Latest news with #VarsitySpirit
CBS News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Lawsuit filed after chaotic evacuation, injuries at cheer competition in Dallas
A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of those injured while evacuating the cheer competition held at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas in March, attorneys representing the group announced Monday. The lawsuit filed by Paul LLP and Aldous Law alleges that the organizer, Varsity Spirit, and facility management failed to provide proper security at the event. What happened at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center? Dallas police said a fight between two people at the convention center led to several poles toppling, creating a loud noise and triggering panic as many people mistakenly thought there was an active shooter inside the building. With around 58,000 people — including 30,410 athletes and 3,700 coaches — attending the championship, hundreds, if not thousands, evacuated at once on Saturday, March 1. The disturbance, which occurred around 1 p.m., led to what police described as a "stampede" as people rushed outside. The Dallas Police Department confirmed that there was no active shooter and no shooting had taken place. According to Dallas Fire-Rescue, 10 people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. "All of the injuries were sustained during the evacuation, and none were life-threatening," said Dallas-Fire Rescue spokesman Jason Evans. "They ranged in severity from bumps and bruises to extremity fractures." After the incident, Varsity Brands said in a statement: "All our events have a designated on-site Event Safety Manager, who focuses entirely on ensuring safety and security practices are implemented according to our protocols. This role reports to our Chief Security Officer dedicated to enhancing the security and safety practices at our competitions and camps." Lawsuit claims negligence, injuries, mental anguish According to the lawsuit, "hundreds of people" were injured during a chaotic crowd stampede, including parents and children, being trampled and suffering broken bones, concussions, and brain bleeds. "This wasn't a little something. This was mass chaos," said Ashlea Schwarz of Paul LLP in Kansas City, Mo., who represents the victims. "You had parents separated from their kids for hours. You had a facility that had no plan for reunification in place. People had no idea where they would go to find their children." The lawsuit states that people in attendance from Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia were injured. That includes a woman knocked unconscious during the stampede who suffered a series of brain bleeds, according to the lawsuit, and a mother who was "slammed face-first into the concrete and was so severely hurt that her young daughter thought her mom had been fatally shot." The lawsuit also states that another event participant who hid alone under tractor-trailers outside the convention center suffered from a concussion. "The event had thousands of people in an area, when the incident happened, the Convention Center and Varsity were unprepared for the havoc, and people got injured seriously, both physically and mentally," said Mark Annick with Androvette Legal Media. According to the lawsuit, safety protocols were not put in place until after the incident on March 1 and the defendants, Varsity Spirit, Varsity Brands, Omni Hotels Management, OVG Facilities, Oak View Group and Global Spectrum, failed to provide "reasonable care to reduce or eliminate risk" with the lack of security and crowd management. CBS News Texas has reached out to the defendants for comment and is waiting for a response. The future of the NCA All-Star National Championship The NCA All-Star National Championship, formerly held in Dallas for 30 years, will relocate to Houston for 2026, 2027, and 2028. This shift is due to the construction at the Convention Center in Dallas, according to Varsity Brands. The decision was made before a chaotic incident at the 2025 event in Dallas.
Business Wire
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Wire
Victims of Chaotic Crowd Stampede at Dallas Cheer Competition File Lawsuit
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lawyers representing hundreds of people who were injured during a chaotic crowd stampede at a March cheerleading competition in Dallas have sued the organizer, Varsity Spirit, and facility management saying they failed to provide proper security at the event. In their court filing, the attorneys say those failures led to parents and children being trampled and suffering broken bones, concussions, brain bleeds, and other physical injuries when participants and attendees went running from the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, following reports of gunshots being fired. Many others, including children, continue to suffer from the emotional trauma they endured. 'This wasn't a little something. This was mass chaos,' said Ashlea Schwarz of Paul LLP in Kansas City, Mo., who represents the victims. 'You had parents separated from their kids for hours. You had a facility that had no plan for reunification in place. People had no idea where they would go to find their children.' Video of attorney Ashlea Schwarz and victim Rachel Meyer 'It was pure chaos,' said Rachel Meyer of St. Louis, who attended the event along with her 9-year-old daughter. 'Nobody knew what was happening. Everybody was screaming, looking every way. There were people pushing other people. And the pure panic in everybody's voices – that's something I'll never forget.' Records show there were approximately 25,000 participants – most under the age of 18 – who attended the 2025 National Cheerleaders Association All-Star National Championship event, from Feb. 28 to March 2. An estimated 38,000 spectators attended. Police and event officials have said the crowd crush was ignited by the sound of metal poles crashing to the concrete floor of the convention center following a fight between two parents. 'It really doesn't matter what started the panic,' said Charla Aldous of Dallas-based Aldous Law. 'What matters is the chaos and crowd crush happened because Varsity and the convention center were not prepared. And that resulted in the injuries these people suffered.' The lawsuit details injuries suffered by attendees from Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. They include a woman knocked unconscious during the stampede who suffered a series of brain bleeds; a mother who was slammed face-first into the concrete and was so severely hurt that her young daughter thought her mom had been fatally shot; and an event participant suffering from a concussion who sheltered alone under tractor-trailers outside the convention center. Varsity Brands is the parent company of Varsity Spirit, and is headquartered in Farmers Branch, Texas. The lawsuit is Albold, et al. v. Varsity Spirit LLC et al., No. CC-25-04400-C in Dallas County Court at Law No. 3. About Paul LLP Paul LLP is a Kansas City, Missouri-based trial firm focused on complex commercial and consumer litigation involving the prosecution of class and mass actions, frequently leading multi-faceted, nationwide teams of co-counsel in complex litigation. Learn more about the firm at About Aldous Law Aldous Law specializes in high-stakes personal injury litigation, including wrongful death, trucking collisions, medical malpractice, products liability and sexual assault cases. Learn more about the Dallas-based firm at
