The Dundee Stars will change hands at the end of the season, with Michael O’Rourke and partners set to take control of a second Elite League franchise.
In a statement published on Friday [27 February], Stars director Steve Ward, whose family has owned the team throughout its 25-year history, confirmed that he would retain an operational role after the ownership transfer.
“It’s the end of an era in terms of our family’s ownership of the club,” said Ward of the O’Rourke-fronted acquisition.
“In our role as owners, we are very proud of the past success we have achieved, maintaining a professional ice hockey team in the city. At times, this has been challenging, but we’ve enjoyed every minute of our involvement.
“However, we feel we have the club as far as we can and now is the time for new ownership to maintain and grow the legacy we have built, to further enhance and lead the club to new levels of future success.”
Founded by the Wards in 2001, the Stars won the British National League double in their inaugural season, before stepping into the Elite League, after a brief spell in the Scottish National League, in 2010.
The Stars’ achieved a third-placed regular-season finish in 2013-14 and twice reached the playoff semi-finals (2016-17, 2021-22) under the Wards’ ownership.
Who is inbound Dundee Stars owner Michael O’Rourke?
Dublin-based O’Rourke is the founder of TDL Media, which owns the majority of Premier Sports Ireland and Premier Sports Asia.
Through TDL Media, O’Rourke is also the majority owner of the Glasgow Clan and League of Ireland side Shelbourne FC.
Chris McKay, Glasgow Clan (Image: Al Goold)
In 2024, The Irish Independent reported that O’Rourke’s TDL Media recorded €18.66 million in pre-tax profits following the sale of Premier Sports UK, a former Elite League rights-holder, to Swedish broadcaster Viaplay.
O’Rourke is also a founding investor in Prime Arena Holdings, the consortium planning to build a €200 million winter sports and entertainment arena in Dublin.
“We are pleased to have finalised an agreement to assume ownership of the Dundee Stars,” said a spokesperson on behalf of O’Rourke.
“The club plays a vital role in the continued development of professional ice hockey in Scotland, and we are committed to building on the strong foundations already in place.
“The Ward family, have stewarded the organisation exceptionally well over many years, and we are delighted that they will remain involved as we move forward.”
What does the future hold for the Dundee Stars and Glasgow Clan?
Releasing a statement via the Clan’s website, TDL Media moved quickly to reassure supporters of both teams.
“Both clubs have separate ownership groups and will continue to operate as separate teams and corporate entities,” wrote a Clan spokesperson.
“The Ward family have operated Dundee Stars for the last 25 years and will do so moving forward.
“This development is about strengthening the future of ice hockey within Scotland while preserving everything that makes Glasgow Clan special.”
The Clan and Stars will both continue to compete in the Elite League.
Reaction: Is Michael O’Rourke’s Dundee Stars takeover good news for the Elite League?
The O’Rourke-led acquisition of the Stars raises valid concerns about multi-club ownership.
Although the Stars and Clan will operate as distinct entities, the fact that Glasgow felt compelled to write that “multi-club ownership models are increasingly common… where owners invest in multiple teams while maintaining competitive integrity” is telling.
Tristin Langan, Glasgow Clan (Image: Derek Black)
The Clan added: “For clarity, both organisations will have distinctive separate ownership groups.”
While multi-club ownership is becoming commonplace across professional sports, it is unusual for two teams in the same competition to be so closely associated.
But it isn’t unheard of in the Elite League.
Neil Black owned Glasgow and Nottingham Panthers for over a decade, before selling then Clan to TDL Media in 2023.
Black’s ability to lead both club’s simultaneously was placed under constant scrutiny.
O’Rourke will face the same challenge in Dundee, Glasgow, and possibly even Dublin.
With O’Rourke involved in efforts to build the Republic of Ireland’s first ice arena (a venue that could also play host to an Elite League franchise), the situation is even more complex than Black’s multi-club ownership structure.
Will this takeover age well for the Elite League? Only time will tell.
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