The Dallas Stars Open a New Season with a Rested Core, a Future Arena Plan, and Austin Watching
The Dallas Stars begin the 2026-27 season tonight at 8:00 p.m. CDT, hosting division rival St. Louis at American Airlines Center.
The game airs on Amazon Prime and kicks off the NHL’s first 84-game schedule. It is also Dallas’s earliest opener since 1999.
Rested, but already shorthanded
Dallas went 50-20-12 last season, then lost to Minnesota in the first round on April 30. That ended a deep-playoff-run streak and handed the Stars their longest offseason in five years. GM Jim Nill says the players who were banged up, including Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin, are healthy now.
One familiar name won’t be in the lineup. Matt Duchene, who scored 45 points in 57 games last season, was placed on long-term injured reserve Thursday and will miss at least the first 10 games. Forwards Colin Blackwell and Arttu Hyry were recalled from Texas. Second-year coach Glen Gulutzan is also pushing for more puck possession and offensive-zone time.
A new home on the horizon
The bigger long-term story is where the Stars will play.
Last October, the Mavericks’ controlling ownership sued the Stars, claiming they were blocking upgrades to the arena they share. The Stars called it a hostile takeover attempt and countersued. In May, a Texas business court judge sided with the Mavericks, finding the Stars had moved their headquarters to Frisco. The Stars appealed.
On August 17, the two teams settled and agreed to stay at American Airlines Center through 2030-31. Both are expected to leave afterward. The Mavericks are eyeing the former Valley View Center site in far north Dallas, and the Stars are working toward a new arena at The Shops at Willow Bend in Plano.
Austin joins the conversation
Texas could soon have a second NHL team. In June, the NHL gave billionaire Dan Friedkin’s Pursuit Sports roughly six months to explore Austin or Houston. The total investment, including the expansion fee and a new arena, is about $3.5 billion. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has said both cities would need a new building.
Austin is taking the process seriously. Friedkin’s group has leased office space on South Congress, and the NHL has said it wants a decision by year’s end, with play beginning in 2029 or 2030.
Austin already has hockey.
The Texas Stars, Dallas’s AHL affiliate, play at H-E-B Center in Cedar Park and are scheduled to host their home opener the same night.
New to hockey? Hockey 101: The Basics of the Game.
Sources:
- Dallas Stars, home opener schedule and initial roster
- NHL.com, NHL Status Report, Oct. 1, 2026
- Associated Press, Well-rested Dallas Stars hope long offseason sets them up to make another deep playoff run
- NHL.com, Stars: One shift at a time
- KERA News, Mavericks win control of American Airlines Center
- CBS News Texas, Mavericks owners file lawsuit against Stars
- FOX 4, Stars, Mavericks settle legal fight
- CandysDirt, Mavs, Stars settle lawsuit as both eye new arenas
- ESPN, NHL exploring Austin, Houston for expansion team
- Yahoo Sports, Texas billionaire makes Austin investment
- The Real Deal, Friedkins lock in Austin office lease on South Congress
- Texas Stars, 2026-27 home opener announcement
- Aptamigo, Best Sports Bars in Austin
…FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING…
- WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.
- WHERE…A portion of south central Texas, including the following counties, Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt, Dimmit, Fayette, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Lavaca, Lee, Llano, Medina, Travis, Uvalde, Williamson, Wilson and Zavala.
- WHEN…Through 7pm this evening.
- IMPACTS…There is a potential for life threatening flooding somewhere in the watch area. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded. Extensive street flooding and flooding of creeks and rivers are possible.
- ADDITIONAL DETAILS… – Between 1 to 3 inches of additional rainfall is possible, with isolated amounts greater than 6 inches possible. – Some locations that may experience flooding include… San Antonio, Austin, Round Rock, New Braunfels, Cedar Park, Georgetown, San Marcos, Pflugerville, Medina, Schertz, Kyle, Seguin, Cibolo, Kerrville, Converse, Universal City, Taylor, Uvalde, Live Oak and Buda.
A relentless storm system has drenched Central Texas since late Wednesday, dumping localized rainfall totals between 2 and 6 inches across the Austin metro area and parts of the Hill Country.
A regional Flood Watch remains in effect through 7 p.m. this evening as heavy downpours saturate the area, causing low-water crossings to flood and stream levels to rise rapidly across the region.
Rainfall Highlights (Since Thursday)
- Austin Metro: Broad coverage of 1.5 to 4 inches across Travis and Williamson counties, with higher isolated pockets.
- Texas Hill Country: Heavy rain pockets bringing 2 to 5+ inches through Kerr, Gillespie, and Blanco counties, triggering localized flash flood warnings.
The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates at Wirtz Dam and Starcke Dam to move swift-moving storm runoff downstream through the Highland Lakes chain.
