Behind the Banner - December 2023

BEHIND THE BANNER DEC

EDITION

AN INSIDE LOOK AT 2023

TS COMMISSION WITH THE DALLASBy SPOR Alex Gilbert Time is strange. One moment you're heading to work in early January looking forward to the year, and the next you're in the thick of the holiday season wondering where the months went. It's the same in the sports world. You look forward to an event for months. Anticipation grows increasingly, and when you get to the big day it's over in a glorious instant.

Here at the Dallas Sports Commission (DSC), we are intimately familiar with the way time

gallops by at full speed. Hosting between 60 and 80 events a year is no mean feat, and it's hard to find the time to truly live in the moments of our BIG wins. As we creep ever closer to 2024, let's take some time to look back at the astounding year 2023.

The year commenced with an exhilarating achievement as Sports Business Journal named Dallas the No. 1 City for Sports Business. This prestigious recognition for North Texas was based on half a million data

points and extensive feedback from 100 high-ranking sports industry executives.

culmination of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX.

Our steadfast youth sports partners returned for the 2023 editions of their iconic events. In cheerleading, the NCA High School Nationals and NCA All-Star National Championships set new records, marking significant milestones for the NCA. Youth soccer continued to thrive in Texas, with events like the Dallas Cup, Next Generation Cup, and others maintaining their status as benchmarks in youth soccer tournaments. Events like the Lone Star Classic and Texas Fest had strong years, proving that volleyball is continuing an upward trajectory in Dallas.

Professional tennis achieved continued success in Dallas with the announcement that the ATP Dallas Open would be upgraded to an ATP 500 tournament in 2025.

The success of women's basketball in Dallas during 2023 took the sport to an unprecedented level. The NCAA Women's Final Four was one of the most successful college sporting events in history. Athlete's Unlimited also took the stage through their AU Pro Basketball season. Both events also allowed us to come together in the

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic set the stage for the conclusion of the 2022/2023 college football season, with underdog Tulane stunning the world by defeating USC in the last moments. The start of the 2023/2024 season featured successful games such as the State Fair Classic, AT&T Red River Rivalry, and Dr Pepper Big 12 Conference Football Championship, leading to the excitement of bowl season, including the First Responder Bowl.

STEM and esports events continue to choose Dallas. Our headline STEM event, the VEX Robotics World Championship, brought competitors from all over the world. The DreamHack Festival returned with an

attendance of over 40,000. This success bodes well for the growth of esports events well into the future.

International soccer continues to make its mark on North Texas as 2023 saw the return of the Concacaf Gold Cup, the Mexican National Team's tour (MEXTour), and more. In May, we launched the FIFA World Cup 26™ Dallas brand with the rest of our soccer community. The launch brings us one step closer as all roads lead to 2026.

As the end of the year began to close, Dallas' running community showed up for the BMW Dallas Marathon, with every single event selling out before race day.

In 2023, the DSC significantly contributed to the community through initiatives like the Mayor's Youth Sports Ticket Program and the Dallas Regional Spelling Bee. Sriya Gomatam, a seventh-grader in Coppell ISD, and Faizan Zaki, a fifth-grader in Plano ISD, won the 2023 Dallas Regional Spelling Bee and went on to represent North Texas at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Literacy programs like the NCAA's Read to the Final Four and MEXTour's Copa Kin Read to Win Challenge resulted in over 5 million minutes read by local students. The NCAA Women's Final Four also allowed us to build a legacy basketball court in Mattie Nash-Myrtle Davis Park.

As we look to the future, many more BIG wins are on the horizon for our Dallas sports community. We can't wait to welcome back our returning events and make a huge splash with our first-time visitors. Keep an eye on the Dallas Sports Commission during 2024. BIG things are coming.

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DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

THE RED RIVER RIVALRY REMAINS IN DALLAS

By Ben Harbuck

The Red River Rivalry between the Longhorns of Texas and the Sooners of OU has a rich & nostalgic history that rewinds back to the 1900’s.

Over the 119 battles to date, the two teams & passionate fanbases have maintained a bitter feud, with an epicenter in the heart of Dallas.

Since 1912, the game has been played at a neutral site, with the Cotton Bowl Stadium being the venue of choice since its construction in 1930.

The two football powerhouses have recently announced a contract extension that will keep the iconic Rivalry at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium until 2036. This long-term agreement ensures that the annual clash between these

two-college football blue bloods will continue to captivate fans and showcase the rich tradition of the Red River Rivalry for over a century.

"Today, everyone in the Red River Rivalry winsthe Longhorns, the Sooners and the City of Dallas," Monica Paul, Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director added. “It's thrilling to know the new era of the Red River Rivalry will keep the same unique pageantry and atmosphere at historic Cotton Bowl Stadium well into the next decade."

As part of the contract extension, the City of Dallas has committed to a groundbreaking

renovation project for the Cotton Bowl Stadium, with an estimated investment of $140 million. This substantial investment represents the largest in the stadium's history and aims to enhance the overall fan experience and preserve the venue's celebrated legacy and distinctive architecture.

the community of Dallas.

Mitchell Glieber, the President of the State Fair of Texas, highlights the game's sentimental value, "This game is nostalgic for so many. Both Longhorns and Sooners fans have centered annual traditions around this game, traveling to Dallas every year to showcase their pride and be a part of the most iconic rivalry in college football history."

The renovation plans include widening concourses and adding escalators to improve accessibility and comfort for fans entering and exiting the stadium. Additionally, concessions and restrooms will undergo renovations to provide modern facilities that meet the highest standards.

