Dallas Stars Face Allegations of Monopolistic Control in Youth Hockey

News Summary

Allegations against the Dallas Stars have surfaced, claiming the NHL team is threatening and exercising monopolistic control over youth hockey in Texas. The controversy began when Lisa Bry, president of the Frisco Ice Hockey Association, alleged intimidation from Stars executive Keith Andresen regarding the reinstatement of coaches. The situation has led to a significant increase in fees for families involved in youth hockey, while independent rinks have closed due to the Stars’ control over local ice facilities. Community backlash has prompted formal investigations into the Stars’ practices.

Frisco, Texas – Allegations have emerged against the Dallas Stars, claiming the NHL team has threatened and exerted monopolistic control over youth hockey in Texas. These claims were brought to the forefront following an incident involving Lisa Bry, the newly elected president of the Frisco Ice Hockey Association (FIHA). During a scheduled meeting in April 2023, Bry alleged that Stars executive Keith Andresen threatened the FIHA, suggesting the team would revoke practice access for its teams unless two dismissed coaches were reinstated.

The situation escalated after Bry’s club opted to terminate the contracts of coaches due to negative feedback from parents, which sparked the alleged intimidation from Andresen. The Stars’ involvement in local youth sports differs significantly from other professional leagues, where teams often play a lesser role. In stark contrast, the Stars have engaged deeply in the youth hockey landscape, controlling most ice rinks in the Dallas area thanks to public financing.

Currently, the Dallas Stars operate eight of the eleven full-sized ice rinks located within a 150-mile radius of Dallas. Their dominance has led to the closure of at least eight independent rinks, raising concerns about a monopoly on youth hockey. Families are feeling the impacts of these developments, facing a lack of viable alternatives to Stars-operated rinks, which has allowed the organization to impose unfavorable terms and hike prices significantly.

Following Bry’s resistance, the Stars assumed control of local high school hockey clubs, further centralizing power. Changes instituted under this new governance included increased registration fees, a reduction in the number of practice hours, and a cut in regular-season games from 18 to 16. Families within the FIHA reported being wrongly billed for ice time that was supposedly free under a contract the Stars had with the City of Frisco, which required the provision of 104 ice hours at no charge. Complaints about these charges have made their way to city officials.

Despite a backlash from the community regarding the steep fee increases, the Stars defended their actions, asserting that such hikes were necessary for maintaining operations amid rising energy costs. This contention has sparked anger and frustration among families who are already investing heavily in their children’s hockey pursuits, sometimes exceeding $30,000 annually on club dues, travel, and training expenses. Reports indicated that the Stars recently increased the hourly ice rental fee from $375 to $500.

The organization has faced significant criticism from parents, some of whom have taken their grievances to social media. However, some parents allege that the Stars retaliated against them by imposing bans from leagues and other punitive measures aimed at silencing dissent. Intimidation tactics reportedly have been employed to dissuade criticism of the Stars’ business practices.

The Stars’ purported monopolistic influence extends beyond operations as they are believed to maintain control through favorable contracts with local municipalities and by placing executives on the board of the Texas Amateur Hockey Association. Consequently, these practices have raised ethical concerns and led to a formal investigation by USA Hockey regarding potential conflicts of interest related to Stars officials.

In response to mounting public discontent and competition, the Stars have acknowledged the recent price increases and have promised to make adjustments, including relaxing restrictive policies on hotel stays required for tournaments. Amid the Stars’ ongoing dominance, competing hockey clubs in Texas have started to organize independently, forming a new league to combat the Stars’ seemingly monopolistic business practices. As this situation develops, the Long-standing implications for youth hockey in Texas remain to be seen.

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Additional Resources

• USA Today: NHL Dallas Stars Texas Youth Hockey Monopoly
• USA Hockey: News Article
• Heavy: Local Parents vs. Stars Youth Hockey Monopoly
• Google Search: Dallas Stars Youth Hockey Monopoly
• NHL: Stars Relieve Coach
• Wikipedia: Dallas Stars