American Airlines Center: A Wheelchair User's Experience

American Airlines Center is an arena in the center of Downtown Dallas. This article is to show the accessible accommodations throughout the venue. I will be showing you the best places to park as a person with disabilities, easiest entrances to the venue, where elevators are located, accessibility of restrooms, and details about accessible seating.

When it comes to parking options for guest with disabilities there are two options. The first is Parking Lot F located on All Star Way and The Lexus Parking Garage located on the intersection of All Star Way and North Houston Street. The best option if you are taking a person with disabilities or you are one is to use Parking Lot F as it is the best option since it is a Handicap only parking lot. For Comedy shows Parking Lot F doesn't really fill up so if you get there 15 to 30 minutes before show time you should still have enough parking spaces available.

To enter the venue your closest option to Parking Lot F is on All Star Way which is right across the street from the parking Lot. The security process is very straightforward and very easy as a person with disabilities. Once you enter American Airlines Center the ushers manning the metal detectors will escort you in between the metal detectors so you have enough space for your wheelchair to pass through. Once you have passed the metal detectors all they do is use the metal detector wand and let you through.

American Airlines Center has a lot of accessibility features around the arena. One of the most important features you are going to see all around the arena are elevators. These elevators are located in each corner of the arena. There should be a sign by all of the elevators to signal where they are located. Most of these elevators are usually empty and have enough space for about 8 people including the person in a wheelchair. The only one that you will have a little bit of trouble is located by the Michelob Ultra Club, since this elevator is also used to get to the second level of the club there is usually a line to use the elevator but if you go to the front of the line the usher manning the elevator will make sure you and your party get on first.

For accessible restrooms you don't need to worry all public restrooms inside American Airlines Center are wheelchair accessible. Incase the handicap stalls are being used in the public restrooms or you just need more room there are family restrooms located all over the arena. These family restrooms are usually not being used and are spacious enough for a big wheelchair.

Now we get to wheelchair seating inside American Airlines Center. Every single level has wheelchair and companion seating which is raised so when people Infront of you stand up you don't have to worry about those people blocking your line of sight. Each handicap section in the arena have great views of whatever is happening on the floor from Dallas Mavericks games to concerts and shows. These seats always have enough space for a big wheelchair so you don't have to worry about it being a tight fit. Handicap seating on floor level will change depending on what is happening at American Airlines Center.

Other accommodations that I should mention just in case someone reading this needs any of these accommodations are assisted listening devices and sign language interpreters. You can find the assisted listening devices at guest relations by section 104 and section 326. For sign language interpreters used at concerts you do have to contact the American Airlines Center Box Office at 214-665-4797 or the American Airlines Center Administrative Offices at 214-665-4299. You will need to call 30 days prior to the event.

I have been to American Airlines Center several times for Dallas Mavericks games, concerts, and other shows. Every single time I have been there the accommodations the arena has are always very helpful. Most of the times I have gone I have been able to buy wheelchair seats for me and my companions but sometimes there aren't any wheelchair seats available on Ticketmaster so what you can do just incase this happens is buy regular tickets and head to the north box office inside American Airlines Center located next to the Michelob Ultra Club. The people inside the box office are very accommodating and when I have had to do this they are very understanding and made sure that my group and I got wheelchair accessible seats.

In conclusion American Airlines Center overall is a very accessible venue and I would have to rates its accessibility and accommodations 4/5. I would rate it higher but when it comes to who can use the elevators and normal people using the handicap stalls in the restrooms it nocks its rating down. I recommend that if you bought or were gifted tickets and they turn out to be regular seats but there are already people using those wheelchair seats tell one of the ushers you need wheelchair seats and they will move anybody that doesn't need those seats. The only tip I have that I didn't talk about earlier in this article is if you need any help just talk to one of the ushers and they would be glad to help you with anything you need.