Mavericks Appoint New President for Arena Development

• Ethan Kassen has been appointed as the new president of the Mavericks to focus on business operations.
• The team plans to build a new arena by 2031.
• Rick Welts will remain a key figure in the team's development strategy.

Dallas – The Mavericks announced the appointment of their new president, Ethan Kassen, on Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Kassen previously held the position of general director at Timberwolves, where he worked for nine years.

This appointment comes six months after Rick Welts returned from a hiatus to lead the team following the sale of the majority stake of the team to the Adelson family in late 2023. Kassen will be responsible for overseeing operations that allow Welts to focus on the plans for the new arena in Dallas.

The Mavericks plan to build a new arena and entertainment complex, hoping to start construction in the next year. The current lease of the American Airlines Center ends in 2031, and the team is eager to move to the new venue for the 2031-32 season. Kassen and the Mavericks have extensive experience in collaborative work, which will enhance the feasibility of these plans.

Kassen also has experience working with a sports arena, having previously served as the general director of the San Francisco 49ers during the transition of the team to a new stadium. An important task for him in this new role will be to improve the financial performance metrics of the team, especially given that last season the Mavericks changed their television partner to a non-cable broadcaster, which significantly reduced revenues.

In addition, the team plans to increase the level of engagement on game day for its sponsors, which will also become an important aspect of the new arena.

Tags: Sport/Basketball