Dallas Fort Worth Area Homes and Real Estate

For the first time since 1986, Dallas Fort Worth will host the NBA All Star Game and all the parties and festivities that come along with it. 

The All Star Game will actually be held not in the American Airlines Arena that is home to the Dallas Mavericks, but instead will be in the newly completed Cowboy's Stadium in Arlington (aka "The Jerry Dome"). 

The seating capacity at Cowboy's Stadium is around 80,000 but can be expanded to over 100,000, which is exactly what some people would likely love to see happen.

Cowboy's owner Jerry Jones and Maverick's owner Mark Cuban are anxiously awaiting to see if attendance at this year's game will shatter the current record of 44,735 fans set at the 1989 NBA All Star game held at the Houston Astrodome.  This years game attendance may have a shot of doubling this old record.

And I expect this will likely be one of the busiest, if not THE busiest, weekend of events in Dallas Fort Worth history. 

In addition to the game itself, there are dozens of events happening throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area starting tomorrow (Thursday).   

If you live in the Dallas area and have driven past downtown lately, you probably couldn't help but notice the larger than life image of Dirk Nowitzki plastered on the side of Bank of America Plaza (the neon green building). 

Dirk is a pretty tall guy, but this really does him justice!

Check out the Hyatt Regency close to Reunion Tower for more larger than life images of some NBA All Star players. 

The downtown Dallas area is expected to have hundreds of thousands of visitors over the weekend.  The only events in recent times that have attracted crowds this large to Dallas were the World Cup in 1994 and the Republican National Convention in 1984.  Police have warned motorists and partygoers in the Dallas area to expect traffic delays and problems with parking. 

Speaking from experience, I can tell you that Dallas is not nice to drivers that park in no parking zones, so don't expect your car to be there when you get back if it wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. Taking cab or hopping on the DART rail may be a much smarter option than risking the traffic and parking nightmare that will likely envelop the city for the rest of the week.  Add to that the two inches of snow expected to fall in Dallas tomorrow night and it might not be a pretty sight for those who are unprepared.

Below is a list of the events planned around the Dallas area for this coming weekend.  Tomorrow night (Thursday) is "opening night" and will likely be the busiest night of the week for events.  Expect security to be extra-tight and dress codes at many of these events to be strictly enforced.  Call the numbers below for full details.

{{{{{{{{{{ THURSDAY DALLAS NBA ALL STAR EVENTS }}}}}}}}}}

• ALL STAR OPENING NIGHT CONCERT - 7PM at the Majestic Theater on Elm Street in downtown Dallas.  Featuring Mary J. Blige, comedian Mark Curry and hosted by actor Mario Lopez.  For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.  Ticket prices $150-$2,500. 
• ALL STAR WEEKEND TIP-OFF PARTY - 9PM at the Palladium Ballroom on South Lamar just south of downtown Dallas.  Call 800-960-4560 for ticket info.  Hosted by rapper Ludacris and basketball great Allen Iverson.
• ZO AND MAGIC'S 8 BALL CHALLENGE - 9PM at Centennial Hall at Dallas Fair Park.  Featuring Magic Johnson, Alonzo Mourning and Mark Cuban.  $50 donation required to attend - Proceeds benefitting the Magic Johnson Foundation.  www.8ballchallenge.com
• EVERYTHING'S BIGGER IN TEXAS- 9PM at TePheJez night club in Dallas.  Benefit for "Laptops for the Wounded" $50 general admission or $125 VIP.  Call 214-744-JAZZ. 
• ALL STAR COMEDY JAM- 8PM at Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie.  Hosted by Shaquille O'Neal.  214-373-8000. 
• ALL STAR HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITY SOIREE - 9PM at Union Station in downtown Dallas.  Tyler Perry, Terence Howard and Kerry Washington will be there.  Call 800-960-4560 for ticket info. 

{{{{{{{{{{ FRIDAY DALLAS NBA ALL STAR EVENTS }}}}}}}}}}

• 944 MAGAZINE'S FRIDAY-SATURDAY-SUNDAY PARTY AT THE BOARD ROOM - Begins Friday at 5PM.  Continues Saturday and Sunday.  The Board Room in Victory Park on Houston street.  Guests will include Russell Simmons and rapper Snoop Dogg.  www.944allstar.com 
• THE VIBE MAGAZINE ALL STARS OF COMEDY EXPLOSION - 7PM at the Majestic Theater.  Featuring Aries Spears, Jay Lamont and Chris Spencer.  Tickets 800-745-3000. 
• P DIDDY DOES DALLAS - 9PM at the Palladium on South Lamar south of downtown.  Pretty obvious who's going to be there.  Tickets - 800-745-3000.   
• CLASH OF THE TITANS - NFL VS NBA ALL STARS - 9PM at Union Station in downtown Dallas.  Tickets 800-960-4560. 
• VIBE MAGAZINE'S COMEDY SHOW AFTER PARTY - 10PM at the Tower Club in Thanksgiving Tower in downtown Dallas.  Hosted by Rickey Smiley.  800-960-4560. 

{{{{{{{{{{ SATURDAY DALLAS NBA ALL STAR EVENTS }}}}}}}}}}

• THE KATT WILLIAMS EXPERIENCE - LIVE IN CONCERT - 7PM at the Majestic Theater on Elm in downtown Dallas.  800-745-3000. 
• PARTY FOR CHAMPIONS - 9PM at the Tower Club at Thanksgiving Tower.  A Red Carpet Event with multiple rooms of entertainment and a cigar bar.  Tickets 800-960-4560.

{{{{{{{{{{ SUNDAY DALLAS NBA ALL STAR EVENTS }}}}}}}}}}

• ALL STAR APPRECIATION DAY - Noon at Union Station.  Featuring complimentary mimosas and massage stations.  Call 800-960-4560. 
• ALL STAR GAME WATCHING PARTY - 6PM at Union Station.  800-960-4560. 
• AND OF COURSE, THE NBA ALL STAR GAME WILL BEGIN AT 7PM CST at COWBOY'S STADIUM IN ARLINGTON.  Ticket prices range from $25 up to more than you and I together can probably afford.  Call 800-745-3000. 

And if you feel like checking out multiple events, consider purchasing an NBA All Star Passport.  Get tickets to 10 events for $399 or VIP access for $899.  Visit www.dallasallstarpassport.com for details. 

Or sit at home and watch it on TV.  That's always fun too....In fact, that may prove to be a smart strategy for Thursday night if it does happen to snow two inches.

In addition to these headline events, many other restaurants, bars and venues will host smaller events that will attract crowds from all over.  Check www.quickdfw.com for more info on smaller local events planned for the weekend.