An estimated 115,000 Stars fans attended "a parade and
rally honoring the Stars' championship season" in Dallas
yesterday, according to Michael Young of the DALLAS MORNING
NEWS. Around 18,000 fans later attended a Stars rally held
at Reunion Arena (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/22). The city of
Dallas' decision to open Reunion Arena "to the general
public by offering 15,000 free tickets Sunday morning on a
first-come, first-served basis" irked some Stars season-
ticket holders who were "left outside" the Arena during
Monday's celebration. Stars officials "blamed the city of
Dallas, which had hastily organized the parade and victory
rally over the last week." Stars VP/Marketing Jeff Cogen,
on the city's insistence to handle the event: "The situation
was abhorrent, that the guys who pay our salaries and are
responsible for winning this championship were not allowed
to come to the pinnacle of our celebration." The Stars
later announced an "exclusive September training camp party
with team members, to which all of this year's 14,000 season
ticket-holders would be invited." City execs said they
opened the arena to the public because the facility is
publicly owned (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/22).