Officials said floodgate releases complement ongoing operations to pass excess water through hydroelectric generation across the dam system, warning residents downstream of Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls to expect higher water levels and strong currents.
The storms prompted a ground delay at Austin’s airport Thursday that lasted several hours.
What’s Ahead Today for ACL Fest
As Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival kicks off today at Zilker Park, festivalgoers should prepare for a soggy, muddy experience:
- Wet Turf & Mud: With ground conditions saturated, Zilker Park will be muddy—boots, rain ponchos, and waterproof gear are highly recommended.
- Ongoing Showers: Off-and-on scattered rain and thunder remain in the forecast throughout today. Keep an eye out for potential weather delays if lightning approaches the area.
- Travel & Safety: Emergency officials urge attendees to avoid driving or walking through flooded low-water crossings when heading to and from the festival grounds.
Thousands of music fans are converging on Zilker Park today as gates open for Weekend 1 of the 2026 Austin City Limits Music Festival.
Celebrating its milestone 25th anniversary season, the iconic three-day gathering kicks off a massive fortnight of live performances against the Austin skyline, headlined this weekend by acts like Charli xcx, Skrillex, Lorde, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Twenty One Pilots, and The xx.
A guide for attendees to have a safe and fun ACL Fest experience.
With general public driving off-limits around Zilker Park, CapMetro is ramping up transit options for tens of thousands of music fans heading to the opening weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
To keep festivalgoers moving safely and hassle-free, the transit agency is expanding service across its bus, rail, and bikeshare networks:
- Direct Bus Access: Routes 3 and 803 drop riders off near Barton Springs within a short walk to festival gates, while Route 30 services the west side of Zilker Park near Spyglass.
- Simplified Fares: CapMetro’s contactless Tap to Pay system allows festivalgoers to tap a credit card, debit card, or smartwatch upon boarding.
- Late-Night Rides: Night Owl buses will run until 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, with CapMetro Rail extending service until 12:30 a.m. through Sunday.
- Bikeshare & Valet: CapMetro Bikeshare users can rent docked bikes across town and drop them off at a dedicated bike valet located at 1732 Toomey Road.
Riders are encouraged to plan ahead using the Transit App.
Venezuelan asylum seeker Wilber Rafael Garces Perez underwent surgery Thursday morning to remove a bullet lodged near his spine, nearly two weeks after he was shot in the back by a federal agent during a violent traffic stop in North Austin.
Garces Perez, 26, had been held in federal custody with the bullet still inside his body since the Sept. 20 incident. His legal team and advocacy groups sharply criticized Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for withholding necessary medical intervention until days after he appeared in federal court in a wheelchair to face charges of assaulting a federal officer.
The operation coincided with major structural policy shifts handed down by federal immigration leaders. Following intense public backlash, local protests, and mounting bipartisan scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the shooting, ICE issued new national enforcement guidance strictly prohibiting its officers from engaging in vehicle pursuits.
The new rules also establish that:
• Only agents who have completed specific training will be allowed to make vehicle stops.
• Vehicles must have lights and sirens to identify themselves as police units.
• Agents present during a stop must carry and activate their body cameras.
• Techniques such as blocking a vehicle or using batons will be limited to specially trained agents.
The new policy comes after multiple incidents in which ICE stops ended in shootings. Since last year, agents have fired their guns at more than a dozen such encounters, leaving at least four people dead and several injured, according to AP.
Meanwhile, reports of ICE activity and arrests early Thursday in the 183 / North Lamar / Northgate area. These two videos show two arrests. The first in Lamar, near Powell and the second in 183, approaching Lamar.
(Video via Reporte Austin)
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stopped in Austin on Thursday to launch the administration’s new Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge at Westlake High School. Speaking to students, local leaders, and visiting officials, Kennedy outlined a national initiative aimed at combating childhood obesity and revitalizing physical education programs across public schools.
Austin Police Sex Crimes Unit detectives are requesting the public’s assistance with identifying a suspect connected to at least two cases of indecent assault that occurred at two separate Dollar Tree locations. One in July and the other last month. (Austin Police Department)
Artificial intelligence is rapidly expanding across all sectors, from social media algorithms to political advertising. Now, law enforcement agencies are testing AI technology to draft police reports directly from body camera footage in just minutes.
In Hays County, the sheriff’s department recently completed a three-month trial of an AI software suite developed by public safety tech giant Axon—the former TASER International, which already holds extensive contracts throughout the Austin area. (KUT 90.5)
THIS WEEKEND IN THE ATX
WEATHER
THURSDAY’S PRECIPITATION TOTALS
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
A record-breaker at the airport yesterday.
CAMP MABRY
THURSDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
For the first time in many weeks, there are no active wildfires in Texas today.
Trailing in the polls and facing an increasingly difficult national map ahead of the midterm elections, Republicans turned to their standard-bearer on Thursday as President Donald Trump swung through Texas to pump cash and momentum into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s embattled U.S. Senate campaign and down-ballot GOP races.
