Sports Business Journal's Best Sports Business Cities: No. 1 — Dallas

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Sports Business Journal Announces the Best Sports Business CitiesÔ in the U.S.

Dallas named #1 in the inaugural ranking of top cities for businesses operating in and around sports

CHARLOTTE, March 20, 2023 – Sports Business Journal (SBJ) has named Dallas to the top spot in its inaugural ranking of Best Sports Business CitiesÔ. The list highlights the top 50 cities for businesses operating in and around sports and provides strategic direction for sports business professionals across the United States.

Best Sports Business Cities is an editorial initiative developed by SBJ, the industry-leading news source on the business of sports. The editorial and research teams of the prestigious media company analyzed fundamental drivers for sports business within top markets using extensive data from dozens of sources and input from nearly 100 veteran sports business executives.

Best Sports Business Cities will name the top markets where teams, corporate brands, agencies, media companies, and technology and vendor partners have an established presence, strong hiring prospects and thriving economic market. Scoring for cities was based on three main criteria: opportunity, economic environment and insights from industry decision-makers with a strong understanding of the sports business ecosystem. With the list, SBJ will help entrepreneurs and business executives find new metropolitan markets for investment.

"Sports Business Journal understands and appreciates how businesses involved in the sports industry contribute enormously to a city's economy and energy," said Abe Madkour, publisher and executive editor at Sports Business Journal. "These are highly attractive companies and events that are important to a city's quality of life. Congratulations to Dallas and all the cities on the list who are making a positive business impact in their local markets and nationwide."

Dallas ranked as the Best Sports Business City of 2023 and is home to teams in the NFL, NHL, MLS, NBA, WNBA and MLB as well as several college programs and bowl games. Dallas is near the top in average attendance as a percentage of capacity for all teams and events. The market's sports business opportunities continue to grow, as property, event and industry providers migrate to the market for lower taxes, lower cost of living and a business-friendly environment. Dallas has more hotels under construction than any market in the world.

Rounding out the top five cities are New York, Charlotte, Minneapolis and Atlanta. Each of these markets has a vibrant mix of companies and events that serve sports industry.

New York: In terms of volume, New York's properties, top-tier sponsors and media companies are unmatched.
Charlotte: Its huge motorsports industry, large media footprint and high level of positive sentiment from executives made Charlotte a standout.
Minneapolis: Premier facilities, engaged fans and strong public-private partnerships put the Twin Cities atop all other Midwestern markets.
Atlanta: Also known as the "Capital of College Football," Atlanta scored well for its facilities and variety of sports properties.
For the complete list of the 50 Best Sports Business Cities of 2023, visit www.sportsbusinessjournal.com on Monday morning.

About Sports Business Journal

Sports Business Journal (SBJ), a subsidiary of Leaders Group Sports, an Advance company, sits at the epicenter of the sports industry. Headquartered in Charlotte, SBJ provides the news, the networking and the data to equip the most powerful executives in sports business to make more informed decisions, deals and partnerships. SBJ's award-winning media content is delivered through multiple media platforms, hallmark events and market-leading data. To learn more visit: www.sportsbusinessjournal.com.