Behind The Banner Summer 2023

BEHIND THE BANNER

DALLAS TO HOST LARGEST-EVER PICKLeBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before … Dallas is set to host the largest event in the history of [FILL IN THE BLANK]. You could probably name any sport to fill that blank and likely be correct. But this time, it’s the massively popular sport of pickleball.

Whether you’re at your local community rec center, flipping through the television channels, or shopping at your local sporting goods store, pickleball seems to be everywhere. And on November 5-12, the craze comes to Dallas, only bigger and better than ever.

The 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships, presented by PPA Tour, will be the largest-ever pickleball

tournament with an expanded field of more than 4,000 amateur and professional players competing on up to 100 pickleball courts at Brookhaven Country Club. The facility will become ground zero for USA Pickleball’s national championships and will host numerous celebrations during the week-long event, including a street party, live music, and a “Taste of Pickle” exhibit that will give tournament attendees the chance to experience traditional southwestern cuisine.

“Being able to host the largest pickleball tournament ever is another milestone for Dallas,” said Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul. “Pickleball

continues to grow in both participation and viewership by people of all ages. We are excited to partner with USA Pickleball and the PPA Tour to continue to elevate the sport.”

Nearly 4,000 amateur and professional pickleball players are expected to converge on Dallas, along with more than 25,000 spectators. Pickleball’s popularity has soared, with an estimated 8.9 million amateur and professional players in the United States this year, up from 4.8 million players a year prior.

Pickleball to create an incredibly exciting and historic event that will be the biggest pickleball party in the world.”

Dallas-based Invited, formerly ClubCorp, owns and operates Brookhaven Country Club and is making extensive upgrades in order to make Brookhaven a true pickleball facility for the national championships. The $5 million investment includes creating a pickleball center featuring a state-of-the-art play area. Upon completion of the project in October, Brookhaven will feature 28

The 2023 national championship is expected to deliver a $10 million economic impact to the local community.

“It’s been special to see the Dallas community rally around pickleball—from the city itself, to the Dallas Sports Commission, to our partners at Invited,” said Dallas investor Tom Dundon, lead investor in the PPA Tour. “Partnering with USA Pickleball to bring its National Championships to a central hub is important to us as we continue making pickleball more accessible for everyone. We look forward to working in conjunction with USA

permanent outdoor pickleball courts, four of which are covered, along with new fencing with a lower height between courts, new lighting pole placement with new LED lights, new court surfaces and new pickleball net systems that will further improve the overall playing experience. New landscaping and enhanced member and player hospitality areas are also in the works.

“With Invited’s substantial investment, Brookhaven will be a spectacular venue for this historic tournament,” said Connor Pardoe, CEO of the PPA Tour. “The significant

number of permanent pickleball courts available yearround is outstanding for the sport’s local growth. We cannot wait to showcase the incredible upgrades to the players and fans. The atmosphere for Nationals will be off the charts, and we are excited to continue to work with our partners as we look to grow the event year after year.”

But what exactly is pickleball? Pickleball combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played both indoors or outdoors on a smaller, modified-sized tennis court. And what has made it so popular among Americans is that fact that the game can be played and enjoyed literally by all ages.

USA Pickleball membership numbers reached the 70,000 mark in February of 2023, after a nearly 30 percent increase in membership growth in 2022. In its 2023 Topline Participation Report, the Sports & Fitness Industry Association named pickleball the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row.

The pro schedule for the USA Pickleball Nationals is divided into nine sessions. Each session will feature play in various events from the best pickleball players in the world. For more information or to purchase tickets for the event, visit www.usapickleball.org

inside look at dsc in 2023

As the Dallas Sports Commission prepares to run out of the tunnel & take on the second half of 2023, it is time to reflect on a few BIG wins that the Sports Commission celebrated in the first six months of the year. Behind every win is the team that makes things happen, and the team members of the Dallas Sports Commission pride themselves on working as a well-oiled machine.

This summer, I had the opportunity to join the team as their Summer Marketing Intern. I am a second-semester, junior at Oklahoma State University, majoring in strategic communications with an emphasis on social media and a minor in marketing and event management.

I am also obtaining an undergraduate certificate in travel and tourism management.

During my time with the Dallas Sports Commission, I have worked closely with the Assistant Director of Marketing and Marketing Specialist on projects, social media content, participating in client meetings, and working various events.

Take a look with me behind the banner and see how the leaders within the Dallas Sports Commission collaborate with a few of their premier sporting events in the greater Dallas community.

From a bird’s eye view, the Dallas Sports Commission is one organization split into four teams: marketing, events, operations, and sales. All four teams work together to bring premier sporting events to Dallas, serving them with the utmost Texas-sized hospitality.

