Behind the Banner Winter 2024

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EDITION

DALLAS CELEBRATES alongside SBJ as NUMBER one city for sports business

By Ben Harbuck

In an industry where competition is fierce and the pursuit to be the best is paramount, it's a rare and beautiful sight to see highly driven individuals coming together to celebrate each other's achievements and success.

The ornate celebration was decorated with a red carpet & every major championship trophy from the region’s sports organizations.

Honorary guests the likes of Troy Aikman, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, Cynt Marshall, Marty Turco, Rolando Blackman, John Isner, Nancy Lieberman, & more graced the runway, sharing their perspectives on the recipe for success and the philosophy that drives the region's sports scene.

Recently, the city of Dallas and its sports icons gathered at the George W. Bush Presidential Center to celebrate the honor of being named the #1 City for Sports Business by SBJ. This recognition not only highlights the city's dedication to sports but also its thriving business Dallas Stars CEO Brad Alberts captured the community and entrepreneurial spirit. essence of the city by stating, "I think we hustle

- there’s an entrepreneurial spirit that all our professional teams have… we embrace the grind, we embrace the hustle - and we’re all competitive, we all want to achieve our own greatness, so I think we push one another.”

Alberts emphasized the success of the Texas Rangers, who clinched a World Series title in October and how that has ignited a fire within the DFW community, raising the standard and expectations for everyone to go a er a championship.

Pudge Rodriguez echoed Alberts’ sentiments, highlighting the discipline & passion that Dallasites carry for sports. From grassroots levels to professional teams and their state-of-the-art facilities, Dallas-Fort Worth is home to diehard fans, business leaders, and athletes who all share this highly competitive and can-do spirit.

Speaking of athletes, NFL Hall of Famer Troy Aikman reflected on how the Dallas sports scene has evolved since his time as America's QB “You know the Byron Nelson was the biggest event happening when I got to Dallas so it’s been impressive to see, I was on the Super Bowl Commi ee when that came about - but the Final Fours, the World Cup that’s coming, and the All-Star Games, it’s all been awesome.”

Following the red-carpet festivities, a panel discussion moderated by Abe Madkour, SBJ's publisher, took center stage. The panel included top executives from the Stars, Mavericks, Rangers, Cowboys, FC Dallas, Dallas Wings, and the Dallas Sports Commission. They delved into topics ranging from broadcast rights and TV viewership to stadium a endance, growing the game, and the investment into non-major four sports properties.

Chad Estis, EVP of Business Operations for the Dallas Cowboys, acknowledged the centerpiece for the region's success, stating, "The No. 1 key to the success of this market is... Monica Paul."

Monica of course, deflected the praise and credited the entire region for the achievement. “I’ve been here for 15 years, and I can say it’s the partnerships. Anytime we’ve gone a er an event or bid on something or tried to be aggressive in bringing events here—large or small—everyone around us has stepped up to

commitment to excellence. From the grassroots level to professional sports organizations, Dallas-Fort Worth boasts a vibrant sports scene fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit and a competitive drive.

However, it is the collaborative efforts of the entire community, including professional teams, venues, regional partners, & volunteers that truly make Dallas the thriving sports business city it is today.

The recognition as the #1 City for Sports Business is not the end of the journey for DFW. The region continues to strive for excellence

say, ‘We want to be your partner.’ All the owners, all of the teams, and all of the facilities that we have here invest a lot to ensure that we’re a world class city. Our regional partners are a big part of this, as well, because it takes all of us collectively, from Dallas to Fort Worth to Arlington to Frisco and everywhere in between, to make us a successful region.”

and looks to host even more prestigious events in the coming years.

The celebration of Dallas as the #1 City for Sports Business in the region was a testament to the city's unwavering

To learn more about the full SBJ article: click here.

With the support of the community, investment from ownership into pro teams, a thriving business economy, and the proven track record of successfully hosting major and grassroots sporting events, Dallas is poised to continue its legacy as a sports powerhouse.

