Behind The Banner October 2023

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GAME CHANGERS: Dallas Welcomes Three New Pro Leagues to the city

By David Lee

The Cowboys, Mavericks, Rangers, Stars, Wings, Jackals, Panther City LC, Renegades, & FC Dallas are all pro sports teams that call the Dallas metroplex home. DFW offers a diverse spectrum of sports entertainment reflecting the local community and helping weave a cultural fabric that makes the area one of the strongest and most a ractive homes for expanding leagues. That’s exactly what’s happening, as Dallas will welcome three new pro teams and leagues in the next two years. The USL Super League, the Pro

Volleyball Federation and the National Cricket League will add to the rich Dallas sports culture and bring additional a ention, business and visitors to the surrounding area.

The USL Super League is undergoing the sanctioning process with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) to be sanctioned as a Division One Women’s Professional League, joining the existing National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) representing top-level women’s soccer in the U.S. Currently, there

entertainment. “We want to put together a high-energy product... think women’s volleyball at a Taylor Swi concert,” they say.

“We think this product can be a real bridge to communities, both in terms of the teenage Gen Z female audience and underserved communities. This product is going to be great for young women and role models for them, whether that’s at the collegiate level, the high school level or the club level. Our goal really is to bring it broadly to your fan that maybe doesn't necessarily have the exposure to volleyball.”

The National Cricket League will start with six

are just 12 Division One-sanctioned pro women’s soccer teams (all with the NWSL) in the country. Dallas is one of the eight USL Super League inaugural markets that will begin play in August 2024.

Charlie Neil, president of the Dallas club, says they have narrowed to three areas or fields to call home, but wants to be as close to the heart of the city as possible. The team name is also currently under works, but Neil promises it will reflect the local market and is engaging various audiences across the metroplex for feedback and vision.

Dallas-Ft. Worth now represents the fourth-largest market in the country and has shown it’s more than big enough to successfully support multiple major league sports teams,” Neil says. “We’ve got an incredibly diverse population that is crazy about soccer, further validated by FIFA’s decision to select DFW as a host region for the men’s World Cup in 2026."

Neil also adds that Dallas was selected for unmatched soccer history, participation, and passion along with being one of the largest youth women’s soccer markets in the country, and the biggest youth soccer market without a professional women’s team.

“Fans can expect to see a team that reflects the strong local talent we have coming from the North Texas region, American talent that wants to be a part of something great, and international talent that wants to play in a first-class market with first-class facilities and first-class fans," he says.

The new Pro Volleyball Federation has successfully enlisted a total of 10 teams, with seven set to commence their season in February 2024 with a 16-game schedule.

league’s home. “Our weather, even in hot summers, fans love coming out, plus our growing infrastructure and more businesses are moving to Dallas.”

The local team will be the Dallas Eagles.

Agarwal says that with bald eagles recently relocating to White Rock Lake area, the city is becoming an a ractive habitat for the majestic and rare birds, and it reflects the community’s commitment to nature preservation.

He also noted fans need to be ready for a

Among these, three, including Dallas, are scheduled to launch in 2025 with plans to play in major sports venues. With an eye on expansion, the league anticipates additional teams in 2025.

Evan Stone and Armand Sadoughi are co-owners of the Dallas Franchise and say the team is in the process of interviewing coaches and locating a home venue. They want to include the Dallas fan base to help decide the team name for a more socialized experience.

Stone and Sadoughi recognize the deep volleyball club system in Dallas, along with the strong flow of youth and school programs. “It has a very deep and successful club system, the Dallas top clubs,” Stone says. “The number of Dallas clubs winning matches at national tournaments, maybe 30 to 40 teams, showcases their prowess. The club system is super strong, with a robust community of volleyball players, enthusiasts, coaches, and parents. Dallas, being a sports-obsessed town, a top media market, and centrally located, adds to its significance for the league.”

The co-owners say fans should expect an exciting experience that’s full of

inaugural teams, including one in Dallas, and the league will be headquartered in Dallas.

The independent league will implement a new competition format called “sixty strikes.”