Headlining high-dollar fundraisers and a evening rally, Trump praised Paxton as a “loyal ally” while attempting to project unified strength in what has historically been a conservative stronghold.
It wasn’t all praise and glory.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz didn’t exactly fare well, either.
The high-stakes blitz comes as the national Republican Party finds itself locked in an uphill battle to defend its congressional majorities, with recent leaks highlighting anxiety within the campaign that previous national GOP stops may have weighed down local poll numbers. Facing stiff Democratic opposition and persistent fundraising headwinds, the visit underscores the GOP’s urgent effort to shore up its base in the Lone Star State before early voting gets underway.
Ken Paxton’s out-of-state travel has cost taxpayers $1.9 million in security expenses, according to a new Associated Press report that found his trips have increased substantially throughout his 11 years as attorney general.
Here in Texas, the window to vote early in the midterm election opens in less than three weeks. With that date quickly approaching, you can expect to see even more political ads blanketing the airwaves.
There are expectations the U.S. Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico is on track to shatter records for campaign spending. KXAN’s Will DuPree spoke with former Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and former Texas lawmaker Mark Strama for insight.
James Henson and Joshua Blank abandon the top of the ballot this week to look at the state of play in Congressional and legislative elections in Texas.
(Episode from October 1, 2026)
On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace examines a major voter registration backlog with Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt and what it could mean with Election Day approaching. The glitch has affected at least tens of thousands of voters in an election cycle that could be one of the closest in Texas history.
Later, Austin American-Statesman reporter John Moritz joins Jeremy to break down the flood of money pouring into the U.S. Senate race, while Houston Chronicle reporter Ben Wermund explains Gov. Greg Abbott’s rapidly changing stance on data centers.
Plus, Jeremy looks across the border in Texarkana at the backlash surrounding Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ controversial welfare ad and how it ties into the backlash against Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French and his criticism that the University of Texas has too many non-white students.
(Episode from October 1, 2026)
A district court judge on Thursday ordered the Galveston Independent School District to display posters of the Ten Commandments in its public school classrooms. (Texas Tribune)
Imagine an “ASA” megaregion bridging San Antonio and Austin, mirroring the massive footprint of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Former San Antonio Mayor Henry Cisneros has launched the Central Texas Alliance to shape the future of a rapidly converging 13-county area—spanning nearly 12,000 square miles and more than 120 cities—with an immediate focus on fortifying the region’s transportation infrastructure, water supply, and power grid. (Austin Business Journal)
Celia Cole, the CEO of Feeding Texas, discusses what changes to SNAP could mean as food banks face increased demand and rising food costs.
TEXAS TOP TEN MOST WANTED
San Antonio police have released video showing the moments leading up to an officer-involved shooting on September 1.
Police say an 18-year-old suspect struggled with an officer and reached for a gun before the officer opened fire.
SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Westlake opened its District 25-6A schedule with a win Thursday night, taking down Round Rock 38-17 in the KBVO Week 6 Game of the Week.
The first district matchup between the two programs went the Chaparrals’ way as Westlake improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in district play. Round Rock dropped to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in district play. (KXAN-TV)
WEEK 5
District 26-6A / Central Texas Slate
- Austin High vs. Hays | 7:00 PM @ Bob Shelton Stadium
- Buda Johnson vs. Dripping Springs | 7:30 PM @ Dripping Springs HS
- Akins vs. Del Valle | 7:30 PM @ Del Valle HS
- East View vs. Vandegrift | 7:00 PM @ Vandegrift HS
- McNeil vs. Cedar Ridge | 7:00 PM @ Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex / Cedar Ridge
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: The Texas Longhorns face pivotal questions as Cam Coleman’s limited production raises concerns about the offense’s true ceiling. Brad Kellner breaks down the All-American transfer’s start, exploring whether Steve Sarkisian’s playcalling can unlock Coleman as a true No. 1 target before the high-stakes Red River Rivalry.
Are the Longhorns underutilizing their top portal addition, and how does this impact Arch Manning’s development and the passing attack?
COLLEGE BASEBALL: The University of Texas baseball team’s exhibition game against Houston at Dell Diamond on Saturday has been canceled due to forecasted inclement weather. (Texas Longhorns)
The Longhorns are set to open their 2027 campaign against Clemson in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on Feb. 19.
Beyond the gigantic Texas Star Ferris wheel and 55-foot tall Big Tex icon, the State Fair of Texas features free exhibits, a massive rides midway and unique food offerings.
This visit features a tour of this year’s fair and its offerings, along with a deep dive into 2026’s newest food creations. We try several bites, including the chicken fried steak biscuit, deep fried bourbon banana bread, fried butter chicken, the fried green tomato lobster bruschetta and Fletcher’s new chocolate corn dog.
