Reports: Sale of Dallas Stars is Close

Theirs several reports coming out that a sale of the Dallas Stars has been rapidly moving forward over the last couple of days and many of them have the team selling somewhere in the neighborhood of $275-$300 Million Dollars which is more then the $250 Million that many thought that the team would sell four.

No word on which person is behind it, just a reminder, the main players right now looking to own the Stars are Tom Gaglardi of the Kamloops Blazers & Bill Gallacher of the Portland Winterhawks (Both WHL). Both of these owners have done a great job of turning around struggling Junior Clubs back to the glory, and in the case of the Portland Winterhawks, kept them from possbily being moved to a place like Victoria, BC or Boise, Idaho.

The only possible wildcard could be Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban who just after missing out on owning the Texas Rangers, could very well be looking to get involved in the Dallas Stars Situation to turn around the team like he did after he bought the Dallas Mavericks in 2000.

So regardless of who's doing it right now, it would be a win-win for the Dallas Stars as they look to move forward and to put an official end to the Tom Hicks era.

Here's the Report from Forbes

Dallas Stars Ownership in the air

Last week, Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks announced that he would start looking for new ownership to at least take over part of the team as Hicks looks to pay off at least a major portion of the debts that he has piled up over the last few years. It took over a much bigger deal when he defaulted on over $500 Million of loans that have built up over the years. After recently selling the Texas Rangers in late Jan. he started to make a dent, but he's still got huge debts to pay off as he has owned the Dallas Stars since 1995.

However, he never has had the biggest passion for hockey and had very little impact on the way of negotiating the deals or promoting the sport. He's let people like the G.M. and his staff allow that to happen. So far, no major ind. or groups have come forward with interest. However, earlier this week Mark Cuban came forward and said that he was interested in buying a small stake of the club, but no where near enough to officially take over the team. If possible, I would like to see him join some kind of possible ownership group, because he would bring the passion, marketing ability and his knowledge that could help this team do well.

I want to see an owner that will continue the success of not just the Stars, but continuing to help grow the sport across the D/FW area. And maybe try to build on to that success by getting more events to Dallas like the NCAA Frozen Four, getting international tournaments like the U18, and World Junior Championship Tournaments to Texas. Perhaps teaming up with the Texas Stars down in Austin to bring one of these events to Texas could help make this possible.

Also, we need to look for someone that can promote and has knowledge of the different minor and junior leagues to help promote teams like the Allen Americans, Texas Brahmas and the Texas Tornado to help them out as well. And to start promoting players that are doing well that are playing in different Junior, NCAA and hopefully soon enough in the pros that are from the D/FW Area (See Austin Smith and Chris Brown).

The players that are coming out of the Southwest are getting better and better, and getting more chances across North America, and fans need to start doing more to follow our home grown talent and to become fans of them when they succed at big levels in the Junior and NCAA. For istance, Matt Donovan who's from Edmond, Oklahoma helped Team USA win the World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan over the Christmas Break. In addidition, his college team, the University of Denver which could be a major contender for the WCHA and National Titles that will take place in March and April. Even though he's from Oklahoma, he's still an imporant part of the growth of Southwest Hockey.

Also, the Stars need to developing a stronger fan base across the Southwest throughout Texas and in neighboring states like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. This can help get the team be on National Television more often during the regular season, get involved in the league's biggest events like the Winter Classic and the Season Opener's in Europe to get the team out there to gain more respect both across the country and the world.

I don't want to say that his passion is gone, but he's been busy with too many things at once to pay close attention to the team. When he took over the Texas Rangers and then later the Liverpool F.C. in the English Premier League, he started to collect the debt and pay very little to no attention to the team at all. Another problem has been the money and the ability to bring in big name players in both the trades and free agency in the near future.

Some things like the lack of sell out crowds and a team that hasn't had a lot of success in both the regular season and playoffs are starting to be a factor. And I want to see someone that can help bring the team back to being a regular Stanley Cup Contender and bring back the passion for hockey that took over the town like we saw from 1998-2000 when the team had it's golden moments and I want to see those days come again.

I don't care what the Stars do on this front, as long as any future owner and/or ownership group has the passion to continue what the Stars have done and build to take the sport to the next level in the D/FW Area and beyond. Also just to get the debt ridden Hicks out so we can spend some more money to bring in more high quality players in the near future, no hard feelings Tom, but I think his time has cycled through. And we need to start with something new before the fans get tired of the lack of excitement surrounding this team. I know Mark Cuban is a long shot to be a part of the team, but he is a strong model that a future owner should embody to help the team bring passion, excitement, and success back to the Dallas Stars.

