Behind the Screens with the Dallas Stars: The Psychology Behind Fan Participation

 

First-time attendees are common at hockey games in Dallas. Therefore, the Stars’ entertainment team realizes that it has just the duration of one game to make an impression on as many people as possible.

“Dallas, being a non-traditional hockey market there’s a lot of room, presentation and production-wise, for deviation from whatever the norm is,” Jason Danby said.

Making fans a part of the show is one way the organization attempts to retain first-timers and not necessarily make them ardent hockey supporters, but fans of the overall game day experience.

“Regardless of what the team does on the ice, I think the philosophy throughout is: entertain our fans and season ticket holders,” Video Director Terri McCormack said. “We want everyone to come to into the arena, get a taste of what hockey’s all about and enjoy the show.”

Throughout a Stars game, the entertainment team scours over the stands to find everything from the anomalous to the outrageous among the sea of 18,000 people.

It is not enough to simply show someone dancing on the jumbotron though. Encouraging people to participate show is what spawns affection between fan and team. By connecting pop culture and ticket holders, the Stars produce relatable content that puts fans in the spotlight like few other organizations have been able to.

Participation from fans is a reason why they come back, even if their affinity for the actual sport does not necessarily increase. The Stars have mastered this art.

CATCH UP ON ALL OF THE EPISODES!

 

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Sports & Entertainment Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!
Twitter – @SportsEntMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

network innovations
Network Innovations
May 22, 2025

Brent speaks with Day-Vene Gilliam, VP of National Network Optimization & Business Development at Elevance Health, about how Anthem is evolving its network strategy to deliver greater value to clients and members. From expanding value-based care contracts with over 650,000 providers to leveraging digital tools like HealthOS for real-time data and gap-closure, Anthem is enabling…

Read More
food as medicine
Food As Medicine
May 22, 2025

Dr. Kofi Essel, community pediatrician and Elevance Health’s Food as Medicine Director, joins Brent to discuss how nutrition is becoming a central lever in both preventing and treating chronic disease. With millions of Americans living with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, Dr. Essel explains how Elevance is building interventions that help members access high-quality food and…

Read More
inclusive care
Inclusive Care
May 22, 2025

Sammy Gonzalez, Regional Vice President at Elevance Health, joins Brent for a deeply personal and impactful conversation on health equity and inclusive care. Sammy shares a powerful story of medical misdiagnosis tied to cultural assumptions, underscoring how bias—even unintentional—can hinder care quality. He highlights Elevance’s work to improve diversity in provider networks, enhance cultural competency,…

Read More
sydney health
Sydney Health Demo
May 22, 2025

In this episode, Christina Firouztash, Executive Advisor of Digital Solutions at Anthem, gives a dynamic walkthrough of the Sydney Health app—Anthem’s flagship digital member experience. Christina showcases how Sydney delivers personalized, simple, and equitable navigation across benefits, including virtual care, pharmacy, financial transparency, and social services access. From contextual chatbots and ID card access to…

Read More