The NCAA Women’s Gymnastic Championships were once again a success worth flipping over in Fort Worth this season. Hosted by Dickies Arena, the event drew plenty of fans who saw Oklahoma win its third title in four years and seventh in 11.
The semifinals featured eight teams (Oklahoma, UCLA, Missouri, Utah, Florida, LSU, Alabama and Michigan State) separated by less than a single point. The finals was equally as exciting, with UCLA taking second, Missouri third and Utah fourth.
Also, the economic impact the competition had on the city has local leaders doing figurative back flips.
“From an economic impact standpoint, the championships brought more than $5 million in direct spending to area businesses while also giving us a national platform to showcase the city with the broadcast on ESPN and ABC,” said Jason Sands, Executive Director of the Fort Worth Sports Commission.
Sands noted it was the most watched gymnastics semifinals in NCAA/ESPN history and attendance for the championship round exceeded 9,000, which is a new record for the event at Dickies Arena.
The championships also had a profound impact on the community through the Readers Become Leaders program the city runs alongside the event every year. The 10-week reading program encourages elementary school students in the Fort Worth School District to read and has them track their minutes while participating in a friendly competition among schools.
“This year, we had 31,513 FWISD students participate – representing 75 schools – and they read an astounding 73.1 million minutes, making it the biggest community outreach initiative in NCAA history,” Sands said.
Sands said this is the seventh year in a row Fort Worth has hosted the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships (with the exception of 2020 when there was no meet because of the COVID-19 pandemic) and the event has increased in attendance, revenue and viewership every year since 2021.
“Among the great feedback we get from the athletes, coaches and fans every year about the city of Fort Worth and the experience our team works so hard to provide – one thing everyone agrees on is that Dickies Arena is a world-class venue and is the perfect arena to crown a champion in every year,” he said. “Dickies Arena has been a game-changer for the city of Fort Worth and we continue to bring prestigious events to our great city because of it.
“Hosting high profile events like the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships continue to elevate Fort Worth’s profile as a premiere destination for hosting sporting events.