Dallas Stars Power Countdown: 63 Days: Northland Properties

It’s Thursday, and it seems that another week has successfully trudged along, and quickly at that. The countdown continues, though. 63 days until the Dallas Stars open up their season against the Chicago Blackhawks on October 9th at the American Airlines Center.

Earlier today, Tom Gaglardi and Northland Properties announced their intentions to buy the Texas Stars franchise and to take over the Cedar Park Center. This will truly create a stable, happy relationship between the Texas and Dallas Stars once and for all.

The Dallas Stars and Texas Stars both achieved noteworthy seasons, with Dallas ending a six year postseason drought and the Texas Stars winning their first ever Calder Cup championship. Both teams are on the rise, from skill on the ice to fan attendance, and this new deal can only help out the entire ordeal.

Northland Properties also announced their intentions to buy the Dr. Pepper StarCenter and the Ice Training Center (ITC) in Richardson.

Here’s the official press release from this morning:

Frisco, TX – Northland Properties Corporation, the parent holding company of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Dallas Stars, announced today the intent to purchase the Texas Stars, Dallas’ development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), including the operations of the city-owned Cedar Park Center from Hicks Cedar Park LLC.

“The Cedar Park Center is the premier multi-use entertainment facility in Central Texas located in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States,” President of Northland Properties Corporation and Dallas Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi said. “The impact that the Hicks Family has had in growing the sport of hockey in the state of Texas over the last two decades is immeasurable and they have done a tremendous job in both building the Texas Stars and operating the Cedar Park Center. In that same spirit, they have been a tremendous partner through this process and we now look forward to engaging with the city of Cedar Park to turn our intent to purchase into a reality.”

“It has been a privilege and honor for our family to own and operate the Texas Stars for the last five seasons,” said Mack H. Hicks, Managing Partner and Governor of Hicks Cedar Park LLC. “The Cedar Park Center is a world-class venue that is making a huge impact on the area. We’re extremely proud of the on-ice success in our time, with the biggest achievement winning the 2014 Calder Cup championship. Our partnership with the Dallas Stars was vital to that success, and working towards this deal, we are confident that they would continue to build on the foundation and legacy that our team has built in Cedar Park.”

Cedar Park Center holds 6,863 seats for hockey, 7,200 for basketball and up to 8,700 for concerts and other events. The state-of-the-art arena has 24 suites (including four party suites) and 545 club seats with a private club lounge.

“The City of Cedar Park has enjoyed a trusted partnership with Hicks Cedar Park LLC and the Hicks family in developing and operating the Cedar Park Center the last five years. The City appreciates all of their contributions in building the championship winning Texas Stars and operating a very successful Cedar Park Center. Both are a source of tremendous pride in our community,” said Cedar Park Mayor Matt Powell. “The City is excited about the potential in partnering with Northland Properties Corporation and their intent on solidifying the Texas Stars’ status as the premier franchise in the AHL and cementing the Cedar Park Center as the top entertainment venue in the Greater Austin area.”

The building hosts more than 130 events per year including sporting events, concerts, and family shows. Cedar Park Center is home to the 2014 AHL Calder Cup champion Texas Stars. The building also serves as the homecourt to the Austin Toros, the NBA Development League affiliate of the 2014 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs. Since opening in September of 2009, the Cedar Park Center has hosted world-class performers and events such as George Strait, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, Tool, Jason Aldean, Def Leppard, Eric Church, Cirque du Soleil and Disney On Ice.

“The Cedar Park Center is an extremely attractive venue that entertainers and teams want to perform in,” Dallas Stars President and CEO Jim Lites said. “We would remain committed to providing the Greater Austin area with top-flight entertainment options, whether it is concerts, variety shows, basketball or Texas Stars hockey.”

In their first five seasons in existence, all of which have been as the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars, the Texas Stars have proved to be one of the most successful franchises in the entire AHL and captured the team’s first Calder Cup championship in 2014. The club has made two trips to the Calder Cup Finals (2010, 2014), qualifying for the playoffs in four of their five seasons (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014) and have posted 40-win campaigns four times. During the 2013-14 regular season, Texas posted a franchise record 48 wins, claiming the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL’s regular season points champion, as well as the John D. Chick Trophy as the West Division Champions. Many of the Dallas Stars young core of NHL players have spent time skating for the Texas Stars including captain Jamie Benn, defenseman Brenden Dillon, center Cody Eakin, forward Ryan Garbutt and forward Antoine Roussel.