Business Wire
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Memphis Business Journal Spotlights New Documentary on Varsity Spirit Founder Jeff Webb
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As reported by the Memphis Business Journal, a feature documentary is now in production about Jeff Webb, the influential founder of Varsity Spirit and president of the International Cheer Union. The film will explore Webb's journey from launching Varsity Spirit in 1974 to leading the global push to make cheerleading an Olympic sport. The documentary is directed by veteran filmmaker Frank Rainone and produced by September Club, the award-winning production company behind acclaimed documentaries such as Murder Among the Mormons, The Last Blockbuster, and Jim & Andy. The film is expected to be released in 2025. 'It's a great story. He's an American success story,' said Rainone in the Business Journal interview. 'I've never in my life seen, honestly, a story quite like this.' Filming has already taken place in Memphis, and the production team has compiled more than 50 hours of archival footage. The film will spotlight Webb's transformative role in modern cheerleading, his efforts to bring the sport to the Olympic stage, and the broader cultural impact of Varsity Spirit on American youth and athletics as well as the challenges he faced along the way. Webb stepped down as chairman of Varsity Spirit in 2020 and continues to serve as president of the International Cheer Union, which has led the successful charge for cheerleading's recognition by the International Olympic Committee. For more information, you can read the full Memphis Business Journal article here.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Memphis Business Journal Spotlights New Documentary on Varsity Spirit Founder Jeff Webb
Film Produced by September Club Will Chronicle Cheerleading Icon's Legacy and Rise to Olympic Recognition MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 23, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As reported by the Memphis Business Journal, a feature documentary is now in production about Jeff Webb, the influential founder of Varsity Spirit and president of the International Cheer Union. The film will explore Webb's journey from launching Varsity Spirit in 1974 to leading the global push to make cheerleading an Olympic sport. The documentary is directed by veteran filmmaker Frank Rainone and produced by September Club, the award-winning production company behind acclaimed documentaries such as Murder Among the Mormons, The Last Blockbuster, and Jim & Andy. The film is expected to be released in 2025. "It's a great story. He's an American success story," said Rainone in the Business Journal interview. "I've never in my life seen, honestly, a story quite like this." Filming has already taken place in Memphis, and the production team has compiled more than 50 hours of archival footage. The film will spotlight Webb's transformative role in modern cheerleading, his efforts to bring the sport to the Olympic stage, and the broader cultural impact of Varsity Spirit on American youth and athletics as well as the challenges he faced along the way. Webb stepped down as chairman of Varsity Spirit in 2020 and continues to serve as president of the International Cheer Union, which has led the successful charge for cheerleading's recognition by the International Olympic Committee. For more information, you can read the full Memphis Business Journal article here. View source version on Contacts Stephen Francysfrancy@ 212-805-3017 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Varsity Brands Announces $10 Million Fundraising Commitment, Names Patient Play Area at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Varsity Brands, the leading platform for team Sport and Spirit solutions through its divisions BSN SPORTS and Varsity Spirit, has announced a new $10 million, 5-year fundraising commitment to benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.® A May 9 ribbon cutting ceremony unveiled the newly named Varsity Brands Play Deck, a 19,985 square foot outdoor space located in The Domino's Village, the newest patient housing facility at St. Jude. The space features a jungle gym, cheer cone shaped bongos, a hopscotch course, picnic chairs, a basketball half court area, outdoor grills and a LED movie screen. The Varsity Brands Play Deck is the first St. Jude space named for the company. "The Varsity Brands Play Deck provides St. Jude Children's Research Hospital patients and families a space to be active, make friends and share memories," said Adam Blumenfeld, CEO of Varsity Brands. "This moment is possible because of the continued support of our employees and customers who have helped raise more than $14 million to ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food. We look forward to growing our partnership with St. Jude in the years to come." Varsity Brands became an official partner of St. Jude in 2011 when Memphis-based Varsity Spirit launched the "Team Up for St. Jude Spirited by Varsity" program. Today, more than 9,000 employees rally throughout the year to share the St. Jude mission with the next generation of philanthropists through youth led events such as letter writing campaigns at summer camps nationwide and donations at athletic events. "This incredible $10 million commitment from our friends at Varsity Brands is possible because thousands of selfless supporters choose to come together for a common goal," said Ike Anand, interim CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We're grateful to celebrate another five years of partnership with Varsity Brands. This commitment will help make it possible for St. Jude to keep accelerating progress and give more kids a chance to celebrate every moment." Varsity Brands fundraises during St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend, the St. Jude Walk, and through employee giving campaigns as part of their commitment to "elevating the student experience" and engaging the next generation of philanthropists. Bill Seely, CEO of Varsity Spirit, served as the inaugural Corporate Event Chair for St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend in 2024, where he rallied other business leaders to support the annual event and largest single day fundraiser for St. Jude. Donate to St. Jude on behalf of Varsity Brands at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Kurt 901.297.3512
