Dallas makes decision on 2026-27 season ticket prices

Whether it’s about development rookie phenomenon Cooper Flag or to improve their odds in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Dallas Mavericks (21-37) have an eye on the future. After a slump in which they have lost 11 of their last 13 games, they no longer have any realistic hopes of making the playoffs this season.

The organization is asking its fans to remain patient during a painful but somewhat optimistic time. Such a request comes with the understanding that it would be a borderline crime to raise fares.

During Thursday’s 130-121 loss at home to the Sacramento Kings, Mavericks CEO Rick Welts revealed that majority owner Patrick Dumont is keeping ticket costs as they are for the 2026-27 campaign.

“It was one of the strangest meetings I’ve ever had in my 48 years in the league where you sit down with the owners,” Welts said on the Mavs broadcast. “The staff worked for two months to look for little places here or there where the tickets could be cheaper, even when you’re in a year where you’re not going to raise the price much.”

“Patrick preempted the conversation before we could even get started and just said, ‘Look, we didn’t deliver this year. We didn’t deliver the team we expected. We’re not going to raise the ticket price for next year.’ Obviously a popular decision, but also the right one.”

Are the Mavericks taking a step in the right direction?

Dallas has raised prices for season ticket holders after trading franchise mainstay Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last year, so it’s good to know that Dumont has learned something during his short but tumultuous ownership reign. However, no one deserves a pat on the back. This is the least the Mavericks can do after gambling on their future and continuing to tumble down the Western Conference standings.

It will take some time before the organization regains the trust it has lost with its fans, but the Mavs brass must avoid further angering the city. This is a good start. If Flagg continues to climb and will end up leading the franchise back to the playoffs in the near future, Patrick Dumont and company probably won’t hesitate to raise ticket prices again. But there is no reason to jump.

Dallas has a lot to do this offseason. Even a healthy Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg will need help if they want to make noise in the struggling West. Thanks to this decision, fans may now have a little more faith that the Mavericks will do whatever it takes to quickly improve the basketball product.

For the first time since eventually arriving in the city, ownership is an expression of self-awareness. Let the road to redemption begin.