DALLAS (105.3 the Fan) - Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Dallas Mavericks announced on Tuesday that they will begin the season without fans in attendance at the American Airlines Center, starting with the team's home opener vs the Hornets on Dec. 30.
The Mavs released a statement in an email to Club Maverick members on the decision, citing fan, player, and employee safety as their primary concern going forward:
The health and safety of Dallas Mavericks fans, players and employees remains the organization's top priority. After careful consideration and in collaboration with the NBA, American Airlines Center, and Dallas County public health officials, the Mavs plan to start the 2020-21 regular season without fans.
No timetable has been set for when fans may be welcomed back to the arena, as the team continues to work with health officials and Dallas County leaders to determine the best possible scenario for fans to be able to safely return to the AAC.
"We are optimistic that we will be able to welcome fans back to the AAC this season but want to make sure we do so in the safest way possible," Mavs CEO Cynt Marshall said earlier this month when the team announced that fans won't attend the team's lone preseason game. " Unfortunately, having looked closely at the current data, trends, and historical spikes, we cannot risk our fans' safety, which is in the best interest of our community."
Six of the NBA's 30 teams will allow a limited number of fans to attend their games. Those teams include the Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Toronto Raptors (in Tampa), and the Houston Rockets.