Let’s take a look back at our first highlight in the spring, where the best spirit in the Heart of Texas comes to us with the help of the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA). Founded in 1948, NCA has long partnered with the City of Dallas and the Dallas Sports Commission. Dallas has been the foremost destination for NCA All-Star National Championships for 35 years and NCA High School National Championship for 42 years. The climax of high school cheerleading arrives at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD) every year in January. On the other hand, NCA AllStar cheerleading, also held at the KBHCCD is solely performance-based routines with more focus on complex choreography. NCA All-Star National Championships open up the opportunity for all ages to compete from mini divisions all the way to open and international divisions.

“NCA is an essential part of the Dallas sports community,” said Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission. “We are honored that they continue to partner with us year after year. It’s evident that their events make, not only economically but also on the athletes’ development. We’re excited to continue seeing both national competitions’ growth through the coming years.”

Everything is bigger and better in Texas, and the growth in competition attendance proves the point. In 2023, there were 21,594 attendees at the NCA High School Nationals, and 60,658 people at the NCA All-Star Nationals. NCA is continuously growing, yet they come back to Dallas year after year, still bringing the same spirit from when it all started. NCA is not just about competition but also encourages growth in the athletes through community service to become better leaders and positively impact the community.

2023 also marked Dallas’s second-ever NCAA Women’s Final Four; the city was fortunate enough to host the event in 2017, which witnessed a historic UCONN Huskies win streak end at the hands of Mississippi State’s Morgan Williams and company. Like 2017, 2023 gave us a Women’s Final Four many will never forget. American Airlines Center was the final destination for the South Carolina Gamecocks, Iowa Hawkeyes, LSU Tigers, and Virginia Tech Hokies to cap off all four programs’ incredible seasons.

Monica Paul spoke about the growth and excitement around the game. “The NCAA Women’s Final Four is one of the most exhilarating events Dallas has the honor to host,” said Paul. “This year, we saw how rapidly the championship has grown in attendance and viewership since just 2017.”

The National Championship game between Angel Reese’s LSU Tigers and Caitlyn Clarks Iowa Hawkeyes brought in 9.9 million television viewers, with 18.9 million viewers between all three games.

In addition, the NCAA and the City of Dallas collaborated to bring together several community events. Among them are the Women’s Final Four Bounce, Party on the Plaza, Super Saturday Concert, and more. One of the most engaging was the NCAA’s annual Read to the Final Four competition, where several 3rd-grade classes across the DFW community competed and logged 5,669,850 minutes of reading.

“Women’s basketball fans always bring enormous amounts of passion and energy to our city, and we can’t wait to see how much the tournament grows until we host the 2031 NCAA Women’s Final Four,” Paul said.

Bump, set, and spike to the KBHCCD for the Lone Star Classic. Dallas has been the home of the Lone Star Classic for the past 30 years. “I have worked with the Lone Star Classic staff for over 20 years in securing adequate space to hold the tournament at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas,” Cade said, "We collaborate to collectively find the most conducive space for growth, beneficial dates, and competitive rental structure to ensure the tournament is a huge success year over year”.

Hosted by Austin Junior Volleyball Association, Lone Star Classic has become a staple in the fabric of Dallas sports, according to Dallas Sports Commissions Director of Sales and Services Ginger Lively Cade. Lone Star Classic utilizes over 700,000 square feet of exhibit hall space for over 118 volleyball courts, lasting over three weekends of play, 88,378 total attendees, 17 different divisions of play, and 25,735 athletes. With the continuation of our partnership, Dallas will continue to be the staple destination for volleyball players and fans to make memories for years to come.

Calling all E-Sports fans! DreamHack arrived back in Dallas this June. DreamHack is a one-of-a-kind, inclusive E-Sports festival that invites thousands of gamers and fans to a weekend of action-packed fun that includes major league competitions, BYOC sections for fans to game, and even free concerts.

The Dallas Swedish Consulate and Swedish Chamber of Commerce worked together to welcome DreamHack back to Dallas with a celebration of Dallas business leaders and community representatives. This event was an opportunity to educate and share what DreamHack is all about and how it supports the bigger gaming growth in Dallas and Texas.

DreamHack executive Shahin Zarrabi explained why they keep returning to Dallas: “You’ll see that Dallas loves DreamHack, and we love Dallas.” Dallas is a technology and business hotbed, which makes it the perfect destination for e-sports events.

Community is also a prominent factor that makes DreamHack unique. As a part of their efforts to support the local community and make the festival accessible to all, DreamHack donated 3,000 tickets to students in the Dallas Independent School District and has extended its a military discount. The gaming community continues to grow not only in Dallas but in Texas as a whole thanks to events like DreamHack.

Looking towards the future, all eyes are on the FIFA World Cup 26. In May, the unveiling of the #WeAre26 & #WeAreDallas brand launch commenced. There is great anticipation and belief throughout our region that FIFA World Cup 2026 could be the biggest sporting event we have ever hosted, and that’s a big deal when you consider some of the iconic events that Dallas has hosted in the past said Monica Paul, “We were able to see the landscape, the scope of everything, and how different the World Cup is from all of the other major events we have hosted.”

The official unveiling event of the FWC26 Dallas brand took place at AT&T headquarters in downtown Dallas with FC Dallas President Dan Hunt, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President, Chief Brand Officer Charlotte Jones, and Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul.