Additionally, Monica Paul emphasized what this game has meant to the city of Dallas and how it will impact our community moving forward. “The game will continue to make a lasting impression on Dallas, building on the $51 million economic impact it had this year.”

The number of hospitality areas and premium environments will also be increased, ensuring faster and more efficient service during events.

These renovations will not only improve the stadium's infrastructure but also contribute to the economic vitality of the city and the State Fair of Texas.

While the stadium renovations played a big role, the decision to keep the Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium is rooted in the game's deep connection to tradition and nostalgia. The State Fair of Texas provides a unique and iconic setting for this historic matchup. The annual pilgrimage of Longhorns and Sooners fans to Dallas, showcasing their pride and contributing to the spectacle of college football, has become a cherished tradition for both fanbases as well as

The contract extension that keeps the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl Stadium until 2036 is a testament to the game's enduring legacy and the commitment of the University of Texas, the University of Oklahoma, the State Fair of Texas, and the City of Dallas.

The extensive renovations planned for the stadium will elevate the fan experience, ensuring that generations of fans can continue to create lasting memories at this historic venue.

As the rivalry between the Longhorns and the Sooners marches on, Dallas remains the proud host of this unparalleled college football tradition.

BEHIND THE BANNER

DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

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DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

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LATEST FROM

THE COMMISSION Concacaf Nations League Finals COMING TO DALLAS

Concacaf has announced that the Dallas Metropolitan Area will host a decisive week of 2023/24 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) matches during the FIFA Match Window of March 2024. World-renowned AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and host stadium for the FIFA World Cup 2026, has been awarded the tournament's Finals (inclusive of Semifinals, Third Place Match, and Final), while the Play-In matches will take place at Toyota Stadium, home to FC Dallas, in Frisco, TX.

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BEHIND THE BANNER

DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

e d o is p E st te a L e h T s is M ’t Don of DSC’s Mic Drop LISTEN NOW

MARCH MADNESS March Madness returns to Dallas, as the NCAA announced that the American Airlines Center will play host to the regional round of the 2024 NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball Championship. The games will take place March 29 and 31, 2024, at the American Airlines Center. This marks the first time for North Texas to host a men's basketball regional since 2013 and the first time for the area to be awarded a men's regional, outside of a Final Four bid. Dallas joins Boston, Detroit and Los Angeles as host cities for the 2024 regionals.

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BRAD’s RUN

THE STRENGTH TO PUSH THROUGH

By David Lee

Brad Ballard couldn’t help but think about the thousands of other contestants at the BMW Dallas Marathon running along with him.

“You just don’t know everyone’s story,” he remembers telling himself. “They have no idea what I just went through this last year, but it inspires me because we’re all going through something. What you’re going through is just as impactful to you as what I went through is for me.”

He wasn’t running this half-marathon against anyone. He wasn’t even trying to beat his best time. He was running for a different kind of personal best, because Brad shouldn’t even have been at the race.

In fact, he should have been dead.

A little more than a year prior in November 2022, a gunshot ripped through the left ventricle of his heart. It also seriously

damaged his kidney and spleen, and lacerated his liver. He was later told his chance of survival was less than 1 percent.

Ortiz Children’s Fund, supporting children who cannot afford the critical cardiac services they need.

Brad was rushed to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, a Level 1 trauma center. He woke up eight hours later after surgery, remembering everything that had just happened. “I remember at one point during the craziness of the day trying to wiggle my toes to make sure I could still walk and move. I was like, ‘OK, I can still move. We’ll just have a lot of work to do to get back to running.’”

A native to North Texas, Brad works as a senior account executive for the Texas Rangers, and as the BMW Dallas Marathon drew closer, the Rangers’ season kept going.

Traveling with the team to playoff and World Series games, he would find a hotel treadmill to continue training. The team won its first-ever World Series title just one week shy of a year after Brad was shot.

Two days later, he was up walking. A passionate runner with a competitive spirit, Brad was determined to run again. “That’s what I made the goal,” he says. “I knew the Dallas Marathon would be about a year after everything, so that’s when I set the goal for it when I was in the hospital.”

Even though time wasn’t a goal, Brad figured he could finish the half-marathon in about three to three-and-a-half hours. His plan was to run about 6 miles then walk for a bit. After he hit that milestone, he was ahead of his intended pace, surprised at how well he was doing. He even thought his family and friends, who were planning to meet him at the end, would get there too late.

Brad had a specific physical therapy regimen that he worked on every day in addition to trying to overcome the mental trauma of what he experienced. Working closely with his doctors and with his family’s support, he progressed quickly. Within two months, he was hopping on his Peloton bike at home.

An echocardiogram in March showed significant improvement. “They were like, ‘if I didn't know what happened to you, and I’m reading your test results, I wouldn’t know.

Your heart is fine,’” he said of his stunned doctors.

He eventually crossed the finish line after about 2 hours and 45 minutes, surprised to see his trauma team from JPS Hospital and the EMTs who helped him gathered to cheer him through the finish line. To Brad, his incredible accomplishment is theirs as well.

“It was pretty emotional. What a way to cap that!” he says.

The past year has worked a deeper sense of daily gratitude into Brad. He values kindness and empathy even more than he used to. He’s taking an active role in promoting heart health by joining the board of directors for the David

Brad completed the 13.1 miles of the half-marathon on December 10, exactly 13 months and three days—or 13.1 months to put it another way—after being shot in the heart.

He’s back to doing what he loves. And he’s very much alive.

BEHIND THE BANNER

DECEMBER 2023 EDITION

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