This Day in Sports Business History October 11

On October 11, 1980, the Dallas Mavericks officially made their NBA debut, marking the beginning of one of the league’s most successful expansion franchises. Playing before more than 10,000 fans at Reunion Arena, the Mavericks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 103–92, an early sign of excitement for professional basketball’s return to Dallas after the city’s previous ABA team, the Chaparrals, had left years earlier. The debut wasn’t just a sports milestone—it was a major business moment for the Dallas market. The franchise, valued at roughly $12 million upon entry, would grow into one of the NBA’s most valuable organizations, eventually topping $4 billion under owner Mark Cuban.