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Dallas-Fort Worth is the best place to do sports business, according to the geographically challenged Sports Business Journal.
“In the end, the data, the industry and even rival markets agree: Dallas is clearly the star,” the publication declares in a cringeworthy statement.
Obviously, the good people and researchers at the SBJ are doing what all lazy non-geographers and non-demographers do, and they even say so.
“The market’s sports business footprint, which includes Arlington, Fort Worth, Frisco and various U.S. Census-designated suburbs, is growing by the day. Dallas boasts world-class venues, progressive team owners, and a lower cost of living than most of its big-market peers.”
Lot to unpack there, starting with “suburbs.” We aren’t anybody’s damn suburb, ain’t that right Richard Greene? Progressive? The Cowboys?
Well, anyway, the SBJ ranked the top 50 cities in the U.S. for the best opportunity and environment to conduct sports business.
“Everyone’s moving to Dallas! Texas is the No. 1 destination for California transplants, and Dallas is a primary destination for many people looking for lower taxes, lower cost of living and a business-friendly regulatory environment.”
Two out of three is not bad.
“The same holds true for sports.”
The publication noted the relocation of the PGA of America from Florida to a new base of operations in Frisco, a $550 million campus development. The ATP moved the “New York Open” to Dallas in 2021. We believe that it’s no longer called the New York Open.
And, the PBR moved its World Finals to Dickies arena after three decades in Sin City.
One criticism: “Sports business executives mentioned that the region’s often criticized mass transit system can make it difficult to navigate the decentralized market,” the SBJ said.
The area is also home to properties in each of the major-league sports, three college bowl games, recent FIFA qualifiers and, the publication noted, “rates highly in most attendance metrics.”
The study even looked at sponsor footprint, noting that Dallas-Fort Worth is home to 64 branks that have least four sponsorships, a naming-rights deal, and/or a major league jersey patch deal. Only New York and Los Angeles have more.
And, of course, facilities.
The Taj Mahal of sports arenas is AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers only recently built a new place and outfitted the “old” stadium for soccer and football.
But let’s be honest. Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena certainly played a significant role in getting “Dallas” over the hump.
That thing has been all that it was advertised and been magnet and steel to the sports industry.
Dickies hosted the 2021 and ’22 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship, which is coming back in May. The NCAA Wrestling Championships were here in 2021.
The arena hosted first- and second-round games of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in 2022. The scene was electric and included the eventual tournament final teams, Kansas and North Carolina.
In a pinch last year, the WTA moved its finals to Fort Worth in November.
In 2021, Vergil Ortiz of Grand Prairie won the WBO International welterweight title with a TKO over Maurice Hooker.
In August the 2022 Rocket League World Championship, a top Esports tournament — something I haven’t completely wrapped my head around yet — was hosted by Dickies. And don’t forget lacrosse. The Panther City Lacrosse Club calls Dickies home.
We haven’t even gotten to the WWE and Monster Trucks.
Top 10
1. Dallas-Fort Worth
2. New York
3. Charlotte
4. Minneapolis
5. Atlanta
6. Los Angeles
7. Las Vegas
8. Nashville
9. Chicago
10. Phoenix