“Some of the most successful organizations in the NHL own and operate their AHL affiliate and we look to bring that same organizational synergy between Dallas and Texas,” Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill said. “The Texas Stars have been a crucial part in the training and development of our young players over the last five seasons. It is important to continue the process of producing NHL-caliber players, coaches and front office staff at the American Hockey League level.”

The Dallas Stars and Texas Stars enjoy one of the closest NHL-to-AHL franchise distances in the Western Conference, with only 184 miles between American Airlines Center and Cedar Park Center. Upon completion of the purchase, the Dallas Stars would become one of 14 NHL clubs to own their AHL affiliate: Buffalo Sabres (Rochester Americans), Calgary Flames (Adirondack Flames), Edmonton Oilers (Oklahoma City Barons), Los Angeles Kings (Manchester Monarchs), Minnesota Wild (Iowa Wild), New Jersey Devils (Albany Devils), New York Islanders (Bridgeport Tigers), New York Rangers (Hartford Wolf Pack), Pittsburgh Penguins (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins), San Jose Sharks (Worcester Sharks), Toronto Maple Leafs (Toronto Marlies), Vancouver Canucks (Utica Comets) and Winnipeg Jets (St. John’s IceCaps).

NORTHLAND PROPERTIES COPORATION ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF DR PEPPER STARCENTER PLANO

Northland Properties Corporation, the parent company of the Dallas Stars, announced today the acquisition through a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dr Pepper StarCenter Plano from Plano Hockey Partners, LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase Dr Pepper StarCenter Plano,” President of Northland Properties Corporation and Dallas Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi said. “Since opening in 1999, Dr Pepper StarCenter Plano has been one of the most successful ice rinks in North Texas. For many years, the rink has provided the Plano and North Texas community with first-class skating and hockey programs. The success of this facility is a testament to growth of hockey in the Metroplex over the last 20 years.”

The 120,000 square foot complex, featuring two (2) full-size NHL ice surfaces, underwent a complete renovation in 2012. Dr Pepper StarCenter Plano sits on a three-acre plot of land on Plano Parkway next to Riverbend Sandler Pools, and offers a variety of services including public skating, figure skating sessions, and learn-to-skate classes for all talent levels. Additionally, the Plano location offers multiple options for the Metroplex hockey fan with learn-to-skate hockey classes along with youth and adult hockey leagues throughout the year. The facility is home to Severyn Sports, a multi-faceted sports training center owned by former NHL player Brent Severyn, and Vitality Sports Medicine, specializing in chiropractic and sports medicine care.

For more information about Dr Pepper StarCenter Plano, please visit DallasStars.com/starcenters.

NORTHLAND PROPERTIES CORPORATION UNDER CONTRACT TO PURCHASE THE ICE TRAINING CENTER (ITC) IN RICHARDSON

Northland Properties Corporation, the parent company of the Dallas Stars, announced today that the company is under contract to purchase the Ice Training Center (ITC) in Richardson, Texas from Indoor Athletics, Ltd.

“Several months ago, the dialogue was opened with the ownership group of the Ice Training Center in Richardson regarding the opportunity to purchase the rink,” President of Northland Properties and Dallas Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi said. “Northland has begun the process of acquiring the property. We are thrilled to have the chance to acquire a first-class facility and extremely grateful for the commitment and fine stewardship that the present ownership group has provided for many years. They have maintained a tremendous business model that is focused on customer service and a standard of excellence that we will be honored to build upon.”

The 51,000 square foot facility is located at 522 Centennial Blvd. in Richardson and houses two (2) full-size NHL ice surfaces. Opening for business in 2001, Ice Training Center in Richardson will become the Dr Pepper StarCenter Richardson once the purchase is finalized, making it the seventh Dr Pepper StarCenter location in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex including Euless, Farmers Branch, Frisco, McKinney, Valley Ranch and Plano.

“We have begun working with the Dallas Stars to ensure the seamless transition of rink operations by the beginning of the 2014-15 hockey season,” Indoor Athletics, Ltd. Operating Partner Jim Koch said. “Our ownership group is seeing first-hand the renewed commitment of the Stars ownership to amateur ice sports in the Metroplex and the positive steps that the Stars are taking to help strengthen grassroots hockey in North Texas. We have put our trust in the new Stars ownership that they can and will take Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex hockey to a new level. The focus to foster positive relationships and develop all youth hockey is there and the Stars organization now has the opportunity and management control to make it happen.”