Mac Engel: Stars have a preference on NHL's new potential city, Austin or Houston

Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Oct 3, 2026

Published in Hockey

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FORT WORTH, Texas — When it comes to the topic of the NHL expanding, the Dallas Stars are not first in line to talk about this subject.

Since moving to Dallas in 1993, the Stars have owned not just Texas but Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana. The Stars are the only NHL franchise that does not have another team in its state or shares a border with a state, or Canadian province, that has a club.

This looks like it will soon change, and the Stars are quietly keeping a close eye on this development. Although NHL commissioner Gary Bettman lied through his teeth this time one year ago about the prospect of expanding the league, he’s reportedly in deep discussions about adding a new franchise, and putting it in Texas.

This announcement could come as early as December, with the new team starting play in 2029-30.

Houston and Austin are both top candidates to land what would be the NHL’s 33rd franchise, and Atlanta is somewhere in this discussion, too. (Not sure how Atlanta keeps coming up considering the two previous franchises that were located there both moved.)

As the Stars start their regular season, the players are not exactly worried about the prospects of the NHL expanding to Texas. But the front office has one clear preference for a future Texas rival, and it’s not Austin.

Why the NHL would want Austin and the Stars would not

Stars officials are reluctant to talk on the record on this topic, saying that it’s “complicated.”

If the NHL puts another team in Texas, and Stars owner Tom Gaglardi is asked for his thoughts on the subject by Bettman or deputy commissioner Billy Daly, Gaglardi is apt to scream, “Anywhere but Austin!”

The Dallas Stars own and operate the Texas Stars, its primary minor league affiliate that plays in the American Hockey League. They play in the 6,800-seat H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, a suburb located approximately 25 miles north of downtown Austin.

The NHL putting a team in Austin would be a slap shot to the face for the Texas Stars, a franchise that enjoys access to a big market without a flood of other major league sports options.

Austin is the 12th-largest city in the United States, and it features one major league pro sports franchise: Austin FC of MLS. That franchise started play in 2021, and it “works.” The team averages about 20,000 fans per home game at Q2 Stadium.

Because of the Spurs, Mavericks, Rockets, Cowboys, Texans, Astros and Rangers, Austin is not going to attract an MLB, NFL or NBA franchise. An NHL team makes sense, and could potentially take advantage of a population that would seem to, on paper anyway, support a new hometown team.

Dan Friedkin, who runs Pursuit Sports out of Houston and operates soccer clubs in Europe, has been granted an exclusive window by the NHL to land a new team; he’s considering potential sites in Space City and Austin. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, who had previously expressed interest in bringing the NHL to Houston, is not a part of the bidding process.

If Bettman recommends Austin to the NHL owners, the Stars can’t block it alone. They will need a lot of help.

Houston is the NHL’s front-runner but not favorite

Houston is the largest metro area in the U.S. that does not have an NHL team, but it has every other pro sport possible. That’s a crowded market.

The city has a long history with minor league hockey; the Aeros played in Houston from 1972 to ‘78, and from 1994 to 2013.

According to league executives, a new NHL team would not play in Houston’s Toyota Center, which opened in 2003 and is home to the Rockets. As part of the $3.5 billion expansion process, a new arena for the NHL team would be built, as well as practice facility and team headquarters.

From a rivalry standpoint, and travel purposes, the NHL adding a new team to either Houston or Austin will be a plus for the Dallas Stars and their fans.

The Stars had Texas to themselves since they moved here, and the time is right to share the state, and region, with another team.

They would prefer that team be in Houston. They just can’t say it.