", She added, "Just imagining losing the Dallas Stars now is so traumatic, so I know how tough that must have been for fans back then.". In December 1992, the league asked me to allow Disney to come into the league. "Now high schools have it. Finally, in … The North Stars' lease … Published: March 08, 2018 12:00 AM, Copyright 2020 - KSTP-TV, LLC A Hubbard Broadcasting Company, KSTP-TV FCC Public Inspection File Gifford asked his former football teammate Cloyce Box to buy, and have his friends be sure to buy, season tickets. The Stars came this close to not existing. "There was just so much going on. We made it clear to the mayor and Council that ever-increasing player costs required an 18,000-seat building with revenue streams from improvements like luxury suites. The Dallas Stars beat Detroit 6-4, with the first goal being scored by a hockey great, Neal Broten. "It wasn't something I wanted to do. Why the Dallas Stars elected to not make major moves at the NHL trade deadline In some ways, it’s hard to blame them for keeping the same team. But for those associated with the state's original pro hockey team, a sentimental attachment remains. Green’s choice was final he moved the team to Dallas in 1993. As one of the lead and original owners of the Calgary Flames—enjoying 10 years of financial success, including winning the Stanley Cup in 1989—I was convinced that my experience in marketing could rekindle the support of the Minnesota fans. Norm Green losing a ton of money before moving the team, didn't get to play in the new Target Center (home of NBA's Timberwolves), doesn't get new arena in Twin Cities. So it came to pass that the North Stars headed south after 26 years in the state, becoming the Dallas Stars at the start of the 1993-94 season. And they did. There is a reason Green, a former co-owner of the Calgary Flames, had purchased the North Stars three years earlier from George and Gordon Gund, who had themselves been exploring relocation. As a major sports owner, Jones’ support of the concept of the NHL in Dallas was critical in giving me comfort to know we had selected the correct city. Contest Rules | I really felt for the people up there. And the Stars get a lot of credit for that.". However, as The Walt Disney Company was already in negotiations with the NHL to create an expansion team in the area, the league instead asked Green to let Disney create the Mighty Ducks of Anaheimwhile the North Stars would be allowed to relocate to any city of Green's choosing. KSAX-TV FCC Public Inspection File One of the first calls Gifford made was to Jerry Jones. "That's what those guys are in it for," he said. And he would have stayed in Dallas, too. By 1992, Norm Green was arranging a deal to turn the team into the Los Angeles Stars, playing at a new arena (which is now the Honda Center) under construction in Anaheim, California. Roger explained that Reunion Arena was originally built in 1980 for hockey and was being used only for basketball. "I didn't understand it. Like Lehtinen, Sergei Zubov is a no brainer on this list and for several of the same reasons. In that Dallas Magazine piece, Green named former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach as a key player in his decision to explore Dallas as a possible landing spot. DMCA Notice | A Hubbard Broadcasting Company, challenging environment when it came to corporate sponsorships, MDH reports 10 new COVID-19 deaths, 805 new cases, 4 injured in 3 separate shootings in Minneapolis, Girl in 'very critical condition' after being shot in the head in north Minneapolis, Fire breaks out at Minneapolis homeless encampment, Minneapolis homeowners fighting park board after receiving complaint about garden, 50-car train derails in Albert Lea; 2 cars leaking hydrochloric acid, Teen seriously injured after falling 5 stories in Fruen Mill. Stars move to Dallas, Texas. John Ziegler, president of the NHL, asked me, as the chairman of the NHL marketing committee, to buy the North Stars and make sure the team stayed in Minnesota as long as possible—which I did, for three years. "In my heart, Minnesota was and always will be the state of hockey. Finally, in 1989, the owners of the hockey club told the NHL that they wanted to move to California," Green wrote in a 2016 piece in Dallas Magazine. Many of the fans were knowledgeable in hockey, having moved here from northern hockey communities. In the fall of 1993, the franchise moved to Dallas, Texas, where it is now known as the Dallas Stars.The team's colors (for most of their history) were kelly green, gold and white. The move completed Dallas' portfolio of major-league sports teams. My longtime friend Frank Gifford called a few of his friends to introduce me to Dallas. In 1993, a shopping mall developer in Calgary, Alberta, named Norm Green moved his hockey team from Bloomington, Minnesota, to Dallas. The North Stars had been in Minnesota since 1967 but ultimately lost the support of the community due to several years of poor performance. We quickly knew we had made the right decision, as our attendance and average ticket price were more than double what we received in Minnesota. Ruff didn’t have a … But when you're a player, you kind of have to go with the flow.". The first deal was struck in Anaheim, and the franchise being moved into a new hockey ready building. "And if they're losing money, they're going to try and get people around the community to help build suites and create an atmosphere where they can start making profits. Everyone down here was wondering what was going to happen, and there was everything that was going on in Minnesota. "He confirmed that it had