⚽9 wins, but no title; Early bird gets $10M; Leadfoot speeds to $340k

Welcome to 817 Biz, the newsletter about business in the western half of D-FW. New here? Sign up.

D-FW and AT&T Stadium did not secure the 2026 World Cup title game, but will host nine matches, more than any other city during the 2026 World Cup. The final will be held in the Meadowlands in New Jersey. The Dallas committee estimates more than a $400 million economic impact and 3,000 temporary jobs for D-FW. In comparison, the 2024 Super Bowl economic impact is estimated at $365 million for Las Vegas. The first five matches at AT&T are June 14, 17, 22, 25 and 27. Tickets won’t go on sale until 2025.

6AM City, owner of 26 local daily newsletters, including FTWtoday, announced it had raised more than $10 million in a Series A funding round led by broadcast giant TEGNA, Inc. WFAA-8 is one of 68 television stations owned by TEGNA.

An AI-based, gun detection video analytics platform by ZeroEyes has been deployed at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. If a gun is identified, ZeroEyes Operations Center experts identify if it's a valid threat. If so, they dispatch alerts and actionable intelligence to the on-site hospital police “as quickly as 3-to-5 seconds from detection." Handguns and other weapons are prohibited in hospitals and other public places in Texas.

Consulting firm Fitch & Associates has concluded that MedStar, which provides emergency medical services and ambulance care to Fort Worth and 14 surrounding cities, is “under-resourced." Though it’s operating with one of the smaller budgets of the cities in the study and does not receive public funding, the report says MedStar is utilizing resources efficiently. MedStar did not meet the desired response time objectives in 2023 and Fort Worth's EMS ad hoc committee has asked Fitch to build a model based on an eight-minute response time, which future EMS response times will be measured against.

U.S. Energy has completed its first solar project at one of its terminals in Fort Worth. A refined products and alternative fuels provider, it has owned and operated the 13,000-square-foot terminal since December 2014. The company said this project will offset nearly 50% of the terminal’s electrical energy load that otherwise would be sourced from grid power.

Nebraska-based real estate firm Goldenrod Companies is making a significant play in north Texas. Goldenrod has firmly planted itself in Fort Worth’s Cultural District; its two forthcoming mixed-use developments, the Van Zandt and One University, represent a nearly $500-million investment in the neighborhood. Goldenrod’s Southwest president John Zogg, an alum of Crescent Real Estate, discusses the firm’s local strategy.

Higginbotham paid $340k for Leadfoot, the Grand Champion steer at the 2024 Fort Worth Stock Show Junior Sale of Champions. Higginbotham had purchased the 2023 winner for $440k during the company's 75th anniversary. Leadfoot is owned by 17-year-old Elli Bezner of Dalhart. Her father, Stephen, raised the 1991 Fort Worth champion. See video here. 

The Fort Worth Fire Department returned the keys to the Sandman Signature Hotel property owners to coordinate with interested parties in the multiple lawsuits that have been filed. "We are an interested party still, so we are not going away," said Fort Worth Fire Chief Jim Davis.

Wondering about all the wooden desks in Sundance Square? They’re part of a “Brier Patch” art installation by New York-based artist Hugh Hayden. The sculptural installation reflects the artist’s views on the education system by reimagining the schoolroom seating.

The Blue Room at The Crescent Hotel, is now accepting reservations. Chef Preston Paine’s menu includes fresh fish carved tableside, caviar service, and shellfish towers. Make reservations here.

Sports and merchandise retailer Rally House plans to open a store in Fort Worth at Montgomery Plaza, next to Five Below.

Starting June 8, American Airlines will offer two Saturday flights to Grand Cayman, Providenciales and St Thomas from D-FW.

Pay raises on decline: Companies are planning for salary increases of 4% in 2024, according to a survey of 1,800+ employers by Willis Towers Watson. That’s down from 4.4% handed out in 2023, yet higher than the 3% average increases during pre-pandemic years.

Significant stat: According to the State Department, only 5% of Americans had a passport in 1990. Now, 48% have one. There are 160 million U.S. passports in circulation today.

Today’s trivia: $35 – Amount paid in 1971 to graphic design student Carolyn Davidson to create the famous Nike swoosh. In 1964, accounting professor Phil Knight and his track coach Bill Bowerman started Blue Ribbon Sports; 7 years later, that company rebranded to Nike.

Nothing to do with business: The most popular dog breed in each state.

People on the move:

• City of Arlington: Names Gus Garcia Director of Economic Development Department

• Cantey Hanger LLP: Adds Greg Westfall as Partner

• EqALL: Adds Amber Yourman as Business Advisor

• Hill & Skinner Law Firm: Curran Skinner becomes name Partner

• Carta: Promotes Madison McPherson to Business Recruiter, GTM

Snippets:

• Will artificial intelligence take our jobs? Automation might happen slower than we think, according to a study by MIT researchers. The reason? Cost. 

• Ask Americans about life's challenges and you'll find a common theme: They are, on average, a lot more positive about the state of their lives than the lives of everyone else in the country. 

• Just looking at these photos will lower your blood pressure. The 20 best beaches in the world, according to Lonely Planet’s new book.

Last poll: Do you think the U. S. economy will experience a recession in the next 12 months? Yes (29%), No (71%)