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WELCOME TO, IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON, AND WE HAVE A FANTASTIC JULY SHOW FOR YOU TODAY.
AND WE'RE GONNA START OUT WITH TWO GREAT GUESTS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT INFORMATION FOR OUR VIEWERS, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT WATER.
GLAD GLADYS, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR FIRST, TELL US WHAT IS YOUR TITLE AT THE CITY? SO MY NAME IS GLADYS ORTIZ.
I'M THE UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND I JUST TAKE CARE OF PROVIDING GOOD SERVICE FOR OUR CITIZENS HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
UH, IS ALL THAT HAS TO DO WITH WATER, THE BILLINGS, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE, HELPING, PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AND PRESENTING IT TO OUR NICE RESIDENTS.
NOW, GLADYS, A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS JUST THINK THEY GO OVER AND TURN ON THE FAUCET AND THERE'S THE WATER, AND THEN THEY PAY THEIR BILL HOPEFULLY.
BUT WHERE DO WE AS A CITY GET OUR WATER AND KIND OF TELL US THE, UH, STORY OF HOW IT GETS TO THE FAUCET? OH, YES,
SO THE CITY ITSELF, UH, HAS, UM, DIFFERENT PROVIDERS FOR WATER.
UM, WE CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF DALLAS FOR WORTH, MIDLOTHIAN AND MANSFIELD.
UM, WE BUY SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF WATER FROM EACH OF THEM AND WE THEN PROVIDE TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT, UM, PLANTS AND YES, THE TOWERS WHERE YOU SEE THE NICE LITTLE TOWERS THROUGHOUT THE CITIES, THEY JUST HOLD THE WATER THERE FOR WHEN YOU WANNA OPEN THE FAUCETS.
UM, WE ALSO HAVE SOME WELLS FOR SPECIAL EMERGENCY OCCASIONS, AND HOPEFULLY WE DON'T HAVE TO USE IT.
UH, IF, UH, WE HAVE A GOOD YEAR AND THE DROUGHT DOESN'T AFFECT US THIS YEAR.
UM, BUT YES, ALL OF THEM, ALL OF THESE CITIES CONTRIBUTE FOR US TO HAVE WATER AND BE ABLE TO PROVIDE CERTAIN AMOUNTS OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO CONSERVE WATER.
UM, WE ARE GETTING NOW TO THAT SEASON WHERE EVERYBODY'S WANTING TO WATER THEIR, UH, YARDS YES.
BUT YES, THERE'S SOME STAGES AND THERE'S SOME, UH, DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLANS THAT THE CITY HAS TO ABIDE BY.
AND, UM, WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN A LITTLE BIT.
UH, IN FACT, UM, I KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN DAYS THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO WATER, SO HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT.
UH, WE ARE IN STAGE ONE, WHICH ALLOW US TO WATER TWICE A WEEK, UM, NEVER BETWEEN THE HOURS AT 10:00 AM AND 6:00 PM UM, IF YOU LIVE AN ADDRESS WITH A EVEN NUMBER, YOU CAN WATER ON WEDNESDAYS, OH, I'M SORRY.
IF YOU LEAVE AN A ODD NUMBER ADDRESS, IT WILL BE TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
NEVER USE THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM ON WES ON WEDNESDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS, UH, WE RECOMMEND THAT EVERYBODY JUST HAVE A RAIN SENSOR OR MONITOR THE CONTROLLERS.
'CAUSE IRRIGATING DURING RAIN IS PROHIBITED.
BUT ALSO, UM, THIS IS ONE QUESTION THAT I ALWAYS GET ASKED.
AND YOU CAN USE THE HOSE SOAKERS.
BECAUSE SOMETIME IN BETWEEN THE WATERING IN THE VERY HOTTEST PART OF THE YEAR, WE DON'T WANT OUR PLANTS TO DIE.
AND, UH, HAND WATERING IS SOMETIME NECESSARY.
SO THAT'S GOOD THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
AND, UM, UH, I THINK WHEN DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR US TO WATER? I KNOW WE CANNOT WATER BETWEEN 10 AND AND SIX SIX.
