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{{Short description|Former indoor arena in Dallas, Texas, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Too many sections|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox venue
| name        = Reunion Arena
| nickname            = 
| image               = [[File:Reunion Arena.jpg|300px|Reunion Arena]]
| caption             = Reunion Arena in 2004
| location            = 777 Sports Street<br />[[Dallas]], Texas 75207 U.S.
| coordinates         = {{coord|32|46|22|N|96|48|29|W|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground        = {{Start date and age|1978|03|15}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Dallas Would Welcome NBA Franchise|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/53249744/|newspaper=[[Odessa American]]|date=February 21, 1978|access-date=May 7, 2014|page=14}}</ref>
| opened              = {{Start date and age|1980|04|28}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Reunion Arena|url=http://www.dallascityhall.com/html/reunion_arena_facility.html|publisher=City of Dallas|year=2006|access-date=May 7, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105131852/http://www.dallascityhall.com/html/reunion_arena_facility.html|archive-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref>
| closed              = {{Start date and age|2008|06|30}}
| demolished          = {{Start date and age|2009|11|17}}
| owner               = [[Government of Dallas|City of Dallas]]
| operator            = City of Dallas
| construction_cost   = US$27 million<br />(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|27000000|1980}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect           = [[HKS, Inc.|Harwood K. Smith & Partners, Inc.]]
| structural engineer = Paul Gugliotta Consulting Engineers, Inc.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Arena Is at Foot of Reunion Tower in Dallas' New Convention Complex|journal=Engineering News-Record|volume=203|issue=1–13|page=24}}</ref>
| general_contractor  = [[The Beck Group|Henry C. Beck Co.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=April Up Front|url=http://www.dmagazine.com/Home/1979/04/01/APRIL_UP_FRONT.aspx|work=D Magazine|date=April 1, 1979|access-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref>
| tenants             = [[Dallas Mavericks]] ([[National Basketball Association|NBA]]) (1980–2001)<br />[[Dallas Tornado]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|NASL]] indoor) (1980–1981)<br />[[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]] ([[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92)|MISL]]/[[Continental Indoor Soccer League|CISL]]/[[World Indoor Soccer League|WISL]]/[[Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–08)|MISL II]]) (1984–2004)<br />[[Dallas Texans (Arena)|Dallas Texans]] ([[Arena Football League|AFL]]) (1990–1993)<br />[[Dallas Stars]] ([[National Hockey League|NHL]]) (1993–2001)<br />[[Dallas Stallions]] ([[Roller Hockey International|RHI]]) (1999)<br />[[Dallas Desperados]] (AFL) (2003)
| seating_capacity    = [[Basketball]]:<br />17,772&nbsp;(1980–81)<br />17,134&nbsp;(1981–83)<br />17,007&nbsp;(1983–91)<br />17,502&nbsp;(1991–96)<br />18,042&nbsp;(1996–98)<br />18,121&nbsp;(1998–99)<br />18,190&nbsp;(1999–2008)<br />[[Ice hockey]]:<br />16,500&nbsp;(1980–91)<br />16,914&nbsp;(1991–95)<br />16,924&nbsp;(1995–97)<br />16,928&nbsp;(1997–99)<br />17,000&nbsp;(1999–2008)<br />[[Indoor soccer]]: 16,626 (1993–04)<br />Concerts:
* End Stage: 18,630
* Center Stage: 19,070
* Half House: 9,663
| scoreboard          = American Sign & Indicator, now [[Trans-Lux]]
}}

'''Reunion Arena''' was an [[indoor arena]] located in the [[Reunion, Dallas|Reunion district]] of [[downtown Dallas]], [[Texas]], United States. The arena served as the primary home of the [[National Hockey League]]'s (NHL) [[Dallas Stars]] and the [[National Basketball Association]]'s (NBA) [[Dallas Mavericks]]. The venue's capacity held accommodations for 17,000 for [[ice hockey]] spectators, and 18,190 for [[basketball]] spectators.

Reunion was also a performance venue for some of the biggest names in popular music from the 1980s through the late 2000s including [[Michael Jackson]], [[Paul McCartney]], [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], [[Van Halen]], [[Bon Jovi]], [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Elton John]], [[David Bowie]], [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]], [[Dire Straits]], [[Gloria Estefan]], [[Phil Collins]], [[Mötley Crüe]], [[Pink Floyd]], [[Queen (band)|Queen]], [[Journey (band)|Journey]], [[U2]], [[R.E.M.]] and [[Radiohead]].