According to Arun Agarwal, NCL chairman and part-owner of the Dallas team, the goal of the league is to bring a fast-paced form of cricket tied with entertainment.

“DFW has the largest cricket-loving diaspora.

Our growing economy, DFW airport being one the best airports in the world, Dallas Sports Commission doing an incredible job to promote Dallas, this became a natural choice,” Agarwal says of choosing Dallas as the

fun-filled in person experience with high adrenaline. “It will be hours of an exciting, fast-paced game with international players combined with entertainers to keep you on your feet,” Agarwal adds. “Dallas is the most sports-loving city in America, and when it comes to the cricket-playing countries diaspora such as India, Pakistan, England, Australia, Caribbean islands, New Zealand and more, we have largest presence in the nation.”

To learn more about the growing sports landscape of DFW check out dallassports.org

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OCTOBER 2023 EDITION

keep your eyes off the new video board, display upgrades can be seen across practically every inch of the arena- including an upgraded outdoor display in the PNC Plaza, two new end-bowl displays, and LED ribbon boards wrapping the inside bowl area of AAC. For these visual upgrades, American Airlines Center has entrusted C10 Media's video experience company, ANC, to design, procure, and install the digital screens, plus additional LED displays throughout the interior and exterior of the building.

Partnering with ANC on these upgraded LED techonologies conveys the arena's commitment to creating engaging and impactful moments for all their teams, catalyzing both returning fans and new a endees for the 2023 NBA Season. Fans who don’t want to miss a second of game action can expect a more energizing and cohesive game experience- from before walking in the door to nearly any seat in the building.

$20m OFFSEASON Upgrades at AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER

By Chelsey Oliver

Approaching 22 years of operations, American Airlines Center dove head-first into major upgrades to significantly enhance fan experience and comfort while indulging in live entertainment- whether at a concert, basketball game, or hockey match. In an agreement between the NBA Mavericks and NHL Stars and their arena management partner Center Operating Company, the arena announced internal and external multimillion-dollar renovations.

American Airlines Center continues to set precedence in the industry, remaining a top-10 arena since opening its doors in 2001. With both The Stars' and Mavericks' leases extending into 2031, the arena has worked incessantly to ensure the venue remains state-of-the-art while preserving the timeless integrity of the facility- and yes, they did fix the roof.

Last Fall, the building replaced the steel-framed arched roofing infrastructure- investing an initial $3.5 million into the project. Exterior projects continued

throughout the year, unveiling a new statue honoring former NBA player Dirk Nowitzki, fi ingly facing the renamed street, Nowitzki Way. The NBA Hall-of-Famer's tribute set fans and spectators ablaze when revealed last Christmas; many claiming the statue "defied gravity," or "ignored all laws of physics." Designed by artist Omri Amrany, the sculpture "represents time in a frozen form of bronze." A towering 24 feet and 9,000 pounds, Dirk's new commemoration is nothing short of astounding, depicting his signature one-legged fadeaway, be er known as "The Dirk." However, the timeless art piece also embodies innovation- designed from white bronze, which is somewhat atypical for sports statues.

Following the recent exterior updates, AAC began eight-figure upgrades on in-arena technology: including a new video scoreboard and ergonomically improved seating. The show never stops at AAC, as the arena remained open during all phases of

“The upgraded video displays venue-wide are the next steps in creating a more exciting and immersive gameday environment,” said Brown. “The revamped size and resolution of the center-hung and the addition of its brand-new under-belly displays will improve the in-game experience for so many of our fans, providing more opportunities for play-by-play engagement and increasing views of larger-than-life video content and crisp game information across every focal point.”

renovation. Seat replacement around AAC launched in phases- with about one-third of seats in the upper level already replaced during the NHL Dallas Stars' stint in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Maine-based Hussey Seating worked strategically in-between games and events to replace 19,134 of the original seats with be er cushioned, ergonomically enhanced chairs that are resistant to spills, stains, and cuts.