SO LATE AT NIGHT, IS THAT THE BEST TIME OR WHILE YOU'RE SLEEPING OR EARLY EARLY YOU'RE SLEEPING.
AND THAT WAY, UM, BY THE TIME YOU WAKE UP, YOU DON'T SEE ANY RUNOFF OF WATER, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MIGHT WANNA MONITOR TO.
WE DON'T WANNA SEE, JUST GO AND DO A QUICK CHECKUP OF YOUR SPRINKLERS.
AND NOW IT'S A GREAT TIME TO DO THAT.
HALF OF IT IS JUST WATERING THE, UH, SIDEWALK AND YOU'RE
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JUST, IT'S JUST A WASTE OF WATER.UM, THERE'S GREAT AREAS WHERE YOU CAN CONSERVE WATER THAT WAY.
SO EARLY IN THE MORNING OR TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, UM, THERE'S NO SUN.
THE ACTUALLY THE EARTH CAN ABSORB AND NURTURE YOUR GARDEN.
IF WE USE IT THEN THAT'S EXCELLENT.
NOW, UM, GLADYS ALSO, WHEN I GET MY WATER BILL, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS ON THERE BESIDES, UM, WATER.
WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED? WELL, WE DO CHARGE FOR THE WASTEWATER, WHICH IS ALL THE WATER THAT HAVE YOU, YOU HAVE USED.
UM, WE ALSO CHARGE FOR GARBAGE AND RECYCLING AND, UH, WE CHARGE FOR STORM DRAINAGE TO MAINTAIN THOSE SIDEWALKS AND WHERE THE WATER'S GOING.
SO THE FLOOD, NOTHING GETS FLOODED AROUND YOU.
WATER, SEWER, WATER WASTE WATER IRRIGATION.
IF YOU HAVE A SEPARATE FOR BUSINESS, THEY DO HAVE A SEPARATE, UM, METER FOR IRRIGATION THAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THEIR BILL AS WELL.
UM, SO WE INCLUDE ALL OF THAT.
SO WHEN YOU SEE YOUR BILL, IT'S JUST NOT WATER.
IT'S ALL OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT THE CITY PROVIDES.
THAT'S EXCITING THAT, UM, WE HAVE ALL OF THOSE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR US AS CITIZENS OF GRAND PRAIRIE.
AND THAT YOU'RE THERE IN CASE SOMEONE HAS A QUESTION.
AND I, I THINK YOU DO A GREAT JOB OF THAT.
THAT BRINGS US TO A QUESTION THAT HAS COME UP.
HAVE WE DONE SOMETHING NEW IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT THAT YOU WANNA TELL US ABOUT? ABSOLUTELY.
UH, JUST RECENTLY ON JUNE, JUNE THE 16TH, WE LAUNCHED A NEW UTILITY CUSTOMER SERVICE PORTAL.
AND CUSTOMERS NOW HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ONE STOP SHOP WHERE THEY CAN GO AND LOOK AT THEIR, UH, WATER BILL, THEIR CONSUMPTION, PREVIOUS STATEMENTS, THEIR PAYMENT HISTORY BY LOGGING INTO ONE PLACE, WHICH PREVIOUSLY HAD.
UM, THEY HAD TO GO TO DIFFERENT PLACES IN ORDER TO DO SO.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER THAT SERVICE, UM, AND GET PEOPLE REGISTERED.
NOW, UH, TANYA, IF I WANNA GET REGISTERED, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? AND EVERYBODY NEEDS TO DO IT IF THEY'RE A WATER CLIENT, RIGHT? ABSOLUTELY.
WE'RE ENCOURAGING EVERYBODY TO REGISTER FOR THAT NEW PORTAL.
YOU GO TO PAY WATER BILL.GPTX.ORG AND YOU WILL THEN, UM, ENTER YOUR PREVIOUS ACCOUNT NUMBER.
SO THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT THE QUESTION THAT WE ARE ASKED THE MOST RIGHT NOW.
YOU TAKE YOUR 12 DIGIT ACCOUNT NUMBER FROM THE OLD SYSTEM AND USE IT, UM, IN THE SERVICE THAT SAYS, FIND MY ACCOUNT NUMBER TO CREATE OR TO DETERMINE WHAT YOUR NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER IS.