Reunion Arena was demolished in November 2009 and the site was cleared by the end of the year.<ref>Dallas City Council approved an extension of 84 days, to make the total number of days for demolition 300. August 12, 2009, Council Minutes.</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Reunion Arena Comes Crashing Down|url=http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/wfaa/stories/wfaa090414_wz_reunion.d376dce6.html|work=[[WFAA]]|location=Dallas|date=November 17, 2009|access-date=November 26, 2012}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Reunion Arena, MISL 1984-85 media guide page 021.tif|thumb|right|Reunion Arena circa 1984]]
Reunion Arena was completed in 1980 at a cost of US $27&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reunion Arena|url=http://basketball.ballparks.com/NBA/DallasMavericks/index.htm|publisher=Ballparks.com|access-date=November 1, 2012}}</ref> It was named for the early mid-19th century commune, [[La Reunion (Dallas)|La Reunion]].{{citation needed |reason=uncited claim |date=September 2016}}  Reunion Arena was notable for two lasts: it was the last NBA or NHL arena to be built without luxury suites, and it was the last NHL arena to still use an American Sign and Indicator scoreboard (though not the last in the NBA—see [[Charlotte Coliseum]]). The color matrix messageboards on that scoreboard were replaced in 1991 with Sony [[Jumbotron]] video screens.

===Home teams and sporting events===
The arena was the home of the [[Dallas Mavericks]] from 1980 to 2001 and the [[Dallas Stars]] from 1993 to 2001. Both teams moved to the new [[American Airlines Center]] in 2001. The [[Dallas Desperados]] arena football team used the arena for its 2003 season but ultimately returned to [[American Airlines Center]].

The arena's last remaining full-time sports tenant was the [[Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)|MISL]] [[Dallas Sidekicks (1984–2004)|Dallas Sidekicks]], but the club was inactive after the fall of 2004.

Reunion Arena also hosted the WCT Tennis Tournament in the 1980s, including [[Virginia Slims]] Invitational Tournament. Due to scheduling conflicts in 1984, the WCT Tennis Tournament forced the Dallas Mavericks to play Game 5 of their first playoff series at [[Moody Coliseum]], against the [[Seattle SuperSonics]]. While nearby [[Southern Methodist University]] competed in the [[Southwest Conference]], Reunion Arena was known by [[University of Arkansas]] Razorbacks fans as "Barnhill South", due to the big following by the Arkansas fans away from home; the [[Barnhill Arena]] was the home to all [[University of Arkansas|UA]] games until 1993. Reunion Arena hosted the [[Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament]] in 1982–1983 and 1985–1996 as well as the 1986 NCAA Final Four.

Reunion was also a venue that was frequently used by [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] in the 1980s, in which the organization held its bi-monthly Star Wars events.

Reunion Arena also served as the venue for [[WWE]]'s December 21, 1999  and November 9, 2000 [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]] show as well as the [[WWF Fully Loaded|Fully Loaded]] Pay-Per-View event in July of the same year.

===Notable dignitaries===
Reunion Arena was long a hot stop for politicians campaigning in Dallas.

President Ronald Reagan spoke at Reunion Arena at a prayer breakfast of an estimated 10,000 people on Aug. 23, 1984, during the Republican National Convention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreaganecumenicalprayer.htm|title = American Rhetoric: Ronald Reagan – Remarks at an Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast in Dallas}}</ref> That night, he accepted the nomination for a second term at the Dallas Convention Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/research/speeches/82384f|title=Remarks Accepting the Presidential Nomination at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas}}</ref>

Reunion Arena was the final campaign stop for Ross Perot, the Dallas billionaire, in his 1992 independent run for president. He drew about 5,000 people.

In 1994, [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Bill Clinton]] visited the arena to watch the [[Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball|University of Arkansas basketball team]] play in the [[1994 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|NCAA tournament]].

President George W. Bush headlined a campaign rally before 13,000 on behalf of Gov. Rick Perry on Nov. 6, 2006.

Barack Obama filled the arena to capacity of 17,000 at a presidential campaign rally on February 20, 2008, with many others turned away by the fire department. It was one of the last events at the venue before it was razed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cityofdallaspreservation.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/a-look-back-at-past-presidential-visits-to-dallas/|title=A Look Back at Past Presidential Visits to Dallas|date=18 February 2019}}</ref>

===Early events===
The arena featured 30,000&nbsp;ft<sup>2</sup> (2,790&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) of floor space and had great sightlines, making it ideal for a number of events and games, including many high school graduations. Although [[The Who]] was widely promoted as the first concert at Reunion on July 2, 1980, the first musical act to perform at the venue was actually [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] on May 9, 1980. At least five other concerts including [[Boz Scaggs]], the [[Commodores]], [[The Oak Ridge Boys]], [[Foghat]] with the [[Pat Travers]] Band, and a triple bill of [[Ted Nugent]], [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]], and [[Def Leppard]] were all booked before the official opening in July.

===Notable music performances===
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}
Listed below are artists and bands who performed at Reunion arena. They are divided up by the year they played, starting in the 1980s. The 1990s and 2000s are divided up a bit more by genre.