"The original fabric really was not designed for stadium and arena use," revealed Dave Brown, American Airlines Center's chief operating officer and general manager. "It was more like theater seating and the fabric was porous; it didn't repel liquids. It got to the point where we just couldn't keep it clean." On top of be er cushionioning, the new seats consists of a new material that allows them to be cleaned easilywhether during the middle of a game or at a concert.

But the upgrade that truly has ticketholders buzzing is the brand-new, center-hung display. The new video display is over 30% larger than before and creates a 55%-larger viewing area, compared to the setup previously installed in 2009. The bo om panels also feature four curved and angled underbelly screens with 360° video capability. While it's almost hard to

American Airlines Center upgrades were officially unveiled at the end of September, just in time for the upcoming 2023-24 NBA and NHL seasons. The new seating and larger-than-life LED scoreboard display encompass only a piece of the $20 million put towards a more enjoyable enviroment. Upgrade investments were approved on all ends to further enrich the guest experience while enjoying all the action on the court, ice, or stage. The upcoming calendar at AAC gives open opportunity to check out the arena improvements in person- with the Dallas Stars' season underway, concerts in full-swing, and the Dallas Mavs' set to host their home opener on October 27th.

Learn more about the American Airlines Center rennovations, jumbotron, and upcoming events at AmericanAirlinesCenter.com

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OCTOBER 2023 EDITION

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upcoming events USA Pickleball s ip h s n io p m a h C l a n Natio NOV. 5-12 Brookhaven C.C.

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BRIDGE has made it their year-round mission to provide opportunities for urban communities to engage in the sport of lacrosse while focusing on youth development and offering quality a erschool and summer programming. Their main priority is to create a safe and fun environment where young athletes can build character, learn responsibility, and develop lifelong skills.

BRIDGE LACROSSE: Empowering Dallas Youth Through Sports and Education Lacrosse, a sport traditionally associated with affluent suburban neighborhoods is now making its mark in urban communities across the country and especially within the city limits of Dallas.

With its fast-paced gameplay and emphasis on teamwork and discipline, lacrosse has the potential to transform the lives of many young athletes and level the playing field in urban communities. In the past, lacrosse was perceived

as an inaccessible sport in inner city areas due to a lack of resources, equipment, and coaching opportunities. However, a certain organization within the North Texas region is making strives to BRIDGE the opportunity gap for under resourced communities in Dallas.

BRIDGE Lacrosse is a local non-profit in organization based out of Dallas that sees the sport as a valuable tool for social development.

BRIDGE oversees 12 competitive lacrosse teams for boys and girls during their spring season, ranging from kindergarten to twel h grade.

These teams bring together young athletes from diverse backgrounds for a 14-week season that offers fierce competition, structured lacrosse development, & team building. In summertime, BRIDGE focuses on expansion, inclusion, & teaching. Creating opportunities to introduce the sport of lacrosse to new student-athletes and organizations. Finally, the fall & winter season at BRIDGE programs are dedicated to the developmental growth of student-athletes.

Offering a traditional fall season along with a range of off-field programming that provides everyone with an opportunity to further enhance their skills while instilling their core values.

Currently BRIDGE is run and operated by Executive Director David Higbee and Program Director Morgan Haggard. Both Morgan & David joined BRIDGE as either volunteers or staff members back in the 2010’s decade & rejoined the family a er realzing they had a true passion for the sport and serving their community.

In 2022-2023 BRIDGE Lax enrolled 830 student-athletes in their programs and 97% of

their graduates went on to enroll in College.

BRIDGE also prides their organization on being diverse, & inclusive. Their student body is made up of 54% males, 46% females, as well as 49% African Americans, 36% Hispanics, 8% White, and 6% Bi-racial.

If you share the belief in the power of sports and want to make a difference, BRIDGE encourages you to get involved! They’re constantly on the lookout for dedicated individuals to help volunteer in their programs.

You can start the process by filling out a volunteer form at www.bridgelacrosse.org.

Stay up to date with BRIDGE’s latest news, events, and achievements by following their social media platforms: @bridgelacrosse on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

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