The Dallas Stars aren't content to sit near the top of the NHL's Western Conference. The team is capitalizing on its success by acquiring local clubs and building new youth sports-focused facilities around North Texas.
The team's new youth sports empire will extend far beyond the ice and boards, as some facilities will have space built for other sports such as basketball and volleyball.
In addition to the purchase and upcoming rebrand of The MAC, an 80,780-square-foot facility in Lewisville, the Dallas Stars plan to build two new multisport facilities from the ground up in Farmers Branch and Northlake. ing. Starting in 2025, the team will own and operate 11 youth sports facilities in the state, three of which will include non-hockey facilities. Eight of those will be dedicated to hockey, called StarCenters. The three facilities, The MAC, Farmers Branch, and Northlake, will have space for basketball, volleyball, and more. These are called StarCenter Multisport Arenas.
For Dallas Stars President and CEO Brad Alberts, the move was a natural one and one he had long wanted to make, given his family's involvement in youth sports. he said.
“We think youth sports is a great business both in the short and long term, and Dallas is a great youth sports market,” Alberts said. “My daughter played youth volleyball and now we own Texas Advantage Volleyball. That's when we said, 'We have the infrastructure, so why not branch out into other sports?' I think that's what happened. I don't think anyone is better positioned to operate and build these facilities than we are. ”
According to , between 2010 and 2017, the youth sports industry grew 55% and is now worth $19 billion. washington post. This number is greater than the revenue of both the NBA and NFL. Youth sports have always been taken seriously in Texas, with high schools like Prosper Independent School District spending more than $50 million on football stadiums.
The Starz Farmers Branch facility will be 90,000 square feet and is expected to be completed by January 2025. The Northlake facility will be the team's first facility at 200,000 square feet, and the Stars aim to have it completed by late summer 2025, in time for Labor Day. kickoff tournament.
The Farmers Branch facility is expected to cost about $25 million, while Northlake will cost about $145 million.
The Future of The Stars in Youth Sports
Alberts said the Stars and their youth facilities may one day expand beyond D-FW. He said he is eyeing areas like Austin as potential locations for the team's next multi-sport facility.
“We're in ongoing conversations with a lot of communities, not just North Texas. We're seeing a lot of interest in what we do from a lot of communities, including South Texas. That's something we're focused on. “It’s one of the areas where we are,” he said. “We are the only NHL team in the state and we see an opportunity to grow our brand across all areas of hockey, volleyball and basketball.”
There's also the possibility of expanding into more sports, such as lacrosse, or partnering with other leading teams in the region, such as the Dallas Mavericks, Alberts said.
“I can't give too much away there. But we've had talks with the Mavs and I think they understand what we're doing,” he said. “I think they're interested in moving forward with some level of participation. They just need to figure out what they want to do. But I think we're getting closer.”
In the meantime, Alberts said the Stars will focus on expanding the team's brand in hopes of making an impact on youth sports in Texas for years to come.
“We want to do big things. We want to host the biggest tournaments in any sport and look for new opportunities to grow in different cities and regions across the state,” he said. said. “As the state continues to grow, so do we. There is a great need for these facilities and we are ready to meet it.”
lay the foundation
“We believe this market needs a facility to handle the youth sports business that already exists,” Alberts said. “We want to provide facilities for all the kids who want to play. I think for Stars to be a part of that and have that growth is a win for everyone.”
Alberts said the move into youth sports other than hockey has another purpose: to develop Texas talent and keep them in the Lone State.
“We love kids who grow up through our program and hopefully get drafted by the Stars,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn't work out perfectly, but it all comes down to growing up, getting into the business, getting used to people, and eventually when you grow up, whether it's Dallas or Texas or paying money to go to a game. Please come.”
The hockey world has already seen talented Texas natives like Blake Coleman and Seth Jones play for the Calgary Flames and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, through the youth hockey program Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club. I see him making it to the NHL.
Albert said he hopes the sports complex will one day keep more players in Texas or maybe even bring their investment back to the state.
It's also a move Alberts wanted to make, he said, as he is bullish not only on D-FW as a whole, but surrounding suburbs like Louisville, Farmers Branch and Northlake.
“I love Northlake. It's a rapidly growing residential area, and if you go out near the racetrack, you'll see a lot of work being done in the area,” he said. Ta. “Furthermore, these areas are already densely populated and we think they will continue to grow. Moreover, for us, these are geographically important locations; they are centrally located and easily accessible. For us, this is an easy part of extending our brand.”
Revitalizing youth sports in North Texas
Three years ago, General Manager and Director Lee Weisner texas advantage volleyball, received a call from Alberts inquiring about purchasing the club. The club currently plays in The MAC, where Alberts will continue to play following his new contract. This club has 70 of his volleyball players from his 12 years old to his 18 years old.
At the time, Weisner said he couldn't understand why the president of the hockey team would be interested in other sports.
“If you're talking about southwestern hockey, obviously he already has a home base. So why do this?” Weisner said. “He starts explaining his plans and intentions. I understood right away that the Stars are in great need of more court space, and I think we can certainly replicate our success as a team competitively in other sports.”
The Stars are spending $1 million to rebrand and upgrade the MAC facility in Louisville.
“We were really struggling with leadership and money. But Brad liked the coach, Colin Acheson, because he was a supporter of women's sports,” he said. “The Stars have given us the flexibility to grow at our own pace. It's going to be outstanding for all the volleyball clubs in North Texas. But we want to stay ahead of the pack. , we are in a unique position to bring more volleyball to Texas.”
The MAC already hosts tournaments for the volleyball program and is looking to host more in the future, Weisner said.
Alberts' move also gives the Stars an edge over some competition as volleyball in the U.S. grows, with 92,003 people attending a women's volleyball game in Nebraska. Dallas is also preparing to welcome a Professional Volleyball Federation team by 2025, providing another opportunity to develop talent in Texas.
Jeremy McGlothlin, co-owner of the company, said the new facility and MAC will also give Milwaukee-based youth basketball organization NY2LA a home away from Wisconsin. NY2LA plans to hold competitions and camps within its facilities.
“We've been wanting to extend to Dallas for some time, so when this opportunity came our way, it was too good to pass up,” McGlothlin said. “We want to take the grassroots basketball scene to the next level. Bringing this to the Texas market is a huge deal and we are using Dallas as our second home.”
These centers will also be able to host a variety of sports other than basketball, volleyball and hockey. Some facilities host jiu-jitsu tournaments and events in throwball, a volleyball-like game popular in South Asia and one of the fastest-growing sports in Texas and the United States. A ball court will also be installed.
“As it has been since day one, pickleball is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages, which is why so much money goes into professional games, facilities and venues, and grassroots programs.” Pickleball Founder and CEO Connor Pardoe said. Association. “It's great to see the Stars incorporate pickleball into their program, especially here in Dallas, where Dallas is quickly becoming the epicenter of the pickleball world.”
Mr. Alberts also has a personal interest in improving youth sports. He has been surrounded by sports almost all his life. He played Division III basketball at Ripon College in Wisconsin in his late 1989s and early 1990s, serving as co-captain of the team.
“I wish we had this facility when I was in school. We've never had anything like this,” he said. “Frankly, I'm jealous of these kids. This is incredible for anyone, whether they're gym rats or casual players. If only they could take advantage of these facilities. , many children will be able to pursue the sport as more than just a hobby if they choose.”
