The NHL and the Stars on Saturday announced that the '18 NHL Draft will be "held June 22-23 at American Airlines Center," according to Mike Heika of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Stars President & CEO Jim Lites said, "It's a huge event that will fill downtown up for four days." Lites said that the process "required hard work from everyone." Stars Exec VP & Chief Revenue Officer Brad Alberts and Exec VP & COO Jason Farris put in "hard work, as did city officials and the Dallas Sports Commission." NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said that he has been "impressed by Dallas' growth as a hockey market and expects a big week." This coming season the team is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and the "last time the city hosted a big NHL event" was in '07 when the All-Star Game "took place at AAC." Getting the movers and shakers "back here allows the Stars and the city to show off a bit." Meanwhile, Daly said that he is "aware of the state's so-called 'bathroom bill,' which would limit restroom use by transgender men, women and children." The bill, which was "passed by the state Senate but is not yet under consideration in the House, could make the league reconsider about bringing a showcase event to Texas." Daly: "It's an important issue for the league, and we're a very inclusive league, and we're proud we're an inclusive league. I think the legislation is important ... From what I understand from the mayor is it's not going to be a problem, so we don't think it's going to be a problem" (
DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/30).
