Earlier this week, big news broke out in the city of Dallas. For the first time in franchise history, the Dallas Stars will be playing their home games in Plano, Texas. A controversial, yet inevitable decision made by Stars owner Tom Gaglardi.
Most fans don’t like it
Many fans aren’t happy about what will be a longer drive to see a Stars game in person. Dallas is a major city that has its share of problems with its traffic. Congestion, traffic jams, and simply part of being in a major city having a lot of people. Many season ticket holders are going to have a tough time going to the games.
Also in hockey, there are multiple games played a week. It’s not like in football where the Dallas Cowboys play one game a week so fans aren’t as bothered about driving to a suburb to attend a game. The Stars will start playing 42 games in roughly six months. This is because the NHL will start having 84 games instead of the long-standing 82 game season starting in October. Oftentimes there are more than just one home game a week. Then you factor in the playoffs. That’s a minimum
There are fans all over the Dallas/Fort Worth area. There will be fans who will have an easier time getting to the upcoming Plano rink. Time will tell how much of a benefit, or a deficit the crowd size we’ll see.
There has yet to ever be a success story of a sports team relocating from the city to a suburb. Time will tell if the Stars franchise will benefit, or regress.
It’s not just the Stars leaving the AAC
Following a court victory for the Dallas Mavericks over the Stars, both teams will be leaving the American Airlines Center. Even though the Mavericks won full control of the arena, the NBA’s Dallas team decided the arena isn’t up to date enough and bolted for North Dallas in the old valley view mall site.
It’s ironic that one club would sue another that they share an arena with. Win the court cases. Still, they decide to head out to a new home anyways. Business reasons are always going to have something to do with it, such as arena renovations. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s not a good look for a lot of people in the metroplex.
Uncertainty surrounds victory park. Which will soon become the former home to the Stars, and Mavericks. Jobs will be lost in the area. The key for restaurant owners, and other employers and employees in the area is to adapt to the changes.
Money talks
You’re the owner of the Stars in Gaglardi. Your options are to stay at the AAC, and it’ll cost you $500 million in renovations. Plus, the courts sided with the Mavs over your team. On the other hand, you’re offered $700 million towards a new arena, and you move your team to a suburb of Dallas. Most people, if not everybody in Gaglardi’s shoes are moving the team.
Photo credit: dmagazine.com
As cliche as it sounds, the NHL is a business. Especially for the owner. There’s no way there was going to be a scenario that’ll please everybody.
Featured photo: thefaceoff.net
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Categorized:Stars