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WINTER 20 24 EDIT ION

SERVED UP, DALLAS OPEN taking tennis to new heights

By David Lee

The Dallas Open will launch its third year, running Feb. 3-11 at the Styslinger/ALTEC Tennis Center on the Southern Methodist University campus. As one of only 10 ATP Tour tournaments in the United States and currently operating at the ATP 250 level, the Dallas Open holds a distinctive position on the professional tennis calendar. It’s also on the verge of a major and unprecedented elevation that will bring more global a ention to Big D. More than 60 world-class ATP Tour professionals will participate in singles and doubles competitions this year, promising spectators an exhilarating showcase of talent.

With more than 50 hours of live domestic television coverage and international distribution to 80 countries, the Dallas Open continues to expand its global reach. The ATP

Tour, governing the men’s professional tennis circuits, showcases elite athletes in 63 tournaments across 31 countries. Players earn ATP ranking points based on their performance in tournaments, determining their position in the ATP Rankings.

Elite players this year feature Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe, and the addition of women’s stars Madison Keys, Caroline Wozniacki, Genie Bouchard and Taylor Johnson.

“From year one to year three, we’ve grown each year in our ticket sales and partnership sales,” says Dallas Open Tournament Director Peter Lebedevs. “The tennis community has supported us very well. It’s a strong and intelligent tennis community. We’ve always brought in new players, high-ranked players. We added the women last year, always trying to

improve the experience for the fans and our partners.”

The tournament features several community engagement and charity events this year. A recycling project with Coca-Cola allows fans to donate plastic products for a discounted ticket.

The hospitality village promises to be larger than previous years with more television opportunities plus more food and drinks to bring fans and partners together. The Rally for Charity event is new this year, focusing on giving back to kids.

“We organized a men’s league in the city, bringing six clubs together,” Lebedevs says. “We’re kicking off our event with a playoff on Saturday night at the Ladies Classic. Local club members will get a chance to play on our stadium court before anyone else. It’s something different that gets them involved throughout the year, not just during the week of the tournament. Our goal is to create as many events as possible throughout the year to positively impact the community.”

A college night allows SMU tennis players to play in the main draw and be part of the professional atmosphere. “We have some big plans with some help from the Greek Life SMU campus this year featuring Adam Neff,” Lebedevs says. “So, come out Tuesday night for a li le bit more of the fun times here in the support of SMU and the men’s tennis team.”

Starting in 2025, the Dallas Open will ascend to ATP 500 status, offering more than $2.8 million in prize money. This leveling up solidifies the Dallas Open’s position as a major player on the international tennis stage as one of 16 ATP 500 tournaments worldwide and a racting even more top-tier talent, cementing its status as a must-watch event.

“We were one of 17 applicants for an upgrade, a first-time opportunity with the ATP,” Lebedevs says. “It’s unprecedented to move up in designations; we’re one of the three awarded

upgrades. Dallas was selected due to the tremendous support in our first few years, the city’s tennis history, and the impactful partnership with the Cowboys. The Dallas Sports Commission has been a tremendous partner from day one. I can’t say enough good things about them.”

In 2025, Tennis enthusiasts can expect a fusion of world-class competition, state-of-the-art facilities, and the infectious energy of the Dallas sports scene, making the Dallas Open a cornerstone of the ATP Tour's illustrious journey across the globe.

“We’re excited about 2025 as a 500-level tournament, meaning more players, higher-ranked players, and an elevated experience with increased stadium capacity to 6,000,” Lebedevs adds. “Everybody’s marking their calendars of when the event is going to be so that we can fill it up. We have a few other plans in the works on how to include more schools, more kids in the program as we go forward to learn the science and geography aspect of tennis. That’s our biggest goal and working with the Cowboys in expanding that reach of our tournament throughout the entire year.”

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THE COMMISSION CONCACAF NATIONS LEAGUE

TICKETS ON SALE

The third edition of the Concacaf Nations League Finals (CNLF) will be played at AT&T Stadium between the United States, Jamaica, Mexico, and Panama. The CNLF consists of Semifinals on Thursday, March 21, and a Third-Place match and Final on Sunday, March 24.

