Breaking Down the Dallas Stars & Mavericks Feud at the AAC: Will the Stars Build a Brand NEW Arena!?

Breaking Down the Dallas Stars & Mavericks Feud at the AAC: Will the Stars Build a Brand NEW Arena!?

The Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks, two teams that have peacefully coexisted at the American Airlines Center for decades, has now taken a turn for the worse. Tensions are rising, the stars are threatening to move, and with the ongoing feud, what is the future of hockey in Big D? Your Locked On Stars, your daily podcast on the Dallas Stars, part of the Locked On podcast network, your team every day. Howdy Stars fans. I’m Joey Ericen, foreign producer 105 through the Fan. Please be sure to subscribe. We are freely available wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. And as always, thank you so much for making us a part of your day and making us your first listen. Welcome to a Thursday edition of Locked On Stars, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. your team every single day. Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app now by visiting FanDuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. It’s about time we discuss the feud between the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks. The Stars are exploring options to move from the American Airlines Center in the near future. Is that something you would be on board with or not? Let me know in the comments below. We are going to dive into all the important information regarding the lawsuits between the Stars and Mavs recently and what a potential relocation could look like. But of course, before we wrap up today’s show, we will preview the Tampa Bay Lightning as the Stars are back in action tonight. But this is a very complex and ongoing situation. First off, I do refer you to Dallas Morning News. They’ve done the leg work on this and have done an excellent job of describing the very complex situation. I just kind of want to hit the the bullet points, give my observations and takeaways as well. But according to the Dallas Morning News, as of Tuesday of this week, the Mavericks filed a petition alleging that the Stars breached a clause in their agreement that requires both teams headquarters to remain inside the city of Dallas. We all know the Stars have operated out of Frisco since 2003. The lawsuit is the latest development in growing tensions between the two franchises over the future of the American Airlines Center and a potential $300 million renovation deal that could extend both teams leases at the arena through 2061. The Mavericks say the Stars backed out of that long-term extension. The Stars, meanwhile, contend that they agree to a different deal that would keep both teams at the arena through 2035. The Mavericks and Stars, of course, have shared the doubleAC since 2001 under their current agreement. Both franchises could leave after the lease expires in 2031. Now, the Stars have responded as of Tuesday night. a counter suit seeking to restore normal operations at the AAAC and prevent the Maverick’s attempted hostile takeover according to a statement from Stars Council Joshua M. Sandler. So, there is a lot of moving parts in this as well. There is discussions uh about the Stars extending their lease and doing renovations to the AAC while the Mavericks end up building an arena, a basketballon arena in downtown Dallas. We all know the Stars are maybe eyeing a move somewhere else in the DFW Metroplex as well. And from what I’ve maybe gathered from that, they could actually really be eyeing that because of a change in demographics. Also, it seems to me, at least from what we hear from President Brad Alberts or some of the quotes I’ve seen in certain pieces, the Stars are looking to do what the Rangers have sort of done in in Arlington with the Texas Live. They want to buy real estate. One of the issues right now is the Stars don’t own any of the real estate around Dallas. And that why that’s why I think they actually are really taking a serious look um at moving. I I’ve also seen that maybe they’re just using that as leverage to try to get um a deal done. Um there is some really good quotes in a WFAA article talking about uh the Stars um are holding the American Airlines Center hostage from uh the Mavs. The Mavs claim that um because the Stars have vetoed investments and payouts to employees, a power the Mavs claim they no longer have because the Stars have not operated in the city of Dallas. Uh, the Mavericks actually have purchased um I guess the operating cost. Um, let me see if I can find the um uh exact specification of it. But uh with the Stars being operated in Frisco, uh the uh the Mavs claim they become the sole owners of companies and therefore had sole control over the operations of the AAC. in the um agreement um whichever team if they decided to to breach the contract they could purchase the operations. So there is also this uh I guess thing about uh the Mavs have money that is potentially I guess owed to the Stars or is the Stars money um it’s in hold somewhere like in Chicago. Um it’s sort of confusing um in in in some degree. Um it of course will all get uh suited out but um the Stars have counters suited as I mentioned and there’s a quote here. It says their lawsuit seeks to marginalize the Dallas Stars to the role of a mere tenant and ultimately drive the team out of Dallas. Uh in the counter lawsuit filed on October 28th. The team alleges the Mavericks owner