PRO SQUASH COMES BACK TO THE DAC

DAC Pro Squash Classic – Nov 5-9, 2019

It’s time. Time for the DAC to showcase world class squash. And this is something you simply have to witness. Most of you have never seen top professionals play in person and like any other sport, it isn’t the same as watching it on You Tube. You don’t get the same experience - speed of the game, effort of the players, ridiculous fitness levels required, uncanny skills on display, the overall intensity. This won’t be an exhibition type atmosphere either – this will be desperation, world ranking, take no prisoners, money on the line squash.

And it will be women’s squash. Women that would kick your gluteus maximus without having to take off their tracksuits. From November 5-9, 2019, the DAC will be hosting a $30,000 Women’s PSA Squash Tournament which going by the tour calendar at the time I am writing this, would be the 6^th largest women’s tournament in the USA this year. Going by similar sized tournaments, we can expect the top 8 seeds to be in the top 30 of the world ranking.

Why women you ask? Simple. There are a couple of reasons actually. Firstly, Detroit does not currently have a pro women’s tournament at all. The BAC have the Motor City Open – a high level professional men’s event and they do a magnificent job running it. We have no interest in ‘competing’ with the BAC, it is a staple tournament on the tour calendar. We are a lot more interested in complimenting that tournament instead and what better way to do that than bringing in the women? Secondly, women’s professional squash need more top dollar events. The standard of women’s squash has skyrocketed in the past 3-4 years. Thanks to the Egyptians (!!) Raneem El Welily, Nour El Sherbini, Nour El Tayeb, Nouran Gohar, they have brilliantly raised the bar, forcing the chasing pack to pick up their game as well (for example: Camille Serme from France, Kiwi Joelle King, Brit Sarah Jane Perry, Welsh lass Tesni Evans, American Amanda Sobhy… just to name a few) and the depth of women’s world squash has never been deeper, more exciting to watch and more deserving of elevated attention. They have more than earned increased support.

Tournaments of this magnitude take a lot of work and cost a fair packet to put together. We are currently looking and need your help for sponsorship to help cover the expenses and allow us to present a product to the members and the competing players worthy of the DAC. I can already announce and extend a massive “Thank You!” to Greg Rivard and his Detroit Etching Company for his generous pledge towards the event. Additionally, with the help of James Van Dyke, we have secured the new and trendy Metropolitan Hotel on John R Street (just a 3 minute walk from the DAC) to house the players for the duration of the event, their support has been incredible as well. If you also wish to be a part of DAC history and help kick off what we hope can be an annual magical women’s tournament, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. Let’s showcase the number one Athletic Club in the country the way we know we can