The DFW area is known for producing some of the most exciting experiences in sports. After a recent study, it looks like the Dallas Stars might offer the best experience in town.
Not many cities in the United States can boast having a team in each of the big four (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) professional sports leagues. But after the addition of the Dallas Stars in 1993, the DFW area became one of those hotspot locations.
Today, the DFW area offers a wide variety of sports entertainment. Whether you want basketball, baseball, college, football, hockey, or even soccer, you can find a professional team in the area. It’s a vibrant sports community that gives a lot and is easy to invest in.
But as time has gone on, each team has sort of “secured their place” in terms of popularity, following, and outreach. They have done this through performance, consistency, and accessibility.
As of right now, the rankings are pretty clear cut. The Dallas Cowboys run DFW in terms of popularity. They are the most valuable franchise in all of professional sports, have an oversized fan base, and have a stadium that looks more like an airport or mega mall. From there, the Texas Rangers likely take second due to their consistent play over the past few years and multiple division championships. The Dallas Mavericks log in at third because of their first championship in 2011 and, well, Dirk Nowitzki.
Dallas Stars
Coming in at fourth and beating out only FC Dallas looks to be the Dallas Stars. Though you could make an argument that the Stars are in a race for third, they are a long way from being the supreme team in Dallas.
But that doesn’t mean they aren’t a valid or suitable team to follow. In fact, the Dallas Stars offer the best fan experience of any DFW team according to a recent study by J.D. Power.
In a study released earlier today, the Fan Experience Study graded each of the professional sports teams in Dallas based on the experience they offer their fans. They assessed each team on a variety of categories, and the Dallas Stars came out on top in many of them.
The study assessed each team on seven different categories according to the release on the official website today. Those seven specifics are: seating area and game experience; security and ushers; leaving the game; arriving at the game; food and beverage; ticket purchase; and souvenirs and merchandise. Each of these are registered on a 1,000 point scale and are ranked in order of importance.
The Stars scored impressively high on most of the categories, getting an 824 in ticket purchase, 798 in arriving at the arena, 751 in food and beverage, and 773 in leaving the arena. Their overall score sits at an 806.
For the metroplex, the Dallas Stars rank in first with 806 points; FC Dallas comes in second with 792; the Texas Rangers take third with 788; the Dallas Mavericks claim fourth with 787; and the Dallas Cowboys round it out in fifth with 784.
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How did the Stars do compared to other NHL teams in their respective markets? The San Jose Sharks took first place in the Bay Area standings with a 788 overall score; the Boston Bruins claimed fourth in the Boston standings with a 767; the Chicago Blackhawks pulled out third in Chicago with a 790; and the Colorado Avalanche narrowly snagged first in Denver with a 786.
Some other scores include the New York Islanders with a 786; the New York Rangers with a 765; the Philadelphia Flyers with a 752; the Anaheim Ducks with a 780; the Los Angeles Kings with a 771; and the Washington Capitals winning the D.C. area with a 797.
The highest-ranked NHL franchises in the study were the Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils, who each scored an 813 and scored the highest in their respective areas.
That puts the Dallas Stars as third among franchises assessed in the NHL. That’s extremely impressive, especially considering that “hockey doesn’t work in Texas.”
Next: Stars Fans Weigh In On Oleksiak, Nemeth, And Pateryn
The Stars continue to put on a great show each year (even if the team isn’t doing so hot on the ice), and 2017-18 looks to be no different. Just keep counting down the days until opening night, folks.