sent a letter and $110 in cash to the Stars owners, claiming per the team’s 1999 agreement to purchase the Stars stake in the arena because the team relocated its headquarters in Frisco. That is what I was looking for. So, they purchased uh the team’s stake. Um and now the Stars argue that it did not breach any provision in its agreement with the Mavericks. And the only contract requiring the Stars to maintain its principal corporate and executive off offices in Dallas is between the city and the Stars. Uh the Mavericks are not a party to that agreement. The lawsuit reads, “Only the city could allege the Stars violated the franchise agreement,” the Stars said. And now this just recently came out uh from WFAA as well that um there is going to uh be a hearing. Injection hearings are scheduled for November 24th and 25th. During that hearing, a judge will likely determine whether or not to temporarily bar the Stars from arena operations. From there, a mini trial will be held to determine the merits of the Mavericks being able to buy out the Star share, attorneys said. Attorneys for the Mavericks said both parties are working to pay AAC staff their earned bonuses. So, a lot of moving parts and uh a lot of of interesting takes from from both sides here. Um and it’ll be fascinating to see how this all gets solved, but certainly not a a great look. I I feel like for really both sides um and and more importantly it’s just not great for fans I think with everything being in jeopardy. I I’ve seen a lot of takes from the Stars side of things, Stars fans about uh the Mads seem to be trying to get the Stars to foot some of the bill for the for the renovation CAC and then all of a sudden the Mavs go and build a basketball only um arena. I I really don’t have a massive stance on the whole situation. I’ll be completely honest. I I know that’s not great for a a podcast. I I suppose, but there’s just a lot of information. Some of it I feel like is just really over my head. Um the the Mavs also here says they claim the Stars block annual bonuses to Arena employees. As I mentioned, uh Brad Albert has said, “We aren’t going to approve any bonuses until the arena’s business can be returned to a normal state. At that point, the bonuses for employees can be evaluated. And um it it’s just a a really fascinating situation uh about how both teams are trying to I guess uh maybe find a way to to stay to extend a lease. Um it talks about maybe being a 50-50 split. uh while the stars say they were to pay a portion of the cost for the renovations. Um and it also I think the city came back and also said um that they’re not going to just allow the stars to to rent for free basically and all this stuff. there is just a lot of a lot of of claims and that’s why I really encourage you to go read the articles which I’m sure many of you done um in the Dallas Morning News have done um some of this uh but this is a big point that we’re going to kind of break down here in the next segment Stars president Brad Alberts has said in an interview earlier this month looking for a facility this is a quote looking for a facility with 365day revenue the team’s HQ and practice facility is currently in Fris um of Um, the Mavericks under new ownership are looking to build uh a new basketball first arena in Dallas, freeing the Stars to find a new home. And then, uh, of course, now everything’s sort of reached a climax. And the Stars, here’s the quote here. said they um uh he thinks the Plano council member Rick Horn says he thinks the Stars are basically using Plano, probably Frisco, also as a tool to leverage a better deal in the city of Dallas. So, very interesting stuff. Let me know if you have a strong takeaway uh or a strong stance in the comments below. Uh some of it I just like I I I understand it but I I don’t know if I have enough offer uh information. It is a bunch of claims. I don’t know if maybe either side is really in the wrong. Um it just seems to be coming to a head at this point and something has to be solved. So the Stars eyeing a move to Plano or anywhere else in the DFW Metroplex. Is that something you would like? I do have a strong stance on that. I’ll tell you about it in just a moment. Today’s episode of Locked On Stars is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. 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Sources said that the shops at Willow Bend Mall site has emerged as a favorite to land the stars after discussions with cities including Frisco, the Colony, Arlington, and Fort Worth. if the team leaves the doubleAC after the lease expires in 2031. Now, I’m from Richardson. I went to Plano schools, so I live very close to Plano, but I don’t even want to see the stars move to Plano. Frankly, I don’t want the stars to move anywhere. I like that they are located in downtown Dallas. I want them to be located in downtown Dallas. However, that has to occur. I think that is the best case scenario for the Stars and for the majority of Stars fans. Although it may benefit me that they move to Plano because the arena may be closer, if you factor in traffic and all that stuff, I really don’t know if it would shave any time off just because we all know around DFW. It it’s just an absolute s show. No matter where you’re coming from, look at the Rangers and Cowboys. I can’t stand going to Arlington. I can’t stand going out there. Number one, it just takes almost an entire day. It feels like number two, there’s no public