After the Fletcher’s corny dog and the rest of the deep-fried marathon that everybody runs at the State Fair of Texas, you will need a place to cool off, relax and take a trip down memory lane.
The Mavs Vault is your perfect stop.
On Wednesday, several hundred lucky fans and dignitaries got a sneak peek at the collection of Maverick artifacts that will be on display at the Hall of State at the fair from Friday until Oct. 23.
If you are a Mavs’ fan, it is a must-see stop at the fair, right up there with the automobile building, the man with no legs and four-coupon beer.
And that’s coming from a self-described Fair junkie, someone who owns season passes every year.
The Mavs Vault is a trip through the franchise’s 42 years of existence. The good. The not-so-good. From the inception and the early success, the miserable ‘90s, the Dirk Nowitzki-led resurgence, the championship, and ending with a rather significant nod to Luka Dončić.
The exhibit is divided into a dozen different sections and has a centerpiece of the 2011 championship trophy displayed in front of the banner that flies in the rafters of American Airlines Center with each players name on it, along with coach Rick Carlisle and owner Mark Cuban.
Jason Kidd makes significant appearances. So do a lot of other Maverick legends like Ro Blackman, Derek Harper and Steve Nash.
On Wednesday, one of the Mavericks’ original owners, Norm Sonju, was on hand for the festivities, as was Keith Grant, who retired this summer after spending every year of the team’s existence performing duties ranging from equipment manager to assistant general manager.
“It’s neat that we could get everything and get it all in one spot,” Grant said. “I’m sure there are a lot of memories for a lot of people here. Moody Madness alone could be an entire exhibit with all the behind-the-scenes stories.”
Said Harrison: “It looks fantastic. I hope fans enjoy it because it’s a great history of our franchise.”
The Mavs Vault will be open during regular fair hours and is free with your admission to the fair. The Hall of State is located between Big Tex and the Chevy Main Stage.
If you’re a sports fan, you gotta go.
Twitter: @Esefko
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