excellent sightlines, and with some improvements, it would be a perfect interim arena until a new building, with proper revenue streams, could be built. The delay in approving the promised arena, the NHL lockout in 1994, and the tripling of players’ salaries forced us to sell the Dallas Stars in 1996. Most of them are still with the Stars. Norm Green also was a co-owner of the Atlanta Flames who moved to Calgary Anaheim had a new building for hockey that was immediately available. It's become very popular. "It was just a crazy time all over," recalls Lisa LeMaster, then a partner in the Dallas public relations firm Green worked with at the time. In our first year, the new fans were rewarded by the success on the ice and in the playoffs. The promotional material used to introduce hockey to the community worked wonders. In Dallas, Norm Green keeps losing money, sells team in 1996. It was obvious we needed to move. In 1991, the North Stars began looking for a new home. Site Map, This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. "Why would you move a hockey team from Minnesota to Dallas," Broten said. You’d be hard pressed to find an area of the country that displays its passion for hockey on such a broad platform like Minnesota does. Though the rumors had been swirling, it still wasn't something Neal Broten expected to ever happen. The Biggest Moments in Modern Dallas History, RH Dallas, a 70,000-Square-Foot Store With a Rooftop Restaurant, Is Now Open on Knox, First Look: The $500 Million Omni PGA Frisco Resort, Let's Bring the (Soon to Be Former) Oakland A's to Downtown Dallas, Mark Cuban’s Drug Company Wants to Disrupt Big Pharma, The Best Video of Robert E. Lee Making His Exit, Celebrating 35 Years of D Magazine: Our 35 Favorite Covers, Celebrating 35 Years of D Magazine: Building the City of Dallas. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Edit: If I ever won the lottery I would spend my money buying the rights to the 'Stars' name and rename the Wild the North Stars. The original team name was derived from the … The North Stars had been in Minnesota for nearly three decades. The move completed Dallas’ portfolio of major-league sports teams and, especially with the team’s Stanley Cup victory in 1999, secured the city’s spot among the best sports towns in the country. Norm Green is a real estate developer and chairman of the board of Perot Systems. The then-owner Norman Green wasn't very popular with the fans, so the attendance dropped. Dallas Stars – Texas’ only NHL team originally began as the Minnesota North Stars back in 1967. Terms of Use | "I played for a couple of years in Dallas, and the people down there were really supportive of the team. The Dallas Stars beat Detroit 6-4, with the first goal being scored by a hockey great, Neal Broten. Roger was strategic in the process to introduce us to the community, and the City Council, and helped us make an acceptable deal with Reunion. It didn't seem like a real possibility.". Girls and boys both play it. "It was really sad," recalls Wendi Rodewald, a season ticket holder who was in her mid-20s at the time and a member of the North Stars' Booster Club. The move by the Stars came one day after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, at a meeting of the Board of Governors, said the league will work swiftly … He was there when the team made an unexpected run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1991. Allegedly Green’s wife demanded that they move the team to avoid large amounts of media pressure. © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); KSTP-TV, LLC So it was hard to see our pro team all of a sudden jump up and walk away.". The building was demolished after the North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993, leaving Minnesota, the state of hockey, without an NHL franchise. It was obvious we needed to move.". But the Stars did take root in Dallas, eventually winning a Stanley Cup in 1999. Additional Public Information, Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the content of the FCC Public file should contact Katie Bowman at kbowman@kstp.com or (651) 646-5555, FCC Applications | Privacy Policy | In 1993, he moved the North Stars to Dallas, Texas, citing poor attendance in Minnesota, and the team became rechristened as the Dallas Stars. Businesses, cities, EDC's, real estate agents, recruiters and others are using Why … But the Stars were done with him. 1 of 21. Green, who bought the North Stars in 1990, moved the franchise to Dallas in 1993, citing poor attendance, losing money, and a lack of public financing for improvements he … "John Ziegler, president of the NHL, asked me, as the chairman of the NHL marketing committee, to buy the North Stars and make sure the team stayed in Minnesota as long as possible - which I did, for three years," he wrote. Dallas has done a lot to keep the spirit … Dallas Stars president and CEO Jim Lites expressed his wholehearted support for an NHL team coming to Houston, saying "it'd be great." City Manager Jan Hart walked us through the political process. I look back with incredible pride at the decision to bring the NHL to Dallas. We were an instant success because, we were told, Dallas loves winners, and we were bringing a top team that had been in the Stanley Cup Finals just two years previous—and a top organization with talented hockey leadership from Bob Gainey, Mike Modano, Ralph Strangis, and Les Jackson (to mention only a few). Roger was strategic in the process to introduce us to the community, and the City Council, and helped us make an acceptable deal with Reunion.". In January 1993, Green