transportation to to get out there. There it is no trains. There is no dart. That’s why I love Dallas. You can go on the dart. You can have a few beverages and you don’t have to worry about driving home. You can just take the train. I think it’s safer for all parties involved as well. And it’s just sort of a great middle ground sort of perfect spot in the metroplex. I feel like for Stars fans maybe out in Fort Worth and and whatnot. Look, it’s going to be terrible either way. I I don’t think it’s going to change if the Stars go to Frisco or Plano. Like traffic’s going to be awful. And as a person like myself that doesn’t like going out to Arlington, I can imagine people from Arlington are really going to hate trying to get out to Plano or trying to to get out to, you know, north of Dallas, right? Um it’s just it’s just a hassle. I don’t think I know the dart goes through like downtown Plano. I I don’t think there’s anything over on that that side. I I could be mistaken there, but the lack of public transportation in Dallas is is just an issue in itself. The infrastructure, we all know that. Um it’s not a very walkable city. That’s always the knock um against Dallas. So being in downtown Dallas just alleviates some of that. I’m also biased. I just I like going downtown and seeing ballparks arenas just across the the US. Um, and if there was, like this is stupid, but if the Dallas Stars, I like them being in Dallas. Um, like the Dallas Cowboys haven’t been in Dallas for a while now, like or Dallas County. I I know we all think of Dallas as as Plano. Um, I grew up, like I said, Richardson, I tell everybody I’m from Dallas, like people get it. Um, we all um have we all we all just say Dallas is kind of this encompassing thing, not Dallas County, so to speak. But I I I I am not on board for for them moving at all. Um I I I want them to stay um in downtown Dallas. Um and look, I I’ve seen Stars. I would love for them to come out to Fortwell. Well, of course, if you live out there, you you want them to be closer and I certainly see that. I just think Dallas is kind of in a good area. I know Arlington is actually I think what that is actually the sort of middle of the metroplex. It’s like the uh I I I guess it’s the the halfway point. Not really, but you’ll understand what I’m saying. Between Dallas um and uh uh and Fort Worth, but I I don’t want another team out in Arlington and uh and and Dallas is just a good spot for the Stars. I I I don’t want to see the move. uh even if it would benefit me, I I just I don’t think that um it it’s going to benefit the the large majority of Stars fans. Although I I know Brad Alberts has been on the record of talking about demographics and they’re changing. I know more people are moving north, right? They’re moving to Frisco, the prosper areas of the world. It’s all kind of happening. Um I I think that’s probably the trend. The population uh of North Texas is increasing north that way. Um, but I’ll I’ll say I’m not a big fan of it. Um, and I would like it to be used as leverage. If they are using that, if that is their ploy, I kind of like that. Um, I I think it’s best for whatever they can do to keep it in downtown. You have the Dart, right? You have um I can’t remember TR. It’s the other the one out Fort Worth, the train station um that you’re that you’re able to to get on. Uh the Trinity Rail, I think it is what it’s named. Uh it it it it saves time. Um I think it saves a headache. I think probably I don’t know if you could document it. I probably saves on just accidents uh because of the public transportation. You don’t have to worry. Hopefully if people are making smart decisions, drinking and driving, which can be uh a hassle, I think that’s a big ploy. Like think about someone like me or really anybody that goes to Arlington. and you go out to the the Ranger games, Cowboy games, like uh not that I’m saying everybody’s going to just, you know, get lubricated and get absolutely hammered, but that’s an appeal of going out to a ball game. You know, you’re going to have a few beverages. You want to enjoy a couple of beers. Uh but you but if you go over that line, well, you can’t go over the line, right? you can’t because you have to drive home whether that’s you know 20 minutes or you’re you’re driving 45 minutes to get back. It it just uh I I think it’s safer uh honestly in a lot of ways. I don’t know if you um I don’t know if if you could find numbers to back that up but uh it of it at least gives you options. I think in some other place you just don’t have options in DFW because just the lack of public transportation is just not that good to get um in other parts um of DFW. Maybe I’m completely wrong on that, but I I don’t know if the Willow Ben site specifically is there like a a stop is there station that goes out there for Dart? Uh I I don’t know if there there is. Again, it could be off my my rocker. I know Dart’s always putting up new stuff. There’s probably new tracks and whatnot, new lines. Um, but yeah, I’ll be honest. I I’m not a big fan of it. I would just like them to stay in Dallas and and sort of back to my early point. If you’re gonna be this Dallas Star, you know, why not play in Dallas? I get it. Like, really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. Uh, fans either either way, there’s going to be a certain part of the Metroplex that benefits from it. Uh there’s always going to be a part um that maybe has more negatives. Um I just I think it’s perfect