From DallasNews.com
[h2]Cuban wants to put on one-of-a-kind All-StarGame[/h2][h5][size=-1]11:42 PM CDT on Thursday, October 30, 2008
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[size=-1]Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to throw "the biggest event this country has everseen."[/size]
[size=-1]NBA commissioner David Stern has somewhat more modest goals for the 2010 All-Star Game, which will beplayed at the new Cowboys' stadium that February.[/size]
[size=-1]"I don't know what the largest crowd ever to see a basketball game in the United Statesis," Stern said Thursday. "I think it's about 78,000. We're going to top that. If Mark wants to push it to 100,000, God blesshim."[/size]
[size=-1]Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the stadium could easily handle that crowd, adding that "the courtwill literally be on the star."[/size]
[size=-1]There was no limit to the excitement of the franchise owners and the league as the announcement was madeat Victory Plaza before the Mavericks opened their season against the Houston Rockets.
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[size=-1]Cuban said he wants to put on a show that has never been equaled.[/size]
[size=-1]"There ain't no party like a D-FW party," Cuban said.[/size]
[size=-1]"I don't think people realize this is the country's largest weekend destination byfar," he said, referring to the NBA All-Star weekend. "It's amazing, and you don't really understand it until you go toone."[/size]
[size=-1]Mavericks' president Terdema Ussery was the guiding force behind the scenes. He worked more than 14months, planting the first seed with the NBA that the Mavs were interested in hosting the event.[/size]
[size=-1]While the All-Star Game will be in Arlington, virtually all the other events will be in Dallas. TheFriday night and Saturday night festivities will be at American Airlines Center. The Fan Jam will be at the Dallas ConventionCenter.[/size]
[size=-1]The league also envisions a series of events starting early in 2009 that would serve as momentum builderstoward the big weekend, which will bring thousands of visitors from the sporting, fashion and entertainment industries.[/size]
[size=-1]Stern said the partnership of Jones and Cuban is unique.[/size]
[size=-1]"We have a very good working relationship with the NFL, but this was very much a localcollaboration," Stern said. "I'm very proud that Jerry and Mark and the NBA could work together on doing it.[/size]
[size=-1]"This is not part of some larger blueprint because who knows what the next improvement will be. Butthis is a pretty big step, and it's going to be a lot of fun."[/size]
[size=-1]FILLING UP FAST[/size]
[size=-1]Events confirmed for the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington after it opens in2009:[/size]
[size=-1]September 2009: Cowboys' first home game[/size]
[size=-1]Oct. 3, 2009: Texas A&M vs. Arkansas (football)[/size]
[size=-1]December 2009: Big 12 football championship[/size]
[size=-1]Jan. 2, 2010: AT&T Cotton Bowl[/size]
[size=-1]February 2010: NBA All-Star Game[/size]
[size=-1]Feb. 6, 2011: Super Bowl XLV[/size]
[size=-1]Oct. 5, 2013: Notre Dame vs. Arizona State (football)[/size]