Credit: Credit: Sagun S | The Austin Report (@austinreport)-Instagram
Historically, Texas is more of a baseball or football market. The Dallas Stars moved here in 1993, beginning a rise in interest for the sport over several decades.
Their popularity surged after winning the 1999 Stanley Cup. Now, it’s more popular than ever.
The Stars have sold more than 90% of their arena capacity for over a decade. Consistent elevated interest has the league looking at Texas for their 33rd team.
Another team in Texas is a great proposition for Stars fans who cut their travel time to away games by more than half. The Stars may have a new partner in the state to start a new rivalry with immediately.
Increase in Stars Fans
Many long-time Stars fans have noticed a renewed interest in the sport. The league is setting attendance records every season. Recent expansions are working out. The Seattle Kraken, Utah Mammoth, and Vegas Golden Knights sold out every game last season. Non-traditional hockey markets work.
The Stars have proved that, in part due to an appearance in the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and three straight Western Conference Finals this decade. The Texas hockey market is expanding. Where should the NHL go?
Credit: Sagun S | The Austin Report (@austinreport)-InstagramAustin
The capital of Texas is being looked at for a potential NHL expansion team. Austin now has one million residents, while the greater metropolitan area is at 2.55 million. Austin could work with hockey being the first big-four professional sports franchise in the city.
The Stars already have their minor league team down there in Cedar Park, 24 miles north of Austin.
The only sports there are the Texas Longhorns, whose football team routinely sells out their over 100,000-seat stadium. The 33rd NHL team could work down there with aggressive marketing and ticket sales. Austin is three hours south of Dallas. Austin-Bergstrom Airport is close by for Stars fans attending games via flights.
Houston
The more logical choice is decades in the making. Houston, Texas is one hockey team away from becoming a member of the big-four sports cities. Houston is the 4th-largest city by population in the United States, and largest without an NHL team. The Houston Aeros were a WHA team from 1972 to 1978, winning two titles. They folded but were reinstated from 1994 to 2013 as an IHL and AHL team. NHL legend Gordie Howe played for them during the WHA era. Perhaps it’s time for professional hockey to return to Houston.
The Stars and a Houston NHL franchise would become instant rivals before a game is even played.
These two sports fans hate each other, most notably between the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. Both teams recently won World Series titles this decade. They contested a heated American League Championship Series in 2023 that went seven games. The Silver Boot Series is basically a tie, with the Astros holding a 156-154 record against the Rangers. This rivalry will translate to a hockey team. Nothing is official yet, but Stars fans already dislike them.
A 3-hour 35-minute drive separates these two cities. Call it an even four hours with a mandatory stop at Buc-ee’s in Ennis. This is so much closer than the nearest division foes in St. Louis, Denver, and Nashville. Nashville is 10 hours, St. Louis is also 10, and Denver is 12 hours away. Many more Stars fans will make the trip to Houston to see an away game. If they play downtown, there are plenty of hotels in the area within walking distance of the venue, but don’t walk around the city at night.
The metropolitan area of Houston is gargantuan. Once you hit Conroe, it’s still 40 minutes to downtown. Getting to games may end up as a problem for many Houston sports fans. Stars fans can also fly into one of the two major airports in Houston, George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby. Both are reasonably close to downtown.
Another NHL team in Texas would benefit the Stars. It allows for a more geographically sound rivalry. Both cities need to build a new arena.The new team will have a hefty franchise expansion fee in the high 9-figure range.
Texas does need another hockey team, but a new team joining is also financially plausible. Austin or Houston are the two most logical choices.
Having an in-state rival for the Stars is an interesting concept.
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Tags: Aeros dallas stars Houston Aeros Houston NHL Jason Robertson Lian Bichsel Longhorns Mikko Rantanen nhl stars Texas Longhorns Texas NHL
Categorized:Stars