Northlake, in Denton County, has partnered with the National Hockey League’s Dallas Stars to develop a dedicated center for youth sports.
The multi-purpose athletic complex, spanning 225,000 square feet, will be designed to include a pair of NHL-regulation ice rinks for the Dallas Stars-affiliated youth teams and eight basketball courts, which can be converted into 16 volleyball courts, per the Dallas Stars press release.
This cutting-edge facility is anticipated to be accessible to the public in the latter part of 2025.
The initiative to bring a youth-centered hockey complex to Northlake is part of a 30-year lease arrangement with the Dallas Stars. The arrangement includes an annual rental fee of approximately $1.6 million and subsequent yearly rent increases supported by the NHL, reported Candy’s Dirt.
Here is more of what Candy’sDirt said about this development:
Making a Deal
Rettig reportedly oversaw the transfer of about 12 acres from Western Securities to the town of Northlake, allowing the town to then lease the land. In addition to two NHL-sized ice rinks for the Dallas Stars-affiliated youth teams to use, plans call for eight basketball courts that can convert into 16 volleyball courts. Rettig told CoStar he expects the town to become a hub for youth sports in the coming years.
Developers may also build up to 900 apartments, restaurants, entertainment space, and 60,000 square feet of retail. A request for qualifications/proposals was issued earlier this year. WRA Architects is the project architect, and Lee Lewis Construction will serve as the general contractor.
“This is hands down the largest economic development project we’ve ever done,” Rettig said in the CoStar report, adding he expects the development cost to be paid back within five years with the lease. “This will create a destination and bring people throughout the region to the town.”
Northlake is in Denton County and had a population of about 5,201 in 2020, according to the U.S. Census.
Dallas Stars Facilities in North Texas
The Dallas Stars have been investing in youth sports facilities in North Texas to reach more athletes. By 2025, the club expects to own or operate 11 youth sports facilities catering to basketball, volleyball — and, of course, hockey, CoStar reports.
“Last year, the Stars began work on its multisport facility in Farmers Branch totaling 81,780 square feet of space with completion scheduled by year’s end,” the article states. “In October 2022, the Stars purchased a roughly 38,000-square-foot multisport facility, which is home to Texas Advantage Volleyball, with four NBA regulation hardwood basketball courts, eight USA Volleyball regulation courts, and a food court area in Lewisville.
Currently, the nine Stars’ existing facilities in the region have more than 80,000 participants in its youth and recreational sports leagues, the team said. The facilities bring in about 8.5 million visitors annually.