The NHL is continuing to talk about playing a game in Mexico City, which would be an “opportunity presents itself for the league to further develop a Hispanic audience,” and the Stars “plan to be at the forefront,” according to Lia Assimakopoulos of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. As the league progresses toward setting a date and selecting teams to compete in Mexico City, the Stars “continue the push to become Mexico’s hockey team.” The team hired former NHLer Al Montoya two seasons ago to “spearhead the efforts.” Assimakopoulos noted Stars President & CEO Brad Alberts has “not shied away from establishing the team’s desire to appeal to the Hispanic population in Dallas, across Texas and beyond.” Alberts: “We’ve got a million registered Hispanic fans. We felt like we would be remiss by not focusing on that sector of our population to try to make them hockey fans. We’re committed to doing that, and certainly playing in Mexico would be an extension of that.” The Stars have seen “growing interest” from Dallas’ Hispanic population, but that interest “hasn’t come without a conscious effort from the team to reach an audience that has been widely underserved in the sport.” Locally, the Stars have hosted Hispanic Heritage Nights the past two seasons against the Coyotes and Kings. Even with the Stars’ local endeavors, Alberts and Montoya agreed “playing a game in Mexico City would be key to solidifying a following there.” Alberts: “We would love to play a game in Mexico if it’s possible and if the league gets comfortable with doing that. The league knows that. I want us to be the team that gets the most market reach. I don’t want other existing NHL teams to get a leg up on us” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/14).
