After Fletcher’s Nerdy Dog and the rest of the fried marathon everyone is running at the State Fair of Texas, you’ll 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 glimpse of the collection of Maverick artifacts that will be on display in the Hall of State at the fair from Friday to October 23.
If you’re a Mavs fan, it’s a must-see stop at the fair, up there with the car building, the legless man, and the four-coupon beer.
And that’s from a self-proclaimed fairground junkie, someone who owns season passes every year.
The Mavs Vault is a journey through the franchise’s 42-year history. Good. The not so good. From the beginning and the first successes, the miserable 90s, the resurgence led by Dirk Nowitzki, the championship and ending with a rather significant nod to Luka Dončić.
The exhibit is divided into a dozen different sections and features a centerpiece of the 2011 championship trophy displayed in front of the banner flying in the rafters of the American Airlines Center with each player’s name on it, along with coach Rick Carlisle and owner Mark Cuban.
Jason Kidd makes major appearances. The same goes for many 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 from equipment manager to deputy general manager.
“It’s nice that we can get it all and get it all in one place,” Grant said. “I’m sure there are a lot of memories for a lot of people here. Moody Madness on its own could be a complete exhibit with all the behind-the-scenes stories.
Harrison said: “It looks fantastic. I hope the fans enjoy it because it’s a great story of our franchise.
The Mavs Vault will be open during normal fair hours and is free with your entry to the fair. The Hall of State is located between Big Tex and Chevy’s main stage.
If you are a sports fan, you have to go.
Twitter: @Esefko