When crowds file into the American Airlines Center in Dallas for NBA Finals games between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, they’re going to find some snazzy new concessions items with high price tags to match.
“It’s the finals,” said Joe Zavala, owner of Zavala’s Barbecue in Grand Prairie, who opened a barbecue stand inside American Airlines Center at the start of the Dallas Mavericks’ season.
Zavala is going all out with three new barbecue items at his stand in section 121 on the main concourse. The AAC’s concession company Levy has four more flashy items available on the plaza level or the terrace — all accessible to anyone with a Finals ticket. (For suite-level ticketholders, Levy is unrolling the veritable red carpet, with three additional Texas-sized items on the platinum level. Those are also noted below.)
Eye-catching items include the $50 surf and turf grilled cheese stuffed with ribeye and lobster; a $23 sandwich stacked high with brisket, mac and cheese, hot links and more; and a $25 taco from Zavala’s with a bump of caviar.
“My goal is that everybody has access to great food, whether you’re in the bleachers or you have floor seats,” said Andres Dominguez, the executive chef for Levy.
He’s worked with Levy for 10 years, but this is his first time serving fans at an NBA Finals game at the AAC.
“We haven’t been to the Finals since 2011,” Dominguez said. “We want to have the best items here that are not only good-looking but also delicious.”
7 flashy Finals foods at the AAC
The new Finals concessions will be sold at Games 3 and 4 at the AAC, on June 12 and June 14, 2024. If Game 6 is needed, fans and players will return to the AAC on June 20, 2024 for another home game — and another round of flashy Finals food.
Zavala says excitement is high among concessionaires preparing for big crowds and increases in food sales. And then they wait.
“As much as I say we can pre-plan, we plan to be ready for four different scenarios,” Zavala said. Will he serve barbecue next week for another home game? How much will he need?
“It’s a waiting game,” he said.
The most expensive new item is the Surf N Turf Grilled Cheese Tower ($50), available in the Modelo Golden Lion Bar & Grill on the main level, between sections 105 and 101. This grilled cheese is tall, y’all. One part of the sandwich has grilled rib-eye steak, Gruyere, American cheese and Fresno peppers. Then, several sections of poached lobster complete this multi-layer sandwich. The sourdough bread is toasted with cowboy butter. Waffle fries come on the side.
Just 30 or 40 of the Surf N Turf Grilled Cheese Towers will be made for Game 3 in Dallas. If the demand is there, chefs will increase that number for Game 4, Dominguez said.
The second most expensive new item is Zavala’s 44 Farms beef rib ($45), available at the Zavala’s stand at section 121. “We don’t do beef ribs ever at the AAC, but we’re doing them for the Finals,” Zavala said. The beef ribs hold a hunk of fatty brisket that weighs about 1 pound. (A sports fan at another D-FW venue referred to a beef rib as a “dino rib” because they’re so big.) This caveman-like beef on a stick will surely be memorable for those who haven’t seen one.
Next comes the lobster corn dog with truffle potato chips ($40), available on the main level at sections 108 and 120. Each piece of lobster tail is deep fried in corny dog batter, then drizzled with lemon butter and aioli. Truffle potato chips made in-house at the AAC come on the side.
Dominguez described this dish as “like fish and chips, but more elevated.” It reminds us of the Texas Rangers’ $250 lobster roll sandwiches during World Series games ... with two big differences: This one at Dallas Mavericks games is smaller and — notably — $210 cheaper.
Back at Zavala’s is one of the most surprising new Finals options, 44 Farms beef fajitas topped with caviar ($25 per taco). Zavala’s team will smoke and sear the beef, then chop it in a taco and top it with green sauce and a dollop of caviar.
“What’s more Texan than a fajita taco, taken to the next level with some caviar?” Zavala said.
As he mentioned before: This is big-deal basketball. Caviar.
The third and final new item at Zavala’s stand is a prime rib Sloppy Juan ($15 per taco). Zavala’s is known for its Sloppy Juan tacos, which are usually a blend of brisket and pulled pork, mixed with sauce. Zavala decided to jazz up the offering with 100% prime rib, rubbed in Zavala’s Bird Rub and smoked over post oak and pecan wood.
For customers up on the terrace level, section 334, Dominguez’ team at Levy is making a head-turning DBQ Stacker ($23). A jalapeño-cheddar bun is loaded with chopped brisket, a fried onion ring, macaroni and cheese and smoked red hot links. A bacon-wrapped jalapeño — often called a Texas Twinkie at some barbecue joints — comes on top.
The new Finals dessert is Levy’s Ultimate Dessert Nacho ($23), available in sections 105 and 117. Fried sopapillas the size of a tortilla chip come topped with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, strawberries, white chocolate chips, and chocolate and caramel sauce. You have permission to eat these with your fingers, the chef said.
A cup to save
Fans can buy a $40 commemorative cocktail tumbler with the Dallas Mavericks and the NBA Finals logo on it. The cups will be sold at more than a half-dozen bars around the AAC, including the Balcones bar on the plaza level, Casa Bacardi on the Terrace Level, Wine Press on the platinum level and several others.
The $40 price doesn’t include the price of the cocktail inside.
New food in the AAC suites
For those on the platinum level of the stadium, Levy’s team has created three new items.
An appetizer from DBQ on the platinum level is the new candied pork belly burnt ends ($14). Chicory smoked pork belly burnt ends are brûléed and finished with chipotle cherry bourbon barbecue sauce. These little bites can also be added to a barbecue platter at DBQ for a $2 upcharge, executive chef Dominguez said.
The Texas-size beef rib burrito ($40) at El Taco Tex on the platinum level is a limited item, with just 15 available for Game 3. The burrito is stuffed with a whole beef rib, the bone still in it, plus cilantro rice, charro peans, and pico de gallo. Customers should pull the bone out of the burrito before eating.
The bacon-wrapped potato with brisket ($18), available at DBQ on the platinum level, is chef Dominguez’s favorite on this list. A giant baked potato is smoked, wrapped in bacon and topped with smoked brisket or pulled pork, then sour cream, cheddar cheese and butter.
For the latest news on the NBA Finals, go to dallasnews.com/sports/mavericks/.
NBA Finals Game 3 is at 7:30 p.m. June 12, 2024 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Game 4 is at 7:30 p.m. June 14, 2024, again at the AAC.
