Stars' owner completes purchase of AHL affiliate

Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi - the team's billionaire owner - knows a thing or two about consolidating businesses and vertical integration.

The Canadian businessman completed the purchase of the Cedar Park, Tex. based Texas Stars on Wednesday. An American Hockey League team, Texas was already serving as Dallas' AHL affiliate. 

Texas moved to Cedar Park for the start of the 2008-09 season, and play in the Cedar Park Center - a 6,638 seat hockey venue, that has averaged 4,972 in attendance at 13 Stars home dates this season. 

Ownership has been transferred from Cedar Park Hicks LLC - a group connected with Tom Hicks, from whom Gaglardi bought the Dallas NHL team, to a newly formed entity called Texas Stars, L.P. That new entity will now also assume operations of the Cedar Park Center. 

The Cedar Park Center hosts a variety of concerts, and serves as the home arena for the NBA Development League's Austin Spurs. 

"With the level of intense parity in the NHL, teams have to strive for every advantage they can get," said Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill in the release. "Owning and operating your own AHL affiliate brings immeasurable benefits and allows for a more seamless process to develop and train NHL-caliber players, coaches and front office staff."