chose Dallas as the new … "I'm still always so happy when I see someone wearing an old North Stars jersey, or I see a sweatshirt with that old logo on the front," said Broten, who played in Dallas until he was traded to New Jersey in 1995. "As one of the lead and original owners of the Calgary Flames - enjoying 10 years of financial success, including winning the Stanley Cup in 1989 - I was convinced that my experience in marketing could rekindle the support of the Minnesota fans," Green said. Friday Flashback: Paul Lukas explains why the North Stars' "arrow-N" design, which will be back in action this weekend for an old-timers' game in Minnesota, was a classic of its era. I still hate the Dallas Stars though. That helped salve some of the wounds left over from the North Stars' departure. Why did the Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas? In our first year, the new fans were rewarded by the success on the ice and in the playoffs. And though it's been 25 years now, the news that broke on the evening of March 9, 1993, still stings for fans of Minnesota's first NHL team. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I don't want to let my resentment of the situation affect his view of his hometown hockey team, so I'm trying to move on. Minnesota, meanwhile, got a new NHL franchise when the Wild began play at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul in 2000. But after renovating the old Met Center and producing a top team that almost won the Stanley Cup in 1991, the fans still didn’t buy the critical season tickets, and attendance still fell under 60 percent. A year later the home of the North Stars … That starts with youth hockey, from mini-mites to high school and every level in between. But, I spent the first 13 years of my career in Minnesota, so I'll always consider myself a Minnesota North Star. It's just the way it goes.". Mayor Steve Bartlett promised us quick Council support and a new building within a few years. Do Not Sell My Info | | "The North Stars had been in Minnesota since 1967 but ultimately lost the support of the community due to several years of poor performance. From the North Stars' surprise Stanley Cup run in 1991 to Brett Hull's iconic overtime goal in Buffalo and Mike Modano becoming the all-time leading … "Being a Minnesota kid, and playing the first 13 years of my career here, it was a big deal to think about moving," said Broten, a former Roseau and University of Minnesota standout who was a member of the gold-medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic team before joining the North Stars. As the North Stars’ tenure in … By the time Zubov became… It just didn't seem possible that the Minnesota North Stars, his team for the first 13 seasons of a 17-season NHL career, would abandon his hockey-crazed home state for ... Texas? Besides that he wasn't able to reach deals for a … We made a deal to move the North Stars to Anaheim, California, to become the L.A. Stars. On March 10, 1993, in the midst of the season, he announced that the team would move to Dallas for the 1993–94 season. | Once the decision was made, Green, who also faced a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former employee Kari Dziedzic (now a State Senator), became public enemy No. Dallas council members met in executive session for more than two hours Wednesday before clearing the way for the move. Finally, in 1989, the owners of the hockey club told the NHL that they wanted to move to California. If that doesn't happen, then they're probably going to move the team. The Stars entered the NHL in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars and moved to Dallas for the 1993-94 season. 1 in the state of hockey. Now there are almost 30 in the area, with tens of thousands of young people playing hockey and participating in skating programs. "Roger explained that Reunion Arena was originally built in 1980 for hockey and was being used only for basketball," Green wrote. But he cited low season ticket numbers and a challenging environment when it came to corporate sponsorships among the factors in why he came to see staying in Minnesota unfeasible. This week’s edition gives us the Stanley Cup runner-up, the Dallas (Minnesota) Stars. Broten said the decision was proof professional sports are a business first and foremost. The spectacular American Airlines Center was finally opened in 2001 through the leadership and investment of Hicks, Perot, and Mayor Ron Kirk. In return, I would have NHL approval to move the Stars wherever I could make the best deal. sports Stars. My plans were canceled when Disney offered to put a team in Anaheim and use Disney talent to help market the NHL. The decision ended a process in which owner Norm Green was unable to reach a deal that met his satisfaction when it came to the franchise either remaining at the old Met Center in Bloomington, or moving to Target Center in Minneapolis or the old St. Paul Civic Center. We were welcomed and encouraged in several meetings with people like Tom Landry, Ray Hunt, George Bush, Earl Nye, Rusty Rose, and Ron Haddock to ensure the Stars would be successful and supported—and it was. KRWF-TV FCC Public Inspection File General manager Jim Nill announced the move Sunday, a day after the Stars finished with their second-fewest points in a full season since moving to Dallas in 1993-94. I've started to understand what they were feeling even more as the years have gone on. ", Updated: March 09, 2020 10:20 AM In January 1993, I selected Dallas, after encouragement from the only Texan I knew: Roger Staubach. 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