Here's a link from the Dallas Stars website from 2/4 when the ownership situation first became public.

http://stars.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=516297

Ten Things to look forward for the next decade for the Dallas Stars

Usually at the end of the decade, you look back and find out the best, the worst and maybe a few unusual things to look back on. But for Dallas Stars Broadcaster Ralph Strangis, he wants to look ahead for the Stars org. and for Ice Hockey in General in the D/FW Area.

From The Dallas Stars website: http://stars.nhl.com

10. Ralph and Razor

Yes this is a bit self serving, but we're going to be here for a while yet to celebrate the great moments with you and help hold your hands through the growing pains. Razor and I have been great together since the start of the 96-97 season (and I should mention most of our fine crew has been around just as long) and have had a terrific time watching it all happen with you. Yes, at least in my case, the hair has thinned, and our brains go flaccid from time to time, but gang, we're all you got-so continue to enjoy what we like to call broadcast magic.

9. Ceremony & Celebration

Mike Modano is nearing the end, but we'll throw a party like you've never seen when he gets going with the next phase of his life. The Org. has created the "Walk of Legends" and we'll be enshrining more of your favorite Stars with great pomp and circumstance

8. The NHL's Continuing Evoultion

Giving credit where it's due, the NHL has done a good job since the lockout making the on ice product more fan friendly. Hey shoutouts are fun (unless your the 2009-2010 Dallas Stars). and the games have opened up a bit. Scoring is up- the new crop of superstars are terrific-and the Winter Classic is a hit, and not just with hockey fans. Yes they have work to do, but the league has shown progress, and thats a very good sign.

7. The Texas Stars

The Dallas Stars have gone from having no AHL afflaite in the 2008-2009 season to having arguably the best situation to develop and evaluate talent. Their operations and facilities are first rate. And to be able to have everyone playing the same system, and with call ups a short drive away, the Stars are poised to keep reloading at both the NHL & AHL Levels.

6. Metroplex Hockey & Texas Hockey Stars

If you had told me 20 years ago that I would be coming with the North Stars down to Dallas, and that the Stars would help build the area into a thriving Hockey Community I would have thought that you would have taken too many pucks to the head. But here we are. Thousands of kids and adults play the sport, mostly at the Dr. Pepper Star's centers and our kids are competing with the best in North America. Soon more of them will be drafted into the NHL-and perhaps-they will be a superstar or two among the group.

5. Ownership

The Dallas Stars have stayed competitive largely due to the commitment of Tom Hicks. Over the years he has always said OK when the Stars were trying to get to the next level. The Stars, under Tom Hicks are still the most recent Metroplex Pro Sports Team to win a major Championship-and will put our record up against anyone locally since Mr. Hicks has been at the wheel. Yes were having some rough financial times right now-but I believe things will get sorted out-and the Stars will soon be able to add an already young, strong and emerging core group of players.

4. Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen

The two old dogs can still dial it up. Yes-not as often-but there are nights when the magic is still their. To have two guys like that helping show the younger players what is supposed to look like is an advantage that not everyone else has. Many of the Stars current kids idolized one-or the other-or both growing up. Now they get to watch them everyday. And so do we, And i'm thrilled that we'll open the new decade with both Mike Modano & Jere Lehtinen. Gang, Just enjoy it every night while it's still their.

3. Strong Veteran Assets

The Stars have several players in the prime of their career like Brad Richards, Stephane Robidas, Brendan Morrow, Mike Ribeiro and Steve Ott. Their depth up front is a real strength and has already proved difficult for opponents to handle.

2. Strong Youngsters

I haven't been this excited about a group of young Stars-well-ever. Loui Eriksson is a real great player, James Neal is the "Real Deal". How about 20 year old Jamie Been? He's 20 for crying out loud and on a lot of nights he looks like the best player on the ice. Throw Tom Wandall, Nick Grossman, Mark Fistric and a couple of more names you're just learning about or don't know yet-and it's going to be a fun ride.

1. Joe Nieuwendyk

He is one of the best people that Ralph Strangis knows. and he's proud to call him my friend. He's smart, thoutful, sincere and deliberate, and with 3 rings from 3 different teams in 3 different decades, it's a pretty good bet that a fourth is around the corner. Be excited Stars fans-and be patient as well. It took Bob Gainey 9 years from the day he was hired to build a champion. I bet on him back then to be a success (The Cup was a wonderful bonus)-and I'll bet on Joe now to give you a team that is worth getting behind right now.