BEHIND THE BANNER - January 2022 by VisitDallas

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dallas welcomes major league rugby By Sam Weiger

The Dallas Jackals, Dallas’ newest professional sports franchise, promises a never-before-seen experience. The Jackals bring Major League Rugby (MLR), the highest level of rugby in North America, to Dallas for the first time ever. The Jackals’ inaugural season home opener features an allTexas matchup against the Houston SaberCats on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. CT. This first-ever Dallas professional rugby match will introduce locals to a special atmosphere filled with excitement and camaraderie. The Jackals

will amaze fans with the incredible display of athleticism required in rugby, one of the most physically demanding sports in the world. The clock does not stop in rugby matches, which allows spectators to stay engaged. Rugby also emphasizes sportsmanship and respect on the field, which inspires a similar kinship in the stands. This extraordinary environment will satisfy first-time rugby fans as much as those who live and breathe the sport. “Fans should be excited to see the Dallas Jackals

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style of rugby,” said Scott Sonju, President of the Jackals organization. “It’s going to be a high-octane and fast-moving style that long-time rugby fans and newcomers will enjoy. Fans will also appreciate some of the rugby traditions. Players are not allowed to argue with the referees, and after the game both teams share a meal with the referees. There is a camaraderie, tradition and respect with rugby that outranks any rivalries or divides. People love that, it’s something unifying that they can rally around.”

One of the Jackals organization’s prominent goals is to connect with the Dallas community. The Jackals aspire to introduce fans to its first-class team members. When Jackals players sign autographs and interact with fans at a personal level, locals will quickly realize how tremendous these athletes are off the field. One of these exemplary Jackals players, Chad London, has already demonstrated his generosity. London, who has played for the United States rugby national team, also works as a

chiropractor and offered to provide medical services free of charge for his teammates.

one of the many indicators that show the support for the sport of rugby we have in North Texas. We look forward to the fans’ complete engagement in backing the team and we know this will be an important and critical element for Dallas to grow the sport as we continue in the process to bring the Rugby World Cup to North Texas in 2027 or 2031.”

“We want to be the gold standard of Major League Rugby,” said Sonju. “We want people to love this sport and become a part of this unique culture. Many people that become exposed to rugby gradually begin to associate with the sport more and more until it becomes a lifestyle. We are also building a great culture within the organization. Each new player gets a card in the mail signed by everyone on the full-time staff. We also send gifts to the players’ spouses and kids. One of our guys, who has played around the world for many years, said this was the first time a team sent gifts to his wife.”

Anticipation for the Jackals’ home opener has skyrocketed since February 2021, the initial start date for Dallas. The pandemic forced the expansion team to postpone all of its plans to 2022, so the organization utilized this additional time to become better prepared for its inaugural season. Choctaw Stadium, the former home of Texas Rangers Baseball, is now more than ready for Jackals fans to arrive. The 44,000-seat arena added a new 4,000-seat structure to provide a more intimate experience for fans. The refurbished facility has successfully hosted dozens of professional football and soccer games, giving the Jackals organization plenty of confidence ahead of the 2022 MLR regular season.

It’s going to be a high-octane and fastmoving style that longtime rugby fans and newcomers will enjoy.

The Jackals present a cosmopolitan roster, with players from the United - Scott Sonju, States, Ireland, Jackals President Argentina, England, Australia, Belgium, South Africa and a few other countries. Dallas could potentially host more international rugby players on the world’s biggest stage within the next 10 years. The United States has organized bid campaigns to host the 2027 or 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup. If one of these campaigns succeeds, the preeminent tournament will occur in the U.S. for the first time in history. In October 2021, USA Rugby announced Dallas as a potential host city for the event. “It’s exciting to see rugby growing in Dallas and for Dallas to be gaining another professional team,” said Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission. “The Jackals’ first season is just

“It’s a unique opportunity for us to be in a worldclass stadium, most MLR teams don’t have a stadium this large with beautiful video boards and suites,” said Sonju. “It’s hosted so many major events, there’s great parking and ample room to expand once we fill up the seats. We were working hard to get the stadium and players ready for the 2021 season so the decision to postpone was a difficult one, but the longer runway to prepare will help us make that great first impression.”

