By RICHARD ALM / The Dallas Morning News

Belo said Wednesday that it sold its minority stake in the Dallas Mavericks and American Airlines Center to Mark Cuban, the team's owner.

The Dallas-based media company said it would receive $27 million for its 12.38 percent share of the National Basketball Association team and its 6.19 percent stake in the new downtown arena where the Mavericks and Dallas Stars play. Belo announced in July 1999 that it had paid $24.5 million to become part-owner of the Mavericks.

Belo also withdrew the lawsuit it filed against Mr. Cuban that alleged that he reneged on an agreement to purchase the Belo stake under the same financial terms offered to former Mavericks owner Ross Perot Jr.