Behind the Screens with the Dallas Stars: An Entertainment Experience that Goes Beyond the Ice

 

When leaving a professional sporting event, the chatter of exiting fans is often dominated by the turning points of that night’s game. Even an unaware pedestrian can determine the outcome of a match based on the tone and timbre of the surrounding conversations.

As can be expected among passionate fans, the difference between a positive and negative experience at a home game hinges on the final score. Sports-crazy Dallas, Texas is no different, largely. But much like the idea of hockey in the Lone Star State may seem backwards, so is the atmosphere at a Dallas Stars game at American Airlines Center.

It has been close to 20 years since the Stars last hoisted the Stanley Cup as champions of the National Hockey League. There is still pressure from the fan base to win, but on nights when the team suffers defeat, the exchanges on the streets surrounding the rink are still as likely to be about something seen on the jumbotron as on the ice.

Regardless of the score, fans come away with something to reflect on with a smile.

“I strongly believe and feel that if we’re having a good time, and having fun with the show, that it rubs off and the fans pick up on it and they have fun too,” associate producer/production manager for the organization’s in-game media team Kevin Harp said.

The Stars’ media and entertainment team has supplanted the organization’s skaters in the local and national headlines time and time again for the former’s engrossing and convivial presentations during breaks in play.

At a Stars game it is not uncommon to be captivated by human bowling during the first period intermission or a SpongeBob SquarePants video. Not necessarily a typical hockey atmosphere to say the least.

“Being a hockey team in Dallas, we don’t necessarily have to be a traditional style of arena presentation,” DJ Michael Gruber said. “We can kind of stretch the boundaries, kind of set the boundaries.”

Recognized as the region’s Best Fan Experience by JD Power in 2017, the Stars have become a staple in the Dallas-Fort Worth nightlife scene even with just two playoff trips in the last 10 seasons. This is because of the creativity and mentality of the organization’s entertainment crew, which has captivated and engaged fans in a way very few franchises have with its content and presentation.

“You may have that one fan that just turns it upside down, you know? You don’t know who’s going to go crazy and have the dance of the night or just have the look of the night. Those things are fun,” in-arena director Terri McCormack said.

No two hockey games are the same and that statement is even more true for an entertainment team that has to anticipate and react to a new script each night.

Over the next few weeks, MarketScale will provide a behind-the-scenes look at this team that is itself a behind-the-scenes operation. See everything from the drawing board to the unexpected twists and turns of an NHL hockey game in real time.

Be Sure To Catch 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

Education R&D
Will the New Education R&D Bill Spark the Innovation Schools Desperately Need?
April 25, 2025

In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Cornyn (R-TX) have introduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, aimed at revolutionizing how the U.S. invests in education innovation. The bill proposes a new National Center for Advanced Development in Education—akin to DARPA but for schools—within the Institute for…

Read More
How Verizon Business Utilizes UGC for Sales Enablement
How Verizon Business Utilizes UGC for Sales Enablement
April 24, 2025

In this episode of UGC for B2B, host David Dabney welcomes Cesar Teran, Verizon’s Sales Enablement Lead for Channel, to explore how user-generated content (UGC) is transforming training and team engagement at Verizon Business. Cesar shares the journey of introducing UGC into Verizon’s training initiatives, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, collaboration, and celebrating contributions….

Read More
digital freight invoicing
ODeX Is Leading the Charge in Digital Freight Invoicing
April 24, 2025

Global shipping continues to grapple with fragmented billing processes, often delaying cargo movement. According to McKinsey, adopting an electronic bill of lading could save $6.5 billion in direct costs and enable $40 billion in global trade. As vessels carry goods for thousands of shippers per voyage, the administrative burden of managing and reconciling invoices…

Read More
Human Intelligence Movement
Just Thinking… about Reimagining Education for the AI Era with the Human Intelligence Movement
April 24, 2025

As artificial intelligence reshapes education, work, and daily life, educators are grappling with how to prepare students for a future where human skills—not just knowledge—will be paramount. In fact, a growing number of reports highlight that employers increasingly value collaboration, communication, and emotional intelligence over memorized content. Amid this transformation, the Human Intelligence Movement…

Read More