AND THEN YOU WILL REGISTER USING THAT NEW SEVEN DIGIT ACCOUNT NUMBER WITH, UH, THE AMOUNT OF YOUR PRIOR WATER STATEMENT.
NOW, WHAT IF, UM, WHAT IF I'M NOT REALLY PLUGGED INTO ALL OF THIS AND I DON'T READ MY WATER STATEMENT OR ANYTHING, WHAT HAPPENS? YOU WOULD PICK UP THE PHONE AND GIVE US A CALL, UM, AT 9 7 2 2 3 7 82, UH, HUNDRED OR 82 0 0.
WE HAVE A TEAM OF CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU TALK YOU OVER THE PHONE TO GET REGISTERED.
WE CAN EVEN REGISTER YOU, UM, ON YOUR BEHALF AND PROVIDE YOU WITH THAT INFORMATION.
SO WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, MAKE IT EASY, AND TO GET YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
NOW, TANYA, IF, UH, A CLIENT OR A CITIZEN PREFERS TO COME UP TO CITY HALL, CAN THEY DO THAT AT THE WATER DEPARTMENT AS WELL AND GET ASSISTANCE? YES, MA'AM.
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF EIGHT AND 5:00 PM MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, WE ARE AVAILABLE AT OUR FRONT COUNTER AS WELL AS OUR DRIVE THROUGH TO TAKE IN-PERSON PAYMENTS AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
SO FEEL FREE TO COME BY AND WE WILL BE THERE TO SUPPORT.
IN ADDITION, WE HAVE SCHEDULED SOME EXTRA SESSIONS AT THE LIBRARY ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS THROUGH THE MONTH OF JULY TO BE ABLE TO HELP PEOPLE REGISTER AND ENROLL IN THE PORTAL AS WELL.
AND IS THAT, UM, DOES THAT INCLUDE THE LIBRARY HOURS, NORMAL LIBRARY HOURS, AND IS THAT THE MAIN LIBRARY? YES, MA'AM.
SO WE WILL BE AT THE MAIN LIBRARY BETWEEN 5:00 PM AND 7:00 PM ON TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.
UM, AND WE ALSO HAVE REPRESENTATIVES WITH OUR MOBILE LIBRARY WHO ARE ABLE TO, UM, TAKE QUESTIONS AND SHARE THEIR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES TO HELP YOU WHEN YOU SEE
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THE MOBILE LIBRARY UNIT OUT AND ABOUT.AND GLADYS, THIS IS NO SMALL UNDERTAKING BECAUSE HOW MANY, HOW MANY WATER, UH, BILLS DO YOU SEND OUT? YES, WE HAVE, UH, JUST SHORT OF 52,000 WATER CUSTOMERS.
THAT WE BILL ON A MONTHLY BASIS.
AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE LAUNCHED ONLY SEVEN DAYS AGO, WE ALREADY HAVE OVER 11,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE REGISTERED FOR THE PORTAL.
NOT EVERYBODY YET, BUT IT'S OKAY.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE'LL GET, UM, EVEN MORE PEOPLE AS WE CONTINUE TO, UM, ISSUE THE FIRST BILLING STATEMENTS AND MORE PEOPLE, UM, ARE ABLE TO HAVE EXPOSURE TO, UH, THE NEW SYSTEM.
AND, UM, DO WATER BILLS GO OUT ALL AT THE SAME TIME? OR, OR DOES EVERYBODY HAVE A DIFFERENT DATE? EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT DATE.
SO BY CREATING THAT, IT'S DUE ON 21 DAYS LATER.
SO WE DO HAVE BILLS EVERY DAY AND DUE DATES ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE MONTH.
SO BASICALLY IT'S 21 DAYS AFTER YOU SIGN UP FOR YOUR, UH, NO, NO, 21 DAYS AFTER YOU GET YOUR FIRST BILL.
OH, AFTER YOU GET YOUR FIRST BILL.
