Thousands of Dallas Mavs fans flocked to AT&T Discovery Plaza in the heart of downtown Dallas Saturday afternoon for the official Dallas Mavs Watch Party, presented by Michelob ULTRA and AT&T. With the Mavs/Jazz game playing from a 104-foot-screen perched high atop the plaza wall, MFFLs held their breath in the final minutes of action. Every time Dallas drained a shot, pantomime ensued and the cheers reverberated through the city streets.
Like the kids say these days, the watch party was a whole vibe.
Even though the Mavericks came up short in Game 4, many fans said they felt like the afternoon was eventful. They met friends, enjoyed great weather, and left hopeful that the Mavs would get a Game 5 victory Monday night in Dallas.
This best-of-seven first-round playoff series is now tied at 2-2.
Game 5 will be Monday night at 8:30 at American Airlines Center, and Game 6 will be Thursday in Utah. And if a Game 7 is necessary, it will be in Dallas on April 30.
At the watch party this afternoon, MFFLs sprawled out on the grass, sipping ice-cold Mich ULTRA and other beverages, with their dogs chillin’ in Mavs jerseys on the lawn. Others pushed their kids in wagons or grabbed food at dozens of restaurants surrounding the plaza.
Angela Banks from Rockwall has been a season ticket holder for the last 15 years. She first bought season tickets when her daughter started playing basketball in middle school. Well, nearly two decades later, they are still coming.
Banks said her Dallas Mavs ticket rep Hayley Jones sent an email with the party details, and she didn’t hesitate to attend. They’ve become trusted friends over the years, and she knew it would be something special.
“Hayley is fantastic,” Banks shared with enthusiasm. “I am glad we gave it a try because the atmosphere is great. When it comes to the Mavs, I like everything about this team. I like how everybody is playing, and I like how everybody is stepping and working as a team even when Luka (Doncic) was out. Today is great.”
After interviewing Banks, she stopped to visit with Mavs legend Rolando Blackman. He was the special guest for the watch party, mingling and taking photos with every last fan under a large display of balloons.
The Macias family of four lives in Dallas and started to follow the Mavs two seasons ago when their son took a sudden interest in the team. They packed up the car Saturday afternoon and decided to attend the watch party. After arriving at the event, the Macias crew picked up a red raffle ticket, not expecting much.
Later, Mavs game night emcee Chris Arnold reached down and called out the winning raffle ticket.
The family couldn’t believe it — they were the winners and received two playoff tickets to attend Monday’s game in Dallas.
These kinds of moments played out the entire afternoon. The Mavs ManiAACs, D-Town Crew and Champ entertained the crowd at the family-friendly party designed for MFFLs of all ages.
Michelob ULTRA and AT&T helped the Dallas Mavs create many activities and chances to win big prizes and Mavs swag.
The event featured a photo booth bus, face painters, balloon artists, AT&T fan cam, entertainers, pop-a-shot, DJs, Mavs giveaways, and more.
The AT&T Discovery Media Wall consists of more than 9,000 square feet of futuristic, colorful high-definition displays on a 104-foot-tall outdoor wall.
There was plenty of food for fans to munch on during commercials, from high-end steak and seafood to tacos, falafels, waffles, and more.
AT&T Discovery District aims to bring delight, cultivate imagination, and spark discoveries that foster communication and reinforce the links between MFFLs.
Even with the loss, it’s safe to say many MFFLs (including the doggies) had a fantastic afternoon at an incredible venue. There’s something special about packing thousands of people into one area with a passion for the same team.
Sports unifies people. It brings together fans from all backgrounds and social statuses and sparks hope and joy.
All afternoon, I caught myself gazing out into the sea of blue, just thankful for the gift of togetherness again. I could see it in the eyes and smiles of others, too.
Most fans walked to the car Saturday night with a quiet demeanor, bummed about the loss, but hopeful about the next game. My attitude was similar to the father ahead of me that told his son: “don’t worry, we’ll get the next one.”
The Dallas Mavericks will get that chance Monday night at American Airlines Center. We’ll see you there. #dALLasIN
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