Dallas has been named the top city in America to conduct sports business and it’s no surprise given the scope from world-class senior leadership to the grass-roots programs that cultivate fans and sports executives of the future.

The Sports Business Journal’s ranking of top U.S. cities for the business of sports was unveiled Monday and representatives of many Dallas sports franchises, including Mavericks’ legend Rolando Blackman, gathered at American Airlines Center to toast the honor.

“As we say in Dallas, another big win,” said Monica Paul, executive director of the Dallas Sports Commission. “For someone (whose) job is not only to bring sporting events into the city, but also position Dallas as a premier sports destination, I don’t think it can get any better than this. Truly, it is a community effort.”

Of which the Mavericks are a focal point. They have not only their home, American Airlines Center, but also their business offices and practice facilities in the shadow of downtown Dallas.

In addition, the Mavericks have been a champion of diversity and inclusion, something the organization takes very seriously and which was a theme during the announcement of the SBJ rankings.

“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to show the depth of what Dallas brings, not only for the staffing and teams that are here, but for the people and different communities that support so many different sports,” Blackman said. “It’s really diverse activity that brings a whole lot of people together constantly through sports.

“You see diversity and leadership all over. And it’s a wonderful thing to see how everybody comes together from different backgrounds and you see how they work together because they’re professionals and they’re qualified.”

The road toward having qualified individuals to run sports franchises starts at the top – and also at the bottom, the grass-roots level.

Owners and governors, like the Mavericks’ Mark Cuban, the Cowboys’ Jerry Jones and the others in our area, have learned the value in funding not only strong front-office leadership on the business side of their franchises, but also the need to build a pipeline to the future.

That’s where things like the camps presented by Mavs Academy and GEM (Girls Empowered by Mavericks) play an important role in the sustainability of major sports growth in Dallas.

And grown, it has. The list of reasons why the Sports Business Journal put Dallas at the top of a list that includes 50 major cities is long. For instance:

“Dallas was awarded 15 championships during the NCAAs most recent round of bidding,” the magazine said.

The list of sports-oriented corporations that have relocated to Dallas in recent years is expansive and includes the PGA of America (from Florida) and the Pro Bull Riders (from Las Vegas), in addition to the American Athletic Conference (from Providence, R.I.)

The Dallas area is home to 64 brands that have at least four sports sponsorships and/or a major league jersey patch deal. Only New York (129) and Los Angeles (73) have more.

And, of course, the world-class facilities in the area, from AT&T Stadium in Arlington to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, take a back seat to no geographic area. Moreover, Texas being a business-friendly state helps, as does a lower cost of living and no state income tax.

“I’m with Governor (Greg) Abbott in that this is the best place to be able to bring a business and bring it all together,” said Blackman, who played for the Mavericks for 11 seasons and has been back with the franchise throughout Cuban’s ownership in many roles, currently as vice president of corporate relations. “He knows exactly what Texas brings in being able to lay the foundation for new business and to acquiesce to growth. The environment is right here.

“People are moving here. The cost of living, the opportunity for diversity, growth and the different industries. It’s actually really growing here.”

The Sports Business Journal looked at three different areas when doing the research about best sports cities in America: Environment, opportunity and insight.

Dallas is the only city to finish in the top five in all three areas.

In the overall report, they edged out No. 2 New York. Charlotte, Minneapolis and Atlanta rounded out the top five.

As Stars president and CEO Brad Alberts said: “If you’re in the sports and entertainment industry anywhere in this country, you’re having to come through Dallas now to get your business done.”

Successful teams always make the job of a franchise’s business operations easier. But even then, it requires strategy, vision, smarts and, often, luck.

In that respect, it’s no different than what athletes try to accomplish. And being world class requires the right leadership.

“There has to be a dedication to excellence,” Paul said. “And a willingness to create partnerships and knowing that there are others outside their organization that are benefiting the community, whether it’s events or ensuring that top leadership is in place and you have staffing and vision to be something more than themselves, to a certain degree.

“Yes, we want to win on the court or field or pitch, but at the same time, we want to bring additional opportunities to people within our community, leave lasting legacies, provide opportunities to the youth and kids that are going to be running our city and organizations someday.”

In that respect, she applauded all the professional organizations that are doing great work with kids, such as the Mavericks’ youth camps.

“It’s very important to start that strong early,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons we, with the mayor, started the mayor’s youth sports ticket program, which the Mavs take part in, to provide those kids opportunities to attend sports events or camps, clinics that they might not have the opportunity to do in their current situation.

“Sport teaches people so many things at a young age that are lifelong skills that kids need to develop.”

And, as evidenced by Monday’s announcement, there’s no better place in America to hone those skills than Dallas.

Dan Hunt, president of FC Dallas and chairman of the World Cup bid for 2026, said the goal of still getting a semifinal or final game in Dallas that year, plus the hope of a big role in the 2031 women’s World Cup, is more proof that nobody is as diversified in the sporting universe as Dallas.

“We have first-class facilities throughout the Metroplex,” he said. “This community and how it comes together, the local politicians and the investment from our partners here, the commitment to excellence is truly what makes Dallas so unique. This is a fabulous commercial for what Dallas can do in 2026.”

Also at the announcement was Rodd Newhouse, owner of the new Dallas Jackals rugby team and Greg Bibb, president and CEO of the Dallas Wings, who noted that “In just a few weeks, Dallas will once again be the center of the women’s basketball world when we host the 2023 NCAA women’s Final Four.”

The honor of being America’s top sports business city will bring with it a trickle-down effect, said Delanie Foley, senior director of event booking for the Cowboys and AT&T Stadium.

“Whether you’re a fan in our market or a corporate leader or running a team or a restaurant owner, your support, your passion your energy for all our business is exactly why Dallas is named sports business city No. 1,” she said.

As Blackman said: “It’s just a super time for us all.”

Twitter: @ESefko