WELL THAT GIVES US SOME CLARITY AND GIVES US SOME INFORMATION TO OUR CITIZENS THAT, UM, IT'S GONNA HAPPEN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE NEW SYSTEM AND IT IS, IT IS SOMEWHAT A, AN INCONVENIENCE WHEN WE HAVE TO, UH, ANY CHANGE.
AND ESPECIALLY FOR 52,000 PEOPLE
SO, UM, YOU LADIES AND YOUR DEPARTMENT IS, UH, ARE JUST DOING A GREAT JOB.
AND WHO IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE? AT THE CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE? UHHUH.
AND UM, SO SHE'S OUR ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
AND ALSO YOUR, A DIRECT PERSON IS NOREEN, IS THAT CORRECT? NOREEN HOUSEWRIGHT.
SO YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND YOU HAVE A GREAT TEAM WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN, DON'T YOU? YES, MA'AM.
WE LIKE TO GIVE KUDOS TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB, UM, IN A CHALLENGING SITUATION ESPECIALLY.
BUT WHAT A BLESSING TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO EXPLAIN IT AND FOR OUR CITIZENS TO HAVE WATER.
AND, UH, WE'RE JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF YOUR BEING HERE TODAY TO EXPLAIN THAT TO US.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US AND OF OF COURSE, THANK AND GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY REGISTERED.
AND IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE DOING SO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A CALL.
WHAT'S EXTRA YOURSELF AGAINST THE WEST NILE VIRUS? USE INSECT SPRAY WITH DEEP WEAR, LONG SLEEVES AND PANTS DRAIN.
ANYTHING WITH STANDING WATER? SHUT THE WATER.
GET MORE INFORMATION@GPTX.ORG SLASH WIPE THE BIKE.
WELCOME BACK AND WELCOME TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE GUESTS.
TELL OUR VIEWERS THAT MIGHT JUST BE TUNING IN.
WHAT IS YOUR TITLE WITH THE CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE? YES.
SO WE HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE UP NEAR LONE STAR PARK.
WE HAVE A TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER.
AND, UM, SO OUR LOBBY IS OPEN TO ALL OF YOUR, UH, VIEWING AUDIENCES THAT WANNA COME IN AND PLAN A ROAD TRIP, A TEXAS ROAD TRIP.
WE'VE GOT INFORMATION, WE CARRY OVER 400 BROCHURES TO ALL OVER THE STATE.
SO ANYTIME THEY'RE PLANNING A ROAD TRIP OR WANNA EVEN FIND INFORMATION FOR FUN THINGS TO DO HERE IN THE METROPLEX.
AND ESPECIALLY GRAND PRAIRIE, YOU CAN FIND ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AT VISIT GRAND PRAIRIE, WHICH IS THE TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER.
WE'RE LOCATED, UH, NORTH OF 30 RIGHT AT GATE ONE.
AND BELTLINE, UH, WE BASICALLY SHARE THE PARKING LOT WITH LONE STAR PARK.
AND WHAT A GREAT PLACE IT IS TO VISIT, JUST TO COME THERE AND GET ALL THAT GREAT INFORMATION.
IF THEY WANNA HAVE, LIKE YOU SAID, IF THEY WANNA SEE, UH, THE SURROUNDING AREAS OR IF THEY WANT TO HAVE A STAYCATION RIGHT HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, YES.
WE, WE CAN FIX 'EM UP WITH ALL KINDS OF LITERATURE, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A REALLY ADORABLE GIFT SHOP.
UH, WHERE WE CARRY GRAND PRAIRIE BRANDED SWAG AND MERCHANDISE, SOME TEXAS THINGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE ARE OUR BEST SHOPPERS, SO WE BUY ALL THE PRODUCTS THAT WE LOVE AND, AND STOCK THE GIFT SHOP, BUT IT'S ALL ALWAYS HAS, YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY STOP IN AND
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AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE GIFT SHOP.'CAUSE THERE'S LOTS OF CUTE THINGS IN THERE.
I LOVE ALL THE THINGS IN YOUR GIFT SHOP.
THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO STOP AND SHOP.