where they are. I don’t know how much much else to to really um explain it. Maybe some of it’s just nostalgia. Um but I certainly see I see the appeal of it from a business perspective. If you’re the stars, I think I brought this in the first segment. They don’t own all the they don’t own any of the real estate around the AAC. So, there’s just not a potential for the 365day revenue that the Stars looking for. And as a president, as an owner like Tom Gardi, like they have to look at that. Um, they have to uh it’s just smart business. Um, but we just don’t want it to come at a cost uh of the fans, right? and this what it feel this feud now just kind of feels like that’s what it may end up being and I don’t think anybody uh wants that. So it certainly stinks. I am just fascinated to see how it it all sort of shapes out. Um I don’t have a again a huge stance. I don’t really want to pick sides like the Stars are to blame, the Mavs are to blame. I think in due time we’ll we’ll figure it out. um in due time we’ll uh we’ll have the the answers um to to all of it. Uh but on a potential move, I’m not a big fan. Let me know. Maybe you are in the comments below. Would love to hear your take uh on that. Um so yeah, that kind of wraps up our our conversation on the feud between the Mavs and Stars um and a potential move for Dallas. Um all righty, let’s preview. Let’s let’s talk actual hockey. Uh let’s uh preview the Tampa Bay Lightning Stars looking to make it four in a row tonight. Tampa Bay not off to a great start. So potential potential great opportunity for the Stars. Let’s dive into it next. Today’s episode of Lockdown Stars is brought to you by Monarch Money. Let’s be honest, most of us can’t even name all our financial accounts, let alone what they’re worth. between 401ks, savings, investments, it’s easy to lose track, and that can mean leaving money on the table. That’s why Monarch Money is there for you. It’s an all-in-one personal finance tool that brings your entire financial life together in one clean, easy to use interface on your laptop or your phone. It allows you to organize your accounts, track your spending, and get a better handle on your investments without ever having to touch a spreadsheet. You can review everything with your partner, see your shared goals, and just make better financial decisions together or just for yourself. They have visual dashboards, smart tools that make it so much easier to understand where your money is going and how it can work harder for you. Don’t let financial opportunity slip through the cracks. Use codelock.nhl, monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. That’s monarchmoney.com. codelock.nhl for half off your first year. [Music] The Stars taking on the Tampa Bay Lightning tonight. A 6:00 puck drop and it is a nationally televised game, part of a TNT double header. This is on the road. Stars are on the road tonight doing a bit of a Florida swing. They take on the Florida Panthers on Saturday. So, uh, a chance to get at the Lightning who have been off to a bit of a a slow start. some usual characters maybe not playing up to their reputations. The Lightning are 44 and two here to begin the season. They’re coming off a victory over Nashville 5-2 during the Frozen Frenzy. Gensel and Cuch are their leading scorers. Vaselki has a couple of wins. He isn’t playing up to his usual standard. 893 save percentage and 2.86 86 goals against average for Vaselpski. They’ve given up 30 goals against that is 12th and they’ve scored 29 which is 21st in the NHL. So they’re a a bit average in some spots um and a bit below average in some other. So they’re not completely playing their best hockey which you could say the same about the Stars. Now, there was some updates uh as well uh about Duchine and uh Oscar Beck from practice yesterday. Uh Duchain and Beck will travel uh with the team. So, they will be in Florida. Rope Hints will not. So, hence will not check in to either to tonight’s game or on Saturday uh against Florida, which stinks after that uh hit he just uh he took from Taylor Hall uh the other week. Special teams battle. Stars slowly improving on the PK. They’re 24th now. Uh Tampa is 88% on the PK. They’re seventh. Stars are third on the power play, 31%. That is scorching. It’s just really good. Uh they picked up a power play goal the other night, of course, in the one- nothing uh shut out of the caps. They’re moving the puck. Well, you know, they’re keeping ranting in and out. Even when Steel Bourke in company, the second unit was trotted out there along with Harley. That unit has looked dangerous at points like they’re creating a ton. Their puck movement has just looked really crisp. There’s a lot more movement on the Sters power play this year, which I I really like. Uh there’s more moving parts. They’re not as stagnant and u it’s helping. They’ve been a bit too passy at points. I just think overall in their game, they’re looking for the pass, the extra pass, maybe a bit too much. Be more liberal with their shooting is what I’m hoping to see from from Dallas. Um but played a a a strong game the other day, holding on to a lead. That was something maybe we didn’t discuss enough on on yesterday’s uh episode. Stars looked way better with a lead yesterday and just a onegoal lead. We’ve already seen their issues with two three goal um advantages, but for the most part uh they did an excellent job against Washington kind of holding on. Um of course the Caps hit