====1980s hitmakers====
This is a list of artists who constantly produced hits, and were considered stars during the 1980s, and performed at Reunion Arena. 
{{Columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* [[Hall & Oates]]
* [[Elton John]]
* [[Fleetwood Mac]] 
* [[Queen (band)|Queen]] 
* [[Rush (band)|Rush]]
* [[Bruce Springsteen]] 
* [[Styx (band)|Styx]]
* [[The Cars]] 
* [[Stevie Wonder]] 
* [[Yes (band)|Yes]]
* [[ZZ Top]]
* [[The Moody Blues]]
* [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]]
* [[Foreigner (band)|Foreigner]]
* [[Pat Benatar]]
* [[Billy Squier]]
* [[Loverboy]]
* [[Journey (band)|Journey]]
* [[Kenny Rogers]]
* [[Stevie Nicks]]
* [[Survivor (band)|Survivor]]
* [[Neil Diamond]]
* [[Van Halen]]
* [[Rod Stewart]]
* [[Dan Fogelberg]]
* [[The Police]]
* [[Asia (band)|Asia]]
* [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]]
* [[Olivia Newton-John]]
* [[REO Speedwagon]]
* [[Men at Work]]
* [[The Go-Go's]]
* [[John Mellencamp]]
* [[Heart (band)|Heart]]
* [[Eddie Money]]
* [[Billy Joel]]
* [[Sammy Hagar]]
* [[Night Ranger]]
* [[The Psychedelic Furs]]
* [[The Kinks]]
* [[Neil Young]]
* [[David Bowie]]
* [[The Fixx]]
* [[Jackson Browne]]
* [[Rick Springfield]]
* [[Robert Plant]]
* [[Joan Jett]]
* [[Duran Duran]]
* [[Lionel Richie]]
* [[The Bangles]]
* [[Cyndi Lauper]]
* [[Culture Club]]
* [[U2]]
* [['Til Tuesday]]
* [[Phil Collins]]
* [[Lone Justice]]
* [[Dire Straits]]
* [[Sting (musician)|Sting]]
* [[Mr. Mister]]
* [[Tina Turner]]
* [[The Pretenders]]
* [[Twisted Sister]]
* [[The Pointer Sisters]]
* [[Eurythmics]]
* [[Bruce Hornsby]]
* [[Steve Winwood]]
* [[Bon Jovi]]
* [[Huey Lewis & The News]]
* [[Peter Gabriel]]
* [[The Cult]]
* [[Billy Idol]]
* [[The Cure]]
* [[Roger Waters]]
* [[Whitney Houston]]
* [[Pink Floyd]]
* [[Public Image Ltd]]
* [[INXS]]
* [[R.E.M.]]
* [[Madonna]]
* [[Michael Jackson]]
}}
A number of acts were so popular they booked (and usually sold out) multiple consecutive dates. Some of the most successful multi-night engagements at Reunion Arena included [[Stevie Wonder]] (November 2–3, 1980), [[AC/DC]] (February 1–2, 1982 and October 11–12, 1985), [[Rush (band)|Rush]] (February 28 – March 1, 1983, January 12–13, 1986 and January 19–20, 1988), [[Bob Seger]] and the Silver Bullet Band (May 4–5, 1983), [[Bryan Adams]] and [[Journey (band)|Journey]] (June 8–10, 1983; Journey returned December 2–3, 1986), [[ZZ Top]] (four-night stints September 28 – October 1, 1983, and August 30 – September 4, 1986; two-night engagements on August 30–31, 1986, April 22–23, 1991 and October 29–30, 1994), [[The Police]] with [[UB40]] (November 13–14, 1983), [[Neil Diamond]] (December 4–6, 1983, December 6–8, 1984 and June 9–10, 1986), [[Van Halen]] (September 10–11, 1981, November 18–19, 1982 and July 14–16, 1984), [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] (December 30, 1984 – January 1, 1985), [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] (January 18–19, 1987), [[David Bowie]] (October 10–11, 1987), [[Pink Floyd]] (November 21–23, 1987), [[Michael Jackson]] (April 25–27, 1988), [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] (May 7–8, 1990), [[Mötley Crüe]] with [[Lita Ford]] and [[Faster Pussycat]] (July 30–31, 1990), [[Depeche Mode]] with [[The The]] (October 13–14, 1993), [[Garth Brooks]] (February 13–15, 1998), [[Backstreet Boys]] (March 3–4, 2000), [[Dixie Chicks]] (August 10–11, 2000), and [[Paul McCartney]] (May 9–10, 2002).

