Dallas Stars Hosting 2018 Entry Draft Means Big Things For Dallas
The Dallas Stars were chosen to host the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, which is a monumental occasion for young players to kick-off their careers. It also means big things for Dallas as a city.
In 1993 North Texas earned its first NHL franchise, the Dallas Stars. The move from Minnesota was met with some hesitation – especially considering Dallas was certainly not a typical hockey market. Nonetheless, the team traveled south.
In the quarter century since the move, Dallas has become a great city for hockey because it’s a great city for sports in general. However, the NHL’s announcement that the 2018 Entry Draft will be hosted by the Dallas Stars solidifies them as a true hockey city.
Respect in the league
There’s nothing like respect in professional sports. Teams, players and fans alike can despise one another, but those that have earned each other’s respect are deemed truly great.
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Similarly, the Stars hosting the Entry Draft goes to show the respect the NHL has for them as a hockey market. The event will not only bring more attention to Dallas itself, but will also highlight the Stars as a franchise.
The draft serves as the gateway to the NHL for young hopefuls and is an incredibly important part of the league itself, so for them to will that responsibility to the city of Dallas speaks for itself.
Doorway for more events
The other key important aspect of the Stars hosting the draft is the fact that doors have been opened for them to speak with the league about hosting other events. Dallas has been reportedly very interested in attending or even hosting an outdoor game, and getting the draft in North Texas might be the first step in doing so.
If there is enough buzz about the draft – which is expected considering the magnitude of its implications on teams’ futures – the Stars could leverage the success as yet another reason to host or attend an outdoor game.
Weather is a big obstacle in that conversation, especially given the unpredictable nature of Texas. For argument’s sake, though, Los Angeles hosted an outdoor game and everything ended up just fine. If LA is capable of having hockey outside, Dallas should be too.
Bottom line
Ultimately it’s important that the Stars were given the opportunity to host an event as big as the draft in their 25th year as a franchise in Dallas. It shows the respect of the league and will likely lead to increased conversations with more depth about other possibilities moving forward, which would be huge for the team.
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Hockey in Dallas is far from done growing and with the team’s roster heading into the new season, it shows no signs of stopping. The draft being hosted by Dallas is yet another piece of evidence proving the Stars are trending in an upward direction.