of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Dallas Wings to play season mostly in Arlington, despite clause for American Airlines Center<\/a><\/p>\n But Bibb said the Wings, scheduled to play 19 of their 22 home games at College Park Center<\/a>, didn\u2019t start having conversations about making AAC their gameday home for the 2027 season until last December, when a consensus was reached that Memorial Auditorium wouldn\u2019t be ready in time.<\/p>\n The original agreement with the city did not provide specifics of what a deal between the AAC and the Wings would look like. Along with sorting out the specifics, the Wings had to agree to terms on a one-year lease with the venue, which Bibb said was finalized Friday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was important for us to get that done because next week is the window in which we would typically begin our renewal process for season tickets for next year,\u201d Bibb said. \u201c… Everything got done under the wire, and we\u2019re happy with the deal and we\u2019re excited to call American Airlines Center home for \u201827. Beyond \u201827 is still unclear.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Wings CEO still has sights set on downtown Dallas amid planned moves for Mavs, Stars<\/a><\/p>\n Locking down AAC for 2027 comes amid the organization\u2019s construction of a new practice facility at Joey Georgusis Park. The Wings had to scrap initial plans with the city to build a practice facility adjacent to Memorial Auditorium and are now developing the space with $52 million of city money and $27 million of their own<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s huge, just in terms of having the resources, having a competitive advantage,\u201d Wings guard Paige Bueckers<\/a> told The News. \u201cI know a lot of the teams in the WNBA have a practice facility, have really good resources for their players and it\u2019s a really great investment for the team. \u2026 We hope to return on that investment and perform.\u201d<\/p>\n As the Wings organization gains momentum, so has the product on the court. The Wings (19\u201311), positioned for a 2026 playoff run<\/a> after a 10\u201334 finish in 2025, have shown they\u2019re ready for a bigger stage.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n<\/p>\n