three pipes. It wasn’t perfect, but there just wasn’t as many high danger consistent looks for Washington against the Stars uh the the other night. But we we all know the Lightning can put a hurt on you in a hurry. Some really interesting stuff here. Cut is a minus six. Braden Point is a minus N. like that is just intriguing for what those guys are. Um they have some issues in terms of penalties. Uh Lillird, their defenseman’s taking 31 uh 31 penalty minutes this season. That’s the most in the NHL. Um they they rank in in the top half of the league, top 10 of the league and penalty minutes taken this year. So they have found themselves into trouble. But as I mentioned, their PK has been really strong. They’ve now won three games. Uh I I know I said like the record doesn’t look all that great, but they’ve won three in a row. So they’re they’re starting to find a a groove. Anaheim a win, Vegas overtime win, and then Nashville. So very similar last 10 games to the Stars. They lost three in a row. Now they’ve won three. Dallas has done the same. So, these are are two teams that are starting to play better and now meeting here, which uh should be interesting uh tonight. Uh and maybe we see uh a game with some some fireworks. I imagine we’re not going to see a a shut out from maybe other from either side here, but we know Vasileki has given the Stars issues. My gut is maybe the Smith goes tonight. Um, and Otter goes on Saturday uh against Florida. I would imagine they would split it um and not play Otter in in both games. Um, actually, I would say Otter’s probably going to go tonight. They’re going to want to keep him hot. How do you not go back to him um after a shut out? So, just rewind, forget I said that. They’ll probably go Otter tonight and then maybe to Smith on Saturday, depending on how the night goes. Maybe they roll with him. they want to get him uh more consistently uh more consistent. Um and if he’s hot, right, keep keep him hot. Uh would would be my suggestion. Uh some other key nuggets to maybe look at on on Tampa Bay. Uh some slow starts from some guys. So they’re not, you know, Braden Hegel. Uh Hegel was incredible last year. 35 goals. He had 90 points. That was by far a careerhigh. So, some of this may be there. There’s going to be some regression to the mean. They were a bit older on the back end. I they’re not as as stout on the blue line. I I think the Stars can can maybe get after um them on the forche. You uh look at their expected uh goals for this season at five on five. You know, Tampa ranks rather high 53.6. 62 uh which is is seventh uh right now. This is via money pocket. The stars are 16th. So they they can still put a hurt on you. As I mentioned uh I’m I’m interested their expected goal differential. The Stars have been great in that statistic. Tampa in seventh. So this is no slouch. They they’re improving. Stars are improving too. They’re they’re 16th now. At one point they were like 27th. So, these are two teams that are slowly improving um and they’re meeting tonight. So, um it’s going to be a fun one. Tampa always is weird. I feel like sometimes it’s a great game for Doubt, sometimes it’s horrific. It just kind of depends. Florida’s been a bit of a show recently just because, well, Florida’s good, but Tampa seems to be bipolar. Feels like the Stars maybe get trounced or it’s the other way around. So, I’m really curious to see how it all goes. But, um, looking forward to to this one tonight. 6:00 p. Stars Lightning. It’s another nationally televised game on TNT. So, let me know your score predictions in the comments below. Let me know how you’re feeling about the tensions, the feud now with the Mavs, and a potential move for the Stars following uh the lease coming to an end in 2031. All right, that’s going to do it for today’s show. I hope I did a decent job of explaining it, everything. It’s a lot a lot of moving parts and hopefully didn’t feel like I’m just reading off to you, which I I did to some degree. Uh but uh wanted to share some of my opinions on the whole matter as well. Anyways, that’s going to do it for this Thursday edition. Have a great rest of your day, Stars. We’ll be back tomorrow to break down the contest, kick you off into your weekend. So, we’ll see you tomorrow. So long, Stars fans.

The Dallas Stars face their biggest off-ice battle yet as legal warfare with the Dallas Mavericks threatens to push the franchise out of downtown Dallas. Could a $1 billion arena in Plano become reality? Host Joey Erickson breaks down the explosive lawsuits between both franchises over American Airlines Center operations, examining the Mavericks’ claim of a breached agreement and the Stars’ counter-suit alleging a hostile takeover attempt. The discussion covers potential relocation sites including Plano’s Shops at Willow Bend Mall, the business case for 365-day revenue streams, and why downtown Dallas remains the optimal location for fans across the metroplex. Key analysis includes DART accessibility advantages, the Stars’ search for real estate ownership opportunities, and how this dispute compares to the Texas Rangers’ successful Texas Live development. The episode also previews tonight’s matchup against Tampa Bay Lightning, analyzing both teams’ three-game winning streaks, the Stars’ red-hot power play, and injury updates on Matt Duchene and Roope Hintz. Discover why this arena dispute could reshape Dallas hockey forever.

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