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44

Events Hosted

FLASHBACK FEATURE Take a look back at the first 10 years of the Dallas Sports Commission!

2014

BIG WIN OF THE YEAR

Hosting a record breaking Men’s Final Four at AT&T Stadium, totaling in over 150,000 a endees over three games.

863k A endees

2014 2015 2016 2017

$300M Economic Impact

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

upcoming events

l l a b y e l l o V it m Sum Feb. 3-4 KBHCCD

Dallas Open feb. 3-12 SMU TENNIS COMPLEX

L L A B Y E L L O V N A IC R E AM Challenge Feb. 16-18 KBHCCD

AU Basketball Championship FEB. 29 - MAR. 23 FAIR PARK COLISEUM

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COMmUNITY

ChAMpIoNs SUNSET HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING

By Cecilia Rodriguez

“Cheering is more than just dancing on the sidelines” says 17-year-old Santiago Presa-Pineda. “It’s about leadership and motivating each other to be be er.”

Santiago is a senior at Sunset High School in Dallas. This is only his second year being part of a cheer team but recognizes how many doors have opened for him and his teammate because of it.

Santiago and his stunt partner, Anahi Bustamante, come from different sports backgrounds but have bonded together over their love for cheerleading. Before joining the

team, Anahi had seven years of experience in dancing, whereas Santiago's interest was in track. It was during this time that their cheer coach, Coach Mitchell, approached Santiago and extended an invitation to one of her cheer practices.

“We have a connection and trust with each other. I don’t worry about falling out of my stunts because I know Santiago will be there.

We trust that it will work, so it will work” says Anahi.

Santiago shared the reason he and Anahi work so well together is because of how well

he believes in himself and Anahi to be great.

While doing stunts requires a lot of skill and balance, it also requires complete trust in your partner to be there in case you fall.

Anahi says she was nervous at first to stunt with Santiago, but quickly the nerves subsided once she put complete trust into her partner.

This month, the duo had the opportunity to showcase their hard work alongside their team at NCA’s High School Nationals – a national cheerleading competition.

Sunset High School placed 5th in the Game Day Rally division. “It’s a li le bit upse ing but it just makes me want to try harder and push my teammates to work harder for next year” says Anahi.

Throughout the year, their team gets ready for competitions by practicing 3 hours twice a week, ge ing team training from Dallas ISD student services, and competing in state and local tournaments. Along with training with Coach Mitchell and outside coaching to prepare them for UIL competitions, they also a end NCA camp every summer.

“If it weren’t for NCA camps, we wouldn’t be the team we are today” says Coach Mitchell.

Coach Mitchell a ributes the strong cheer foundation of her team to the NCA camps. It’s something they look forward to every summer and it has helped them strengthen their technique and skills.

The efforts of Santiago and Anahi have been recognized not only by Coach Mitchell but also by NCA. These stunt partners have been selected to be apart of the NCA’s All-American team. A title only given to individuals who have a ended NCA camp and who display exceptional cheer and leadership skills.

For Santiago and Anahi, being a part of the All-American team has opened many doors for them to cheer and represent Dallas globally. In December, they were invited to fly to London for the New Year's Day Parade where they experienced their first taste of Europe. Santiago says working with NCA has given him some big opportunities.

Opportunities he would have never thought being a part of a cheer team could give him.

Since being involved in NCA events, Santiago says his interest in becoming more involved in cheer has grown. He plans to continue to cheer in college and use everything Coach Mitchell and NCA camps have taught him.

Despite being too young, Santiago cannot wait until next year when he is old enough to be a part of NCA staff. Becoming a member of staff would provide Santiago with a valuable chance to use his leadership skills and inspire others just like him – those without a cheer background.

Anahi plans to continue the rest of her high school career alongside Coach Mitchell and the rest of her Sunset team. A er high school, she wants to continue to cheer in college and just like her stunt partner Santiago, she wants to be a part of NCA staff.

“Out of my nine years of coaching this team, this has been one of my proudest years so far” says Coach Mitchell.

Santiago and Anahi may only have the rest of the school year to cheer together but their legacy and memories cheering for Sunset High School will last them forever.

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