The Dallas Stars now operate 11 StarCenter facilities across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex after the Children’s Health StarCenter Multisport in Northlake, Texas officially opened on March 31, 2026. The complex includes two NHL-regulation ice rinks, eight convertible basketball/volleyball courts, and pickleball courts.
Key Takeaways
- The Northlake facility features two NHL-regulation ice rinks, eight convertible basketball/volleyball courts, and pickleball courts
- It becomes the 11th StarCenter in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, expanding the Stars’ regional facility footprint
- TAV Alliance, an elite volleyball club, will call the facility home
- A full-service restaurant and bar, The Shark Club, is expected to open in June 2026, adding a mixed-revenue component
- The public-private partnership between the Dallas Stars and the Town of Northlake offers a model for facility development in high-growth suburban markets
Two NHL StarCenter Rinks, Eight Courts, and a Built-In Anchor Tenant
Situated just east of where I-35W meets Hwy 114 in southern Denton County, the multisport complex packs considerable programming capacity into a single site. The two ice rinks carry namesakes with local weight. One honors Northlake Mayor Brian Montini. The other honors former Dallas Stars player and GM Joe Nieuwendyk.
The court side of the facility is equally loaded. Eight basketball courts convert to volleyball configurations. TAV Alliance, one of the region’s elite volleyball clubs, will use the space as its home base.
Two gyms honor standout local athletes. Rhyle McKinney, a deaf basketball player from Argyle, won three state championships and played at SMU and Texas Tech. Paige Flickinger, the 2018-2019 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year from Byron Nelson, played at LSU and Loyola Marymount University. The Byron Nelson volleyball team went 50-2 during her time there.
Revenue Mix Beyond Court Fees
The Shark Shack concession stand is already open at the facility. The Shark Club, a full restaurant and bar, is expected to begin service in June 2026. For operators evaluating mixed-revenue facility designs, the food-and-beverage component adds a layer beyond programming fees.
A Public-Private Partnership in a Fast-Growing Corridor
Dallas Stars CEO and President Brad Alberts framed the project as demand-driven: “The opening of this facility is a testament to the increasing growth of hockey in North Texas and the overall demand for additional youth sports facilities in our region. Mayor Montini and the Town of Northlake have been exceptionally collaborative partners in designing a state-of-the-art facility that both serves the needs of their growing community while becoming an attraction that will drive families to their town for years to come.”
Mayor Montini added: “Today is a milestone moment for the Town of Northlake. This is more than a world-class facility, it’s a result of strong partnerships, a shared vision and a commitment to doing things the right way for our residents.”
Northlake sits in one of the fastest-developing corridors in North Texas. For the municipality, a StarCenter brings recurring foot traffic and positions the town as a regional sports destination. For the Stars organization, it deepens community roots and extends a facility network that now spans 11 locations.
A Repeatable Model for Underserved Suburban Markets
The Northlake project offers a clear playbook. A professional sports organization partners with a growth-stage municipality to build a multi-sport facility with diversified revenue streams. Anchor tenants like TAV Alliance are secured before doors open. The Northlake model, with its anchor tenant, mixed revenue streams, and formalized municipal partnership, is a structure operators in comparable suburban markets can evaluate.
The Dallas Stars secured an elite anchor tenant in TAV Alliance before opening day, reducing revenue risk from day one. The mixed-revenue design, pairing court and ice programming with food-and-beverage through The Shark Shack and The Shark Club, provides a more durable financial base than programming fees alone. Operators targeting Sun Belt growth corridors with underserved youth sports demand have a concrete, documented model to benchmark against.
Source: Crosstimbersgazette
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