==== Hard and classic rock artists ====
Reunion was considered one of the top venues for [[hard rock]] and [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] artists and in its first five years music videos for [[Queen (band)|Queen's]] "[[Another One Bites the Dust|Another One Bites The Dust]]", [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]]' "[[Still Loving You]]" and [[Mötley Crüe]]'s "[[Home Sweet Home (Mötley Crüe song)|Home Sweet Home]]" were all shot in and around the venue.

===== Hard rock =====
{{Columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* [[Van Halen]]
* [[AC/DC]]
* [[Ozzy Osbourne]]
* [[Iron Maiden]]
* [[Judas Priest]]
* [[Aerosmith]]
* [[Ratt]]
* [[Whitesnake]]
* [[Quiet Riot]]
* [[Dokken]]
* [[Dio (band)|Dio]]
* [[Kiss (band)|Kiss]]
* [[Queensrÿche]]
* [[Cinderella (band)|Cinderella]]
* [[Poison (American band)|Poison]]
* [[Megadeth]]
* [[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]]
* [[Metallica]]
}}

===== Classic rock acts =====
Several classic-rock acts played the 18,000-plus seat venue including:
{{Columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* [[The Doobie Brothers]]
* [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]]
* [[Chuck Berry]]
* [[Cheap Trick]]
* [[The Beach Boys]]
* [[John Denver]]
* [[Kansas (band)|Kansas]]
* [[War (U.S. band)|War]]
* [[Santana (band)|Santana]]
* [[Linda Ronstadt]]
* [[Eric Clapton]]
* [[Bob Seger]]
* [[Joni Mitchell]]
* [[James Taylor]]
* [[Jimmy Page]]
* [[Jeff Beck]]
* [[Joe Cocker]]
* [[Black Sabbath]]
* [[David Gilmour]]
* [[Bob Dylan]]
* [[Grateful Dead]]
* [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]]
* [[Paul Simon]]
* [[Bad Company]]
* [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]]
* [[Jimmy Buffett]]
* [[Joe Walsh]]
}} 
On March 18, 1995 [[Led Zeppelin]] principals [[Robert Plant]] and [[Jimmy Page]]—each of whom had played the venue as headliners and Page with British supergroup [[The Firm (rock band)|The Firm]]—reunited to play blues covers, songs from their respective solo careers and Zeppelin classics fin the style of their 1994 collaboration ''[[No Quarter (album)|No Quarter]]''. The duo returned to Reunion Arena September 27, 1998, in support of their follow-up ''[[Walking into Clarksdale]]''.

===== Country artists =====
Country music superstars also dominated the scene at Reunion Arena in the 1980s beginning with a triple bill of [[Willie Nelson]], [[Ray Price]] and [[Lacy J. Dalton]] on December 30, 1980. Other country artists of note at Reunion Arena included: 
{{Columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* [[Larry Gatlin|The Gatlin Brothers]]
* [[Loretta Lynn]]
* [[Alabama (American band)|Alabama]]
* [[Dolly Parton]]
* [[Barbara Mandrell]]
* [[Eddie Rabbitt]]
* [[Juice Newton]]
* [[George Strait]]
* [[Randy Travis]]
* [[The Judds]]
* [[Hank Williams Jr.]]
* [[Tanya Tucker]]
* [[Alan Jackson]]
* [[Garth Brooks]]
* [[Clint Black]]
* [[Reba McEntire]]
* [[Shania Twain]]
* [[Tim McGraw]]
* [[Faith Hill]]
}}

==== Soul, R&B, funk, rap and hip-hop acts ====
Many top names in soul, R&B and funk played at Reunion including [[Teddy Pendergrass]], [[Commodores]], [[Diana Ross]], [[Rick James]], [[The Temptations]], [[Ray Parker Jr.]], [[The Gap Band]], [[Marvin Gaye]], [[Al Jarreau]], [[The Isley Brothers]], [[Ray Charles]], [[Luther Vandross]], [[Earth, Wind & Fire]], [[Gladys Knight & the Pips]], and [[Kool & the Gang]]. [[The Jackson 5|The Jacksons]]—brothers Michael, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon, Randy and Tito—performed on July 11, 1981, as part of the Triumph Tour, performing both a Jackson 5 medley as well as covers of Michael's 70s hits including "Off The Wall", "Rock With You", "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", and more. In April 1988, [[Michael Jackson]] returned for a three-night engagement in support of his ''[[Bad (album)|Bad]]'' album. Janet Jackson headlined Reunion Arena on July 2, 1990, touring behind her smash album ''[[Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814|Rhythm Nation 1814]]''. Prince played two New Year's Eve shows at Reunion Arena—on December 31, 1982, with [[Vanity 6]] and [[The Time (band)|The Time]], and again on December 30–31, 1984, through January 1, 1985, with [[Sheila E.]]

