The National Sports Marketing Network North Texas Chapter yesterday gathered the area's "biggest sports movers and shakers" for a "lively discussion" at American Airlines Center, according to Jeff Caplan of ESPN DALLAS. Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN, Rangers Managing Partner & CEO CHUCK GREENBERG, Texas Motor Speedway President EDDIE GOSSAGE, Hunt Sports Group Chair CLARK HUNT and North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee President & CEO BILL LIVELY discussed the "economics and growth of sports in Dallas-Fort Worth." Other topics the execs addressed "ranged from selling tickets to social media to broadcast rights." Cuban, whose Mavericks have sold out more than 300 consecutive games, said, "I liked it when the Stars sucked. I liked it when the Cowboys sucked. Life was easy." Greenberg said, "If in this community we can't draw 3 million people, we're just not very good. We think we can do that." For Gossage, selling tickets at TMS has "become more difficult and in no small part to the sports competition in the area." He said, "That giant sucking sound you hear is Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys are sucking up all the money and making things more difficult" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 1/5). Greenberg said, "This has got to be the sports capital of North America right now. To have a World Series, an NBA All-Star Game and a Super Bowl within a year, it's extraordinary." The NCAA men's basketball Final Four and the Olympics are "on the group's wish list." Mavericks President & CEO TERDEMA USSERY said of the Olympics, "That's the golden goose. We'd love to get that" (NBCDFW.com, 1/5). |
