The Road to Dallas Now Comes Through Austin
The CHL’s Austin Ice Bats Have Become The NHL’s Dallas Stars Official
CHL Affiliate.
10.16.2000 - The Austin
Ice Bats of the Central Hockey League and the NHL’s Dallas Stars have
announced the completion of a historic agreement between the two teams.
The agreement
tabs the IceBats the Stars official CHL affiliate. Austin will receive Stars
prospects and will undertake a joint marketing effort to promote the sport
in the region.
The Dallas Stars are owned by the Southwest Sports Group based in Texas.
The business group will purchase the “Bats” if Cedar Park voters
approve funding of a state-of-the-art 6,000-seat arena.
“We
are delighted that the Austin Ice Bats will participate in this exciting
project,” said Bryan Perez, Executive Vice-President of the Southwest
Sports Group.
“The
Ice Bats success has paved the way for this new project, and now it’s
time to take hockey in Central Texas to the next level.”
“The
residents of Cedar Park are the big winners here. This is the icing on the
cake for their new full-service sports and entertainment complex,”
Perez said.
Should
voters fail to approve the new arena project, the Bats will remain the Stars
CHL affiliate. The team will also remain under the current ownership group,
K&J Ice, Ltd.
A bond
referendum will be held November 5th. Approval of the bond will move the
Austin squad into the new Facility. This will anoint the CHL’s IceBats
as the Stars’ primary farm team as early as the 2004-05 season.
“The
agreement announced represents another great step forward for the future
of hockey in Austin,” said Charles Newman, Ice Bats General Manager.
“Any
opportunity to be involved with the Dallas Stars is an exciting prospect.
They are not only one of the top franchises in the NHL, but also one of
the marquee franchises in all of professional sports,” Newman also
said.
“The
two names synonymous with hockey in Central Texas are the Ice
Bats and the Dallas Stars,” Newman said. “Our fans will be able
to see
Stars prospects while enjoying the new improvements in our current facility.
The potential
is also there down the road for us to be the top affiliate of
an NHL team, and play in a brand new building.” Said Newman
There is
speculation that the Austin outfit will be bumped-up to triple-a status
with-in the next two years. [AHL] For this to occur the AHL would have to
buy out Austin’s present contract with the CHL.
Another
chip that needs to fall into place for the Ice Bats to switch leagues is
the deal with the present AHL affiliate of the Stars. The Utah Grizzlies
hold this position. A buy out or some other agreement would have to be made.
The Dallas
Stars are the main player in this game. The Southwest Sports Group, which
owns the Stars will not show their hand until the November 5th referendum.
The AHL
office was unavailable for comment when MLN inquired about the Austin Ice
Bats joining the league.