The venue was also host to some of the first large-scale hip-hop and rap concerts in Dallas including [[Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five]] on November 29, 1980, and a triple bill with [[Run-DMC]], [[Beastie Boys]] and [[Timex Social Club]] on June 15, 1986 (the Run-DMC/Beastie Boys pairing proved successful enough to warrant a return engagement on July 24, 1987). In the 1990s and 2000s hip-hop and rap acts as diverse as [[MC Hammer]], [[Bobby Brown]], [[Method Man]] and [[Redman (rapper)|Redman]], [[DMX (rapper)|DMX]], [[Jay-Z]], and [[Eminem]] would eventually headline the venue.

==== 1990s and 2000 performances ====

=====1980s groups in the 1990s=====
Many 1980s stars played Reunion in the early 1990s including:
* [[Debbie Harry]]
* [[Tears for Fears]]
* [[Gloria Estefan]]
* [[George Michael]]

=====Pop acts=====
Top 1990s pop acts also played the venue, including [[Melissa Etheridge]], [[Jewel (singer)|Jewel]], [[Ricky Martin]], [[Backstreet Boys]], [[NSYNC]], [[Third Eye Blind]], [[The Wallflowers]], [[Everclear (band)|Everclear]], [[No Doubt]], [[Creed (band)|Creed]], [[The Black Eyed Peas]], and [[Gwen Stefani]].

Although legacy hard rock acts like Aerosmith and Rush continued to be big draws in the 1990s and 2000s the headliners at Reunion Arena were often aggressive radio-rock acts like [[Primus (band)|Primus]], [[Korn]], [[Incubus (band)|Incubus]], [[Pantera]], [[Rob Zombie]], [[Limp Bizkit]], [[Staind]], [[Bush (British band)|Bush]], [[Blink-182]], [[Marilyn Manson (band)|Marilyn Manson]], [[Godsmack]], [[Kid Rock]], [[Rammstein]], [[System of a Down]], and [[Tool (band)|Tool]].

Alternative rock bands including [[Sonic Youth]], [[Social Distortion]], U2, [[Pixies (band)|Pixies]], [[Morrissey]], [[Radiohead]], [[Garbage (band)|Garbage]], [[The Smashing Pumpkins]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[Alanis Morissette]] and [[PJ Harvey]] all played Reunion Arena in the 1990s and 2000s.

After the [[Dallas Stars]] and [[Dallas Mavericks]] moved to [[American Airlines Center]] in 2001, that newer and larger venue also began to attract sporting and concert events. In early 2002, Reunion Arena booked engagements including [[Bob Dylan]], [[NSYNC]], [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]], and [[Paul McCartney]]. But the venue fell out of favor with music promoters that summer and went more than two years without a major concert event. [[The Black Eyed Peas]] and [[Gwen Stefani]] played on November 11, 2005, the last major act to perform at Reunion Arena.

The final performance at Reunion Arena was [[Christian hip hop]] act [[Group 1 Crew]] with Phoenix-based pop-punk group [[Stellar Kart]] on June 28, 2008.

=== Live recordings and music videos ===
The [[music video]] for [[Queen (band)|Queen]]'s "Another One Bites The Dust" was filmed at Reunion Arena on August 9, 1980.

The [[music video|video]] for the [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions']] "[[Still Loving You]]" was filmed at Reunion Arena in 1984.

[[Mötley Crüe]] shot the video for "[[Home Sweet Home (Mötley Crüe song)|Home Sweet Home]]" partially at Reunion Arena (exteriors and time lapses) on October 2, 1985. The concert footage was shot two days later at Houston concert venue [[Lakewood Church Central Campus|The Summit]].

[[Judas Priest]] played June 27, 1986, recording the entire show which parts can be found on the ''[[Priest...Live!]]'' album. A full concert DVD was released as well. [[Pink Floyd]] played three consecutive shows at Reunion in November 1987. Pop singer [[Whitney Houston]] played two sold-out concerts at Reunion in September 1987.

[[Country music]] superstar [[Garth Brooks]] filmed his first television special, ''This Is Garth Brooks'', in the arena on September 20, 1991. The concert became noteworthy after Brooks and guitarist [[Ty England]] smashed two guitars on stage.

Country music star [[Shania Twain]] filmed her performance for the [[Come On Over Tour]] in the arena on September 12, 1998, and later released on her first DVD, ''[[Live (Shania Twain DVD)|Shania Twain Live]]''.

[[Frank Sinatra]] played Reunion Arena three times: in 1984, 1987 and 1989. His October 24, 1987, concert was recorded and released in 2018 as part of the ''Standing Room Only'' album.

[[Metallica]]'s February 5, 1989, show at Reunion Arena was broadcast nationally on FM radio and widely bootlegged. An abbreviated version of this recording was eventually released on CD in 2001 as part of the ''Fan Can 4'' box set.