NOW, IF SOMEBODY COMES IN AND THEY SAY, UH, SARAH, WHAT IS THIS ABOUT CRICKET IN GRAND PRAIRIE? WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM, YOU KNOW, THREE YEARS AGO OR FOUR YEARS AGO RATHER? I'D, I'D, I'D PROBABLY LOOK AT 'EM AND GO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT,
WE DON'T HAVE A CRICKET PROBLEM HERE.
SO, UM, MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET AS YOU KNOW, UM, LET'S SEE, THIS IS THEIR THIRD SEASON, UM, SETTLED IN GRAND PRAIRIE AND NOW WE ARE HOME TO THE TEXAS SUPER KINGS, WHICH IS A PROFESSIONAL CRICKET LEAGUE.
UM, SO LIKE WHAT I LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED OR TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT CRICKET IS, UM, BASICALLY THERE'S SIX MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET TEAMS IN THE UNITED STATES.
SO THINK OF IT AS IF THE NFL WAS JUST NOW STARTING AND YOU ONLY HAD SIX TEAMS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD THE DALLAS COWBOYS, YOU HAD SEATTLE, YOU HAD, YOU KNOW, ALL THE DIFFERENT NFL TEAMS, UM, WERE JUST STARTING THEN YOU WOULD HAVE LIMITED A NUMBER OF LOCATIONS TO WHICH ALL OF THOSE TEAMS PARTICIPATED IN.
SO GRAND PRAIRIE IS SO LUCKY AND SO FORTUNATE THAT, UH, MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET BASICALLY RAISED ABOUT $120 MILLION TO, UM, CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND STADIUMS WHERE MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET MATCHES COULD HAPPEN.
AND GRAND PRAIRIE WAS CHOSEN AS ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.
AND ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE THAT REMEMBER BACK WHEN WE HAD THE GRAND PRAIRIE AIR HOGS, WHICH IS WHAT OUR MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM.
UM, AND THEN OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, THEY JUST LIKE SO MANY MINOR LEAGUE STADIUMS DURING COVID AND ALL OF THAT, THEY KIND OF JUST DISBAND AFTER, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU COULDN'T GO WATCH BASEBALL SO YOU COULDN'T MAKE MONEY.
AND JUST BECAUSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STADIUM CLOSED, SO IT, IT SAT VACANT FOR A LITTLE BIT.
AND SO WHEN MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET WAS, YOU KNOW, KICKING THE TIRES AT DIFFERENT CITIES AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT SPACES IN ORDER TO EITHER BUILD A STADIUM OR TO, UM, RECREATE A SPACE, WHEN THEY LOOKED AT GRAND PRAIRIE AND SAW THE AIR HOG STADIUM, THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE PERFECT.
SO, UM, I THINK THEY PUT IN LIKE $20 MILLION TO, UM, TO REDO THE STADIUM THERE.
AND NOW WE HAVE A PROFESSIONAL MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET STADIUM HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS.
AND WE REALLY DIDN'T GO OUT LOOKING FOR THAT.
ISN'T THAT EXCITING? BECAUSE WE HAVE THE BEST LOCATION IN THE METROPLEX.
I MEAN, LOGISTICALLY, GRAND PRAIRIE IS IN THE SWEET SPOT OF THE METROPLEX, AND SO THAT DEFINITELY BENEFITED US AND SARAH, WE MAY HAVE A FEW, OR AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF LOCAL FANS, BUT MOST OF THE FANS COME FROM ALL AROUND, DON'T THEY? YES.
SO THIS REALLY IS AN ECONOMIC IMPACT DRIVER FOR GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, JUST BECAUSE ALTHOUGH WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE TEXANS LIKE TO HAVE A HOME TEAM THAT WE CAN ROOT FOR, RIGHT? YES.
AND SO WE DO, IT'S THE TEXAS SUPER KINGS.
UM, SO THAT'S KIND OF OUR HOMETOWN TEAM.
HOWEVER, THE, THE PLAYERS ON THAT TEAM ARE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND THE OTHER FIVE MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET, UH, TEAMS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, UH, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK ARE THE FIVE OTHER TEAMS. SO THOSE HAVE, UM, PLAYERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
UM, SO OUR STADIUM IS UTILIZED FOR ALL OF THOSE TEAMS. SO LIKE TONIGHT, FOR INSTANCE, IT'S NOT THE TEXAS SUPER KINGS, IT'S PLAYING A MATCH AT THE GRAND PRIX STADIUM.