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Dallas & STEM How Students Become Innovators By Alex Gilbert

Science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, has always been the way into the future. Technology competitions, esports, and robotics are now pioneers in the events industry. Students compete for incredible scholarships through technology events. Esports arenas and competitions garner millions of viewers each year, not to mention driving significant economic impact. Competitive robotics launches students into STEM and even increases the likelihood of graduating high school. These pioneer events are an important driving force behind Dallas and the Dallas Sports Commission’s goal to promote STEM initiatives and attract technology-oriented events to the DFW region. Employment in STEM grew by almost 25% between 2005 and 2015 alone, which is more than five times faster than non-STEM professions. The growth has not stopped, and there are now over 10 million STEM jobs in the US. STEM careers are more likely to be stable through economic recessions and have a higher average wage than non-STEM jobs. Even so, there are about 2.5 million unfilled STEM jobs in the US as of last December. So, what makes STEM professionals so high in

demand? Necessity. Without STEM professionals, the whole world would come to a standstill. Almost every aspect of our lives is dictated by science, technology, engineering and math. From purchasing tickets for a football game online to the lifesaving technology in hospitals, STEM runs everything. As one of the largest markets in the US, it’s natural that Dallas has consistently been a leader in STEM and innovation. Just last year, Dallas moved up four spots in the STEM Job Growth Index (STEMdex). Dallas is now ranked 11 in the US in the STEMdex, which measures several key factors to determine the metropolitan areas most commonly known as STEM hotspots. One of the most relevant factors of that rank is the number of tech and gaming companies that call DFW home. Dallas’s rich gaming industry history can be dated back to 1992 when id Software relocated to the metroplex. From developing Quake in 1996 to creating the Cyberathlete Pro League, id Software helped to shape the esports world we know now. DFW is a well-respected esports market as the home of the Dallas Fuel, Dallas Envy, Complexity Gaming and Mavs Gaming. Dallas is also on

Tech Giants that Call Dallas Home

the international esports radar as a host of the DreamHack Festival, an event that showcases esports streamers and teams, students, musicians, cosplayers, all while centering on gaming. In addition to STEM jobs, tech companies, and gaming industry growth, Dallas also shows substantial numbers among STEM students in the metroplex. As reported by the Dallas Regional Chamber, over 13,000 Dallas area students completed a STEM degree in higher education in 2020. More than 5,000 of those students completed a Master’s degree or higher. The largest areas of study were Computer and Information Sciences, Information Science/Studies, and Biology. While these numbers bode well for the future of STEM in Dallas, leaders in the Dallas community are prioritizing the growth of STEM initiatives to keep ahead of the economic curve. The goal is to see STEM professions and studies continue to expand in North Texas because it impacts our economy and helps develop young students into innovators. The best way to see the growth of STEM-interested students is to instill a love for all things science, technology, engineering and math from a very young age. Engaging activities and education through activities such as robotics significantly increase the likelihood that a student is interested in pursuing a STEM career. The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (REC) reports that 88% of students who participate in robotics are more interested in pursuing a career in STEM.

As Dallas continues to prioritize STEM growth, we must continue to welcome events that promote these values. This year, the VEX Robotics World Championship will take place in Dallas for the very first time. Originally scheduled to move to the metroplex in 2021, the competition will take place May 3-12 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. The VEX Robotics World Championship attracts international robotics teams from elementary school to college. Research has shown that VEX student program participants are more likely to take STEM electives in high school, perform better in math than their peers, and are more confident in their ability to learn STEM in general. Robotics isn’t the only opportunity for students to become invested in STEM. Everything from getting involved in esports to memorizing their favorite basketball player’s stats to getting excited about learning, in general, is a step in the right direction. Hosting events like the VEX Robotics World Championship and the DreamHack Festival is just one way Dallas and the Dallas Sports Commission aim to benefit our community. We continue to look to the future to find the best way to impact the economy and impact students to turn them into innovators. Learn more about the VEX Robotics World Championship

Learn more about DreamHack Festival

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