The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce last week hosted a sports summit that delved into the multifaceted intersection of sports, economics, business, technology, and culture.
The panel was moderated by legendary Dallas sportscaster and commentator Dale Hansen and Billy Martin Jr., MLB agent Jared Mosley, University of North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics, Jeremy Fair, Founder & COO Datum Technology, and Monica Paul, Executive Director, Dallas Sports Commission as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Together, a host of local sports industry leaders tackled the crucial topics shaping the industry today.
Afterward, the panel and moderator Hansen sat down with The Dallas Express and discussed multiple topics, one being the economic impact of major sporting events coming to the Metroplex.
Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission, explained the 2026 World Cup’s possible economic impact on the region. Early-round, semifinal, and final matches at AT&T Stadium would generate hundreds of millions of dollars from visitors, the Sports Commission estimated.
“This is going to be the largest World Cup ever, so it should provide a lot of opportunity for those who are soccer fans and for those that may have never even watched or participated in the sport and are unaware of it,” said Paul, speaking to The Dallas Express.
“From a soccer standpoint, there are a lot of volunteer opportunities and a lot of business opportunities as well. When you’re talking about welcoming the whole entire world to Dallas, it really is basically an endless list of ways that people can be involved,” he added.
The last World Cup was held in Qatar in 2022.
After hosting the World Cup, it was estimated the economic impact on Qatar was $6.4 billion.
With the Metroplex set to host at least some World Cup matches, the revenue from fans could have a very beneficial impact on businesses and the local economy.
