Mavs governor Patrick Dumont looking for ‘heartbeat of the city’ during finals run

It was clear that Patrick Dumont wanted to put his best Dallas Mavericks face forward at his first official local media event Friday afternoon.
About a dozen broadcast, sports and business reporters were invited to talk with Dumont, governor of the Mavs organization, in a series of sessions at the team’s practice facility near American Airlines Center, before game 4 of the NBA Finals.
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“This business is very challenging, but it’s also incredibly fun,” he said during his session with The News and two other business journalists. “There’s 18,000 friends when you’re in the arena. There’s no real way to prepare yourself for it.
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“It’s better than anything that I imagined it would be.”
So are his courtside seats.
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“It’s a very big thrill. I never did that in my life before,” Dumont said. “There’s a game within a game — the talking on the court, the physicality. Where I used to sit way up high, you didn’t really see a lot of that.”
He gave shoutouts to Cynt Marshall, CEO of the Mavs organization, and its general manager Nico Harrison, who were in the conference room with him.
“The character of the organization is fantastic. I don’t know what you can see from the outside, but from the inside, it’s unbelievable,” he said. “There’s camaraderie, and lunch is good.
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“I really enjoy hospitality, food and beverage. Unfortunately, when you look at me you see I like to eat a lot. Probably not the best thing for me.”
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In November, Mark Cuban sold a majority stake in the Mavs to the Adelson and Dumont families for nearly $4 billion. Dumont is the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Dumont, who grew up in Brooklyn and lives in the Las Vegas area, serves as president and chief operating officer of the family-controlled, publicly held Las Vegas Sands Corp.
“Business is inherently local, so understanding the heartbeat of the city is important,” he said. He’s been meeting individuals and small groups of people to learn the “ethos of the community.”
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Former NFL football running back Emmitt Smith, left, sits with former NBA basketball players Dirk Nowitzki, second from left, and Steve Nash, second from right, and businessman Patrick Dumont, right, during the second half in Game 3 of the NBA basketball finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde) (Sam Hodde / ASSOCIATED PRESS)
What does he see as the heartbeat of Dallas six months into the job?
“I travel all over the world, and there’s a warmth in Dallas that should be respected and appreciated, because you don’t get that everywhere. That’s been one of the biggest surprises.”
His family members are obviously huge NBA fans, he said. “But we also fundamentally believe in the future of the city of Dallas and the future of Texas. … We think it’s a great place to invest, and we look forward to investing more in the future.”
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He reiterated his family’s commitment to the city of Dallas and its lease with the AAC that runs until 2031. “Our goal is to fill that lease and continue to invest in that facility, along with the Stars and the city to enhance the fan experience.
When it comes to ownership of the Mavericks, the family is focused on anything that helps the team, he said. “That means investing in the community, investing in the arena along with the Stars and the city.”
And, yes, looking to the future for an NBA dynasty.
It’s well-known that Las Vegas Sands wants to bring casino gambling to Texas with Dallas-Fort Worth as its epicenter.
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Months before the purchase became public, an affiliate of the casino-resort developer quietly amassed eight properties with a total of 259 acres near the former Texas Stadium site.
News of the land grab immediately generated rampant speculation that this would be where Sands Las Vegas would build one of its signature casino/resort developments and possibly relocate the Mavs from downtown.
But Dumont mostly deflected questions about whether the real estate development, gaming and resort company had added to its holdings or has made plans for moving forward.
“Las Vegas Sands is going to look at land that they think is attractive and make decisions on that land when it becomes available,” he said. “That’s a Las Vegas Sands discussion, not a Dallas Mavericks discussion.”
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But he temporarily put on his Las Vegas Sands hat, saying the company is on the lookout for more than a casino and resort foothold. “We feel [Dallas-Fort Worth] is ripe to be the epicenter for tourism, business and leisure in the region. Our goal is to be part of that,” he said. “The timing is uncertain, but we’re patient.”
So which does he like working with more, the NBA or the Texas Legislature?
“We have a lot of friends in the Texas Legislature,” Dumont said. “When the Legislature is in session, I enjoy it. I may be the only person in the world to say that, but I totally enjoy going down there, meeting the personalities, hearing what they have to say and seeing the political process. It’s an important part of our democracy.”