I THINK IT'S BETWEEN THE SAN FRANCISCO TEAM AND THE NEW YORK TEAM OR WHATEVER.
BUT IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM ALL OVER TO GRAND PRIX, TEXAS TO WATCH CRICKET MATCHES, PROFESSIONAL CRICKET MATCHES HERE IN OUR BACKYARD.
AND, UM, I'VE HEARD THAT CRICKET IS LIKE THE NUMBER TWO SPORT IN THE WORLD.
UH, NUMBER TWO IS BEHIND, UM, SOCCER.
IT'S ALSO, UM, ONE OF THE, THE SECOND MOST POPULAR WATCH SPORTS.
I'VE GOT SOME FUN FIGURES HERE.
CRICKET IS PLAYED IN OVER A HUNDRED COUNTRIES.
UM, IT'S THE SECOND MOST WATCH SPORT IN THE WORLD AFTER SOCCER.
AND OF COURSE, BILLIONS OF FANS TUNE IN TO WILLOW TV AND SLING TV AND YOU KNOW, IT, IT REALLY DID.
AND WHAT WE SAW DURING WORLD CUP THAT WE HOSTED LAST YEAR WITH, UH, WITH US IN THE WEST INDIES IS IT REALLY PUT GRAND PRIX, TEXAS ON AN INTERNATIONAL STAGE.
AND, UM, IT WAS JUST SUCH A PROUD MOMENT WHEN YOU'RE WATCHING WILLOW TV, WHICH IS A STREAMING SERVICE THAT THAT SHOWS CRICKET MATCHES.
AND YOU SEE GRAND PRAIRIE STADIUM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE AERIAL SHOTS AND EVERYTHING, UH, ON PLAYING ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND, UM, ATTRACTING AN AUDIENCE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
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ACTUALLY GIVE CREDIT TO GRAND PRAIRIE RATHER THAN SOME OF THE LARGER CITIES IN THE METROPLEX.UH, GRAND PRAIRIE IS BEING SEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY.
UM, IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE SEASON FOR THIS YEAR STARTED EARLY JUNE.
UM, AND IT'LL GO THROUGH JUNE 29TH.
AND THEN WHAT'S REALLY EXCITING IS FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, WE ARE ALSO GETTING TO HOST, UM, THE MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES.
AND SO THOSE START ON JULY 8TH AND GO THROUGH THE 13TH.
AND ALL OF THOSE ARE HAPPENING RIGHT HERE IN GRAND PRAIRIE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT, IT'S NOT JUST FANS THAT COME TO THE CRICKET STADIUM, IT'S THE, THE COMPRESSION OF WHAT WE GET FOR SALES TAX.
AND, YOU KNOW, FROM THEM EATING AT OUR RESTAURANTS AND STAYING IN OUR HOTELS AND, YOU KNOW, UM, UM, RENTING CARS AND AIRLINE, ALL THOSE THINGS, THAT WHOLE BUNDLE THAT REALLY MAKES, UM, REALLY A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT, NOT ONLY FOR GRAND PRAIRIE, BUT ALSO FOR THE STATE OF TEXAS.
SO, UM, SOME FUN FIGURES, YOU KNOW, IN THE INAUGURAL SEASON, GRAND PRAIRIE, THE PLAYOFFS GENERATED ABOUT $1.7 MILLION IN ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR GRAND PRAIRIE.
THE INAUGURAL SEASON FOR MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET AS A WHOLE, UM, GENERATED ABOUT $8 MILLION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THEY WERE ONLY ESTIMATING FOR THAT FIRST YEAR ABOUT 5 MILLION.
SO IT EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AND IT JUST CONTINUES TO GROW, WHICH IS SUPER EXCITING.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST SEASON, UH, MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET WAS BROADCAST, UM, OVER, UM, IN 87 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES.
I MEAN, IT STILL BLOWS MY MIND.
GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS WAS IN 87 COUNTRIES.
