The Dallas Stars pivot from Pride Night
The Dallas Stars will not stage a Pride Night during the 2026‑27 NHL season, marking the first such cancellation in at least five years. In its place the franchise will host a “Hockey Unites Us: Women in Sports Night” on March 23 when they face the Carolina Hurricanes.
The decision reflects the team’s choice to spotlight women’s athletics, while the NHL continues to leave the design of theme nights to individual clubs, allowing a patchwork of community‑focused events across the league.
A League Redefining Its Celebrations
Other franchises illustrate a different but complementary approach. The Boston Bruins have woven LGBTQ+ support into their broader Hockey Is For Everyone celebration since the 2017‑18 season, while the Los Angeles Kings are set to revive Pride Night next year. The Carolina Hurricanes, meanwhile, will hold a Hockey Is For Everyone Night in March, underscoring the league’s diversified promotional calendar.
The Stars’ shift comes amid a period of rapid growth for the NHL, fueled in part by the buzz surrounding the television series “Heated Rivalry.” Commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly credited Pride Nights and programs like You Can Play for advancing LGBTQ+ visibility in sport, even as individual clubs chart their own paths.
Beyond the absence of Pride Night, the Stars plan to highlight other underrepresented groups, including Black history and military appreciation, as part of a broader effort to celebrate diverse fan bases.