After the official brand launch, fans were able to scour out tents around the DFW metroplex at The Star in Frisco, Texas Live! in Arlington, Stockyards in Fort Worth, Klyde Warren Park, and AT&T Discovery District in search of officially-branded merchandise and gear.

As we await what will come in 2026, Dallas is excited to see one of the world’s most significant & most extensive sporting events be hosted in its backyard. The tournament will include 48 teams across the 16 host cities, and three countries as anticipation builds for the reveal of where matches will be played in autumn. On top of awaiting the contest news, we still hope to host the International Broadcast Center. For all info on things FIFAWC26 check out the official website Dallasfwc26.com.

All of this said, the year is not over yet. The Dallas Sports Commission has many events the rest of the year, such as MEXTOUR, USA Pickleball National Championships, Dallas Marathon, and many more. Not only do BIG wins happen in Dallas, BIG history, BIG events, and BIG moments happen here.

Sign up for the Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program!

The Mayor’s Youth Sports Ticket Program is an initiative created to welcome local youth to area professional, collegiate, and amateur sporting events at no charge.

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2023 State Fair Classic Tickets on Sale Now

The State Fair Classic is an annual college football game between the Grambling State University Tigers and the Prairie View A&M University Panthers of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The game is played at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park, Dallas, Texas during the State Fair of Texas.

upcoming events

MIRACLE LEAGUE DFW provides opportunity for all abilities

over baseball diamonds throughout the country. Here in the Metroplex, the Texas Rangers are making a post-season push that promises to make the stretch run of the 2023 campaign exciting in Arlington and throughout North Texas.

But there is another baseball organization that is also producing a tremendous story in the community, and that is The Miracle League DFW.

Everyone deserves the chance to play baseball. That is the guiding light of The Miracle League DFW,

adults the opportunity to play baseball regardless of their abilities and in a safe and nurturing environment. Specifically, The Miracle League DFW serves individuals with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, ADHD, and those with autism, providing them opportunities to play baseball and enjoy the game so many have grown up loving.

About 320 Miracle League organizations exist throughout the United States and Canada. The Miracle DFW was the first in the Metroplex

and serves all communities in North Texas. The organization operates a fall season and a spring season with participation from individuals starting at age 4 and up, with a majority of the athletes ranging from age 4 to 15.

“We have five leagues -- the minors, majors, seniors, intermediate, and a competitive league -- where kids as young as 4 and as old as 50 can fulfill their dreams of playing baseball,” said Grace Whetstone, executive director of The Miracle League DFW. “We do have one individual who is years old and she has been with us since the beginning. She just loves it. It’s what she really looks forward to.”

Teams within The Miracle League DFW include 15 players. Games are two innings and last approximately one hour. Every player bats, every player circles the bases, and every player scores each inning (the last one up gets a home run. Every player is introduced by a PA announcer, with each players receiving a nickname. The PA announcer also calls the play-by-play action for the families and spectators. Games end in a tie score, so each team wins. All teams are named for Major League Baseball teams.

“We try to make this as exciting as possible for all of the players and their families,” Whetstone added. “The players all have their names on the back of their jerseys, walk-up music, and this year we’ve added a video board with graphics to make the experience even better.

Whetstone reported that there are times when some parents are apprehensive about allowing their kids to participate, as they are worried about their children being judged or not being able to fully participate due to their disabilities. That’s where the volunteers come in.

bat and while in the field, for the entire game.

“When parents come out and see it, they get it,” Whetstone said. “We pair each player with a volunteer who is with the player through the game. They help to player bat and, if needed, help the player advance around the bases. So we’re able to give the parents an opportunity to sit back and enjoy the game and enjoy watching their children having such a great time and seeing their dreams come true.”

The 2023 Miracle League DFW spring season included nearly 300 athletes and more than 50 coaches to go with the more than 900 volunteers. While finding so many volunteers each season seems daunting, Whetstone said that one of the most heartening occurrences each season is seeing so many people wanting to volunteer their time to work with and serve the players and their families.

The Miracle League DFW is currently preparing for its 2023 fall season which begins on September 23.

Whetstone, who was previously a YMCA executive director, was recruited to lead The Miracle League DFW in 2016 by Doug Inman who, like her, was overwhelmed with the work of The Miracle League.

“I told him at the time, if you are ever looking for somebody, let me know,” Whetstone recalls. “It’s so beautiful to watch and so beautiful to see them play. It’s the most amazing thing to be a part of.”

The Miracle League DFW continues to try to make the experience better for its players and their families, building new fields and accessible playgrounds, as well as accessible parking lots that allow the players greater access to the fields. The organization is also always bringing in volunteers to participate in the fall and spring leagues.

The Miracle League DFW fills about 900 volunteer spots per season. These community youth and adult volunteers serve as a Buddy to the players, both at

For more information on how to support The Miracle League DFW, visit www.miracleleaguedfw.com