===Motor racing===
{{Infobox motorsport venue|
 | name              = Dallas street circuit
 | location          = [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas, TX]], US
 | opened            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1993|09|19}}
 | closed            = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1996|09|01}}
 | events            = [[Shelby Can-Am|SCCA Dodge Shelby Pro series]] (1993)<br /> [[Trans-Am Series]] (1993–1994, 1996)<br /> [[IMSA GT Championship]] (1996)<br />
 | layout           = Circuit (1993–1996) 
 | length_km         = 2.076
 | length_mi         = 1.290
 | turns             = 10
 | record_time       = 0:52.500
 | record_driver     = {{flagicon|CHL}} [[Eliseo Salazar]]
 | record_car        = [[Ferrari 333 SP]]
 | record_year       = [[1996 IMSA GT Championship|1996]]
 | record_class      = [[Le Mans Prototype#History|WSC]]
}}

A temporary [[street circuit]] at Reunion Arena, known as the '''Dallas street circuit''', was set up around the arena, and used some of the surrounding streets. The track was {{cvt|1.290|mi|km|abbr=on}} in length, had 10 turns, and hosted its first event on [[1993 Trans-Am Series|September 19, 1993]], with the [[Trans-Am Series]] visiting the circuit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thethirdturn.com/wiki/1993_Grand_Prix_of_Dallas |title=1993 Grand Prix of Dallas |publisher=The Third Turn |date=2022-06-26 |accessdate=2023-04-04}}</ref> The track hosted the [[Shelby Can-Am|SCCA Dodge Shelby Pro series]] in 1993, the Trans-Am Series between 1993 and 1994, and in 1996, and the [[IMSA GT Championship]] hosted its sole event at the circuit in 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimateracinghistory.com/racelist3.php?trackid=801 |title=Race List |publisher=Ultimate Racing History |accessdate=2023-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.na-motorsports.com/Tracks/TX/DallasReunion.html |title=Reunion Arena, Dallas |publisher=Na-motorsports.com |date=2005-08-22 |accessdate=2023-04-04}}</ref>

===Lap records===
The fastest official race lap records at the former Dallas Street Circuit (Reunion Arena) are listed as:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Category!!Time!!Driver!!Vehicle!!Event
|-
! colspan=5 | Street Circuit: 2.076&nbsp;km (1993–1996) 
|-
| [[Le Mans Prototype#History|WSC]] || '''0:52.550'''<ref name='dallas_2h_1996'>{{cite web |title=2 h Dallas 1996 |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/race/Dallas-1996-09-01-2568.html |date=1 September 1996 |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> || {{flagicon|CHL}} [[Eliseo Salazar]] || [[Ferrari 333 SP]] || [[1996 IMSA GT Championship|1996 Grand Prix of Dallas]]
|-
| [[Trans-Am Series|Trans-Am]] || '''0:55.690'''<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Trans-Am Box Scores |url=http://cms.scca.com/documents/Pro%20Racing/Archives/Trans-Am/1994.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518144148/http://cms.scca.com/documents/Pro%20Racing/Archives/Trans-Am/1994.pdf |date=18 September 1994 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=3 April 2023}}</ref> || {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Ron Fellows]] || [[Ford Mustang#Road racing|Ford Mustang]] || [[1994 Trans-Am Series|1994 Dallas Trans-Am round]]
|-
| [[IMSA GT classes#Grand Touring Supreme|GTS-1]] || '''0:57.437'''<ref name='dallas_2h_1996' /> || {{flagicon|USA}} [[Irv Hoerr]] || [[Oldsmobile Aurora]] || [[1996 IMSA GT Championship|1996 Grand Prix of Dallas]]
|}

===Other uses===
On the morning of [[September 11 attacks|September 11, 2001]], Reunion Arena was opened to serve as the location for an emergency blood drive.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/468321_dallasreaxweb.html |title=The Dallas Morning News: Latest News |website=www.dallasnews.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010912024433/http://www.dallasnews.com/latestnews/468321_dallasreaxweb.html |archive-date=12 September 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In late 2005, the arena and the [[Dallas Convention Center]] were used as the primary Dallas shelters for evacuees of [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2019-01-16|title=Reunion Arena has been gone for nearly 10 years. Curious Texas looks at why it was demolished|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/curious-texas/2019/01/16/reunion-arena-has-been-gone-for-nearly-10-years-curious-texas-looks-at-why-it-was-demolished/|access-date=2020-10-25|website=Dallas News|language=en}}</ref>

