“We still see upward opportunities because a number of people have not yet been to the Cedar Park Ce

The suburban Austin arena has been anchored by the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League hotels in daytona beach florida since opening in 2009. Also, the Austin hotels in daytona beach florida Toros—2011–12 NBA Development League champions—relocated in 2010 from the Austin Convention Center.
hotels in daytona beach florida The Texas Stars, affiliate for the NHL's Dallas Stars, filled the Cedar Park Center at one of the highest rates in the American Hockey League last season despite having the league's second-worst record. The 2012–13 hockey season hotels in daytona beach florida kicks off in October.
The 6,800-person arena on average was 80.44 percent full during the 2011–12 season, making the CPC the third-fullest United States arena in the AHL. Only the Hershey, Pa.—94.02 percent—and Syracuse, N.Y.—84.65 percent—arenas had higher attendance averages.
Many of those fans—35 percent—come hotels in daytona beach florida from outside Williamson County, CPC General Manager Rick McLaughlin said. By drawing fans from throughout Central Texas, he said the team in three years already ranks among the top five AHL teams in overall revenue—although league officials could not confirm that figure.
The Toros organization relocated in 2010 from the Austin Convention Center, resulting in an immediate 43 percent increase hotels in daytona beach florida in attendance the first year at the Cedar Park Center, Chief Operating Officer hotels in daytona beach florida Peter Lubell said. The team again experienced steady growth last season, he said, averaging 2,800 fans per game in a 4,680-seat arrangement.
"We still see upward opportunities because a number of people have not yet been to the Cedar Park Center," he said. "They might not know the Toros play there, so there's hotels in daytona beach florida more opportunity to build the brand in Williamson County."
But arena officials are also starting to book more events during the off-peak season, McLaughlin said, including conferences, school graduations, hotels in daytona beach florida the Cedar Park Rodeo and the Monster Jam truck series. Def Leppard and Poison will perform at the arena Sept. 4.
The Cedar Park Center hotels in daytona beach florida benefits from being versatile, he said, making it an ideal venue to host events for 4,000–6,000 people—as opposed to The University of Texas' Frank Erwin Center, which is better equipped to handle attractions that draw more than 10,000 people.
The lack of ballrooms and breakout rooms has been the biggest deterrent to drawing more large-scale conferences, he said, making it essential to build a nearby complementary hotel and conference center.
A full-service hotel and conference center is on the city's short wish list for future development, Powell said. Such an amenity could help put Cedar Park in position to one day host the AHL all-star game, he said.
While most of the league's franchises are based in established professional sports markets, Cedar Park is not the first example of a suburban hotels in daytona beach florida city to successfully host an AHL team. Wilkes-Barre, Pa., never hosted a pro team before 1999 when the city built the Mohegan Sun Arena, home of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Cedar Park has seen simultaneous growth surrounding the arena, particularly with the emergence hotels in daytona beach florida of the nearby 1890 Ranch shopping center and the opening of Toll 183A. The area is an ideal setting for the AHL, which promotes itself as inexpensive, hotels in daytona beach florida family-friendly entertainment, Chaimovitch said.
Potential new businesses recognize the wide age range of customers attending these hockey games, making the area more attractive for potential new development, said Jeremy Jordan, director of Temple University's Sports Industry Research Center.
Commercial development is expected to continually increase around the arena, Powell said, ideally attracting hotels in daytona beach florida more night-time visitors. The city even envisions an entertainment district near the CPC at some point, he said.
"Obviously, that prospect is very exciting, but at the same time, we have to respect the economic and market forces at work," hotels in daytona beach florida Powell said. "We're not going to do it when the timing isn't right. When the time is right, it will fall into place."