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Prominent North Texas Business Leaders to Pursue New Central Hockey League Team in Allen, TX

ALLEN, Texas, Sept. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Two local business leaders, Mark C. Layton and Ian Dockrill have formed Texas Sports Management, LLC (TSM) to pursue the launch and ongoing management of a Central Hockey League (CHL) team inAllen, TX. The team would play in the new Allen Event Center under construction in TheVillage of Allen project located at US 75 and Stacy Road inAllen, TX.

The Allen Events Center is targeted for opening in the fall of 2009 inside the nation's largest open air mall. The Events Center features 6,200 fixed seats for hockey and can accommodate up to 7,500 people in various seating configurations. Also featured are twenty six luxury suites, loge seating, and a VIP lounge. Numerous events will be held annually including nationally touring concerts, family shows and the facility will be the home for the CHL'sAllen team. Construction of the $52.6 million event center is a cooperative effort between theCity of Allen, Global Entertainment Corporation and The MGHerring Group.

The Central Hockey League was established in the early 1990's, and currently consists of 17 member clubs in 9 states, each club being independently operated. In June of this year, the CHL announced the expansion of the league in two new cities, which includedAllen, Texas. TheState of Texas is currently home to 6 CHL teams including; Amarillo Gorillas, Corpus Christi IceRays, Laredo Bucks, Odessa Jackalopes, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, and Texas Brahmas.

Mr. Mark C. Layton, Managing Partner of TSM stated, "Along with my partner Ian Dockrill, we are very excited to be involved in the pursuit to bring a Central Hockey League team to the ice inAllen, TX. We are anxious to help establishAllen, TX as a destination sports and entertainment venue by providing an exciting, competitive and affordable family entertainment option to this area of North Texas. With my personal involvement as a coach in DFW youth hockey and as a fan of the game, I have seen firsthand the growing interest of hockey in this area over the past 10-15 years. We believe that the combination of an exciting and affordable hockey entertainment product, associated with an established and successful league (CHL), a world class stadium venue and the fast growing and demographically attractiveAllen TX trade area will make for a very successful collection of attributes from which to launch this team. We are working hard to model our project from the recent successes that the CHL has had in a number of new and existing markets, including the Arizona Sundogs, last year's CHL champion, and the Colorado Eagles".

TheAllen team is currently scheduled to begin play in the CHL for the 2009-10 season. TSM Executive Vice President & Operating Partner Ian Dockrill added, "We are targeting to begin business operations in the fall of 2008 and provided the CHL agreements are in place, the naming of the team will be one of the first orders of business. We are looking forward to becoming an active and positive contributor to the local community through job creation and in working with our local government leaders to create the best possible entertainment experience for theCity of Allen and its citizens. The team would office operations in the Allen Event Center after construction is completed."

    Company Contact:
    Mark Layton - Managing Partner - President
    Ian Dockrill - Operating Partner - Executive Vice President
    Texas Sports Management, LLC
    texassportsmgmt@sbcglobal.net
    ian@markian.com
    (469) 951-0546

SOURCE Texas Sports Management, LLC