AND UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S JUST, IT'S GREAT FOR GRAND PRAIRIE OVERALL, TEXAS HAS CAPTURED WELL OVER A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC IMPACT.
SO IT JUST, THE SPORT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.
THEY'LL CONTINUE TO ADD NEW TEAMS. UM, YOU KNOW, MAJOR LEAGUE CRICKET MOVE THEIR HEADQUARTERS HERE TO GRAND PRAIRIE RECENTLY YES.
SO THERE AGAIN, THAT'S FAMILIES MOVING HERE.
IT'S, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN A WHEN A COMPANY MOVES TO GRAND PRAIRIE, IT'S POSITIVE IMPACT FOR OUR CITY.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY GRAND PRAIRIE AND OUR LOCAL AUDIENCE TO ATTEND A GAME.
I MEAN, TICKETS START AS CHEAP AS $15 AND I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, THOSE OF US THAT ARE BASEBALL, YOU KNOW, UH, FAN FAMILIAR FAN YES.
WHEN YOU GO WATCH CRICKET, YOU TRY TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE BASEBALL.
AND, AND, BUT I'M TELLING YOU, JUST WHAT I FOUND IS EITHER ATTENDING A MATCH OR EVEN LIKE WHEN WE HAD THE WATCH PARTIES HAPPENING DURING WORLD CUP AND STUFF, CRICKET FANS GET SO EXCITED ABOUT TEACHING SOMEBODY ABOUT THE SPORT.
AND SO DEFINITELY, YOU KNOW, PLAN ON GOING TO A MATCH AND, UM, CHECKING OUT SOMETHING NEW, THE ENERGY IN THAT STADIUM WITH ALL THE WHISTLE BLOWING AND THE WAVE THE FLAG WAVING AND ALL THAT, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, I DON'T WANNA MAYBE USE THE WORD ROWDY, BUT IT, IT'S JUST A FUN ELECTRIC ENERGIZING ATMOSPHERE.
UM, THAT YOU CAN CERTAINLY, YOU'LL HAVE A GREAT TIME AND YOU'LL LEARN SOMETHING NEW AND UM, ANYWAY.
SO I DEFINITELY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CHECK IT OUT, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH CRICKET.
'CAUSE I'M STILL LEARNING ABOUT IT AS WELL.
THEY ARE HAVING LIKE, UM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DOING A VETERAN'S EVENING WHERE THEY'RE HONORING OUR VETERANS HERE, UM, IN TOWN AND, YOU KNOW, WITH DISCOUNTED TICKETS AND STUFF.
AND THEN LIKE YOU MENTIONED, THE MAYOR'S DAY, UM, THE MAYOR WILL THROW OUT THE FIRST PITCH AND REALLY ENCOURAGING, TRYING TO BUILD, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE GETTING AN AUDIENCE THAT DOESN'T LIVE HERE, WHICH IS GREAT, RIGHT.
BECAUSE IT'S BRINGING PEOPLE INTO GRAND PRAIRIE.
UM, BUT WE ALSO WANT THAT COMMUNITY, UH, PRIDE AS WELL.
AND, UM, FOR THE LOCALS TO COME AND SUPPORT, UM, THIS NEW GAME.
SO WE'RE NOT NEW GAME, BUT IT'S NEW TO US, RIGHT? IT'S NEW TO US AND NEW TO GRAND PRAIRIE AND WE'RE EMBRACING THAT.
WELL, SARAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US THIS, UH, CRICKET UPDATE.
ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT YOU KNOW YOUR VIEWERS MIGHT NEED, YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO VISIT GRAND PRAIRIE TX.COM/CRICKET AND LEARN ALL ABOUT CRICKET.
WE'VE GOT SOME YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON THERE TO TRY TO HELP EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THE GAME AND HOW IT WORKS AND STUFF.
AND THEN ALSO THERE'S A TICKET LINK, SO IF YOU WANNA TAKE YOUR FAMILY OUT AND WATCH A MATCH, YOU CAN EASILY PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS THROUGH THAT SITE.
AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I'M GEORGIA CLEMSON REMINDING YOU AS ALWAYS,
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IT'S HAPPENING IN GRAND PRAIRIE.