===Closure and demolition===
[[File:Dallas Reunion Arena demolition.jpg|thumb|Reunion Arena, October 2009]]
After a unanimous vote by the Dallas City Council, Reunion Arena officially closed on June 30, 2008. In August 2008, the council said it would implode the arena if it could find an entity willing to foot the bill. The council hoped for the implosion to be part of a movie scene with the film company picking up the tab for the implosion. When no filmmaker seemed interested, the city decided to demolish it using other methods, a process which took several months.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Only Incentive Dallas Can Offer Filmmakers: Blow Us Up, Please?|first=Dave|last=Levinthal|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/the-only-incentive-dallas-can-offer-filmmakers-blow-us-up-please-7115512|newspaper=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=August 21, 2008|access-date=December 20, 2022}}</ref>

Demolition was officially completed on November 17, 2009, and the site was completely cleared by the end of the year. In 2011, Prince was to perform as part of [[Super Bowl XLV]]-related festivities, but the show was canceled due to inclement weather. And in September 2012, Cirque du Soleil's ''[[Koozå]]'' took place here.

==Former Reunion Arena site today==
The Reunion Arena site today is now known as Reunion Park with events throughout the year. In 2014, [[Bruce Springsteen]] played a concert at the park as the Dallas region played host to [[March Madness]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce Springsteen Setlist at March Madness Music Festival 2014|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/bruce-springsteen/2014/reunion-park-dallas-tx-6bc3be0a.html|access-date=2021-02-05|website=setlist.fm|language=en}}</ref> In 2015, [[Weezer]] headlined a concert at the park.<ref>{{cite web|date=2015-10-10|title=Reunion fest recap: Weezer, fireworks and more bring thousands to downtown|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/10/10/reunion-fest-recap-weezer-fireworks-and-more-bring-thousands-to-downtown/|access-date=2021-02-05|website=Dallas News|language=en}}</ref>

==Notable events==
{{more citations needed section|date=January 2022}}
[[File:Reunion Arena entrance, Duke Chronicle 1986-04-02.jpg|thumb|right|Reunion Arena hosted the [[1986 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|1986 NCAA Final Four]].]]
*1980: [[Parliament-Funkadelic]] played the first concert to be held at the arena.
*1980: [[Queen (band)|Queen]] performed during [[The Game Tour]] on August 9; the [[music video]] for their hit song "[[Another One Bites the Dust]]" was recorded at the arena.<ref>[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/live/queen2.htm#1980gamenorthamerica 1980 The Game North American Tour] Ultimate Queen. Retrieved September 1, 2011</ref>
*1982: [[Ozzy Osbourne]] performed with guitar virtuoso [[Randy Rhoads]], who was killed in a plane crash less than a month later.
*1982: On November 25, singer [[Linda Ronstadt]] performed her famous ''Happy [[Thanksgiving Day]]'' concert, one of the first  ''via [[satellite]]'' concerts, by a female solo artist, to be broadcast live on radio stations across the nation.<ref name=dallas>{{cite web|title=Linda Ronstadt's promo ad for live Dallas radio concert broadcast|url=http://www.lindaronstadt.com/files/scans/1982_dallas_radio_concert.jpg|publisher=Lindaronstadt.com|access-date=November 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128102836/http://www.lindaronstadt.com/files/scans/1982_dallas_radio_concert.jpg|archive-date=2007-11-28|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1982: On December 25 at [[World Class Championship Wrestling]] (WCCW) [[WCCW Star Wars (1982)|Christmas Star Wars]], during the [[cage match]] between [[Ric Flair]] vs. [[Kerry Von Erich]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] refereed by [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]], an [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Angle|angle]] was performed which led to the Von Erich family vs. [[The Fabulous Freebirds|Fabulous Freebird]] [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]].{{Clarify|date=March 2025|reason=Needs to be rewritten in plain English (no wrestling jargon) with a clear explanation of what happened and why it was significant}} Astronomical levels of business occurred for the  promotion during 1983 and 1984 as a result.
*1983: The first wrestling sellout, of more than 17,000, was on June 17, headlined by [[Harley Race]] vs. [[Kevin Von Erich]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]], and [[Bruiser Brody]] and [[Kerry Von Erich]] vs. [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]] and [[Terry Gordy]] (two-thirds of the [[Fabulous Freebirds]]).
*1983: On November 13 and 14, [[The Police]] played two sold-out concerts as part of their Synchronicity Tour.
*1984: [[Black Sabbath]] played there on their completely sold-out [[Born Again Tour 1983|Born Again Tour]], with [[Deep Purple]]'s [[Ian Gillan]] on vocals.
*1984: [[Scorpions (band)|Scorpions]] filmed their video for "[[Still Loving You]]".
*1985: [[Phil Collins]] performed here during the [[No Jacket Required Tour]]. The show was filmed for a video release called "No Ticket Required".
*1985: [[Mötley Crüe]]'s Theatre of Pain Tour stopped here; they filmed their video for "Home Sweet Home".
*1986: [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] men's basketball Final Four and [[NBA All-Star Game]]
*1986–1987: [[George Strait]] performed and recorded George Strait Live on New Year's Eve
*1987: [[Frank Sinatra]] performed and recorded a show on October 24, featured in his 2018 posthumous live compilation album, ''Standing Room Only''.
*1988: [[Michael Jackson]] performed three consecutive sold–out shows at Reunion Arena, during his [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]] on April 25–27, 1988.
*1988: [[Prince (musician)|Prince]] performed a sold-out show during his [[Lovesexy Tour]] on November 29, 1988. 
*1989: [[1989 MISL All-Star Game]]
*1990: [[Madonna (entertainer)|Madonna]] performed two sold-out shows from her [[Blond Ambition Tour]] on May 7 and 8.
*1991: [[Garth Brooks]] taped his first television special, ''This Is Garth Brooks!'', during a sold-out concert in September. The special airs on [[NBC]] in early 1992. It was released on VHS on June 16, 1992, and it waslater included as part of the November 2006 DVD release, ''Garth Brooks – The Entertainer''. The concert was notable for Brooks and [[Ty England]] smashing two acoustic guitars together.
*1993: The first [[Dallas Stars]] hockey game was played against the [[Detroit Red Wings]] on October 5. The Stars defeated the Red Wings 6–4. 
*1998: [[Shania Twain]] taped her television special ''[[Live (Shania Twain DVD)|Shania Twain Live]]'', on September 12, which was aired exclusively on DirecTV for free. The special was later released on DVD in November 1999. Three of her music videos were also taken from this performance.
*1999: Games 1, 2, and 5 of the [[1999 Stanley Cup Finals]] were played between the Stars and [[Buffalo Sabres]]. The Stars won the cup in Game 6 over the Sabres 2–1 in the third overtime period at Buffalo's [[KeyBank Center|HSBC Arena]]. 
**Barney the Purple Dinosaur's 4th live stage show & second tour ''[[Barney's Musical Castle]]'' began performing.
*2000: Games 3, 4, and 6 of the [[2000 Stanley Cup Finals]] were played between the Stars and [[New Jersey Devils]]. However, the Devils won the Stanley Cup, defeating the Stars in Game 6, 2–1 in the second overtime period.
*2000: [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF]] [[WWF Fully Loaded#2000|Fully Loaded]].
*2003: [[Big 12 Conference]] women's post-season basketball tournament
*2003: [[NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship|NCAA Women's Volleyball Division I Final Four]]
*2004: Big 12 Conference women's post-season basketball tournament
*2006: Big 12 Conference women's post-season basketball tournament
*2007: NCAA women's basketball tournament regional
*2008: [[Barack Obama]] filled the venue for a campaign rally. Following this, Reunion Arena closes.
*2009: Reunion Arena is demolished.

==See also==
*[[List of tallest buildings in Dallas]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110709020105/http://photos.dfwstructures.com/v/Reunion-Demo/ Reunion Arena demolition progress photos]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080229072226/http://www.reunionarena.org/ Official website, archived from February 29, 2008]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Mavericks]]
 | years = 1980–2001
 | before = –
 | after  = [[American Airlines Center]]
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{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Stars]]
 | years = 1993–2001
 | before = [[Met Center]]
 | after  = [[American Airlines Center]]
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{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Desperados]]
 | years = 2003
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{{succession box
| title = [[NCAA]] [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Men's Division I]]<br />[[NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|Basketball Tournament]]<br />Finals Venue
| years = 1986
| before = [[Rupp Arena]]
| after = [[Louisiana Superdome]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the<br />[[NBA All-Star Game]]
 | years = 1986
 | before = [[Hoosier Dome]]
 | after = [[Kingdome]]
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 | title = Home of the<br />[[Roller Hockey International|Dallas Stallions (RHI)]]
 | years = 1999
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 | years = 1980–1981
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{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br />[[Dallas Texans (arena)|Dallas Texans]]
 | years = 1990–1993
 | before= –
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{{end}}
{{Dallas Stars}}
{{Dallas Mavericks}}
{{Dallas Tornado}}
{{Dallas Texans (Arena)}}
{{Dallas Desperados}}
{{Downtown Dallas}}
{{Former NBA arenas}}
{{Former NHL arenas}}
{{Pirelli World Challenge circuits}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1980 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:2008 disestablishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Dallas Tornado sports facilities|r]]
[[Category:Defunct basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct college basketball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor arenas in Texas]]
[[Category:Defunct indoor soccer venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct motorsport venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Former NBA venues]]
[[Category:Defunct National Hockey League venues]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Texas]]
[[Category:Hurricane Katrina disaster relief]]
[[Category:IMSA GT Championship circuits]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1980]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2009]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Dallas]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) indoor venues]]
[[Category:Dallas Stallions]]
[[Category:Dallas Stars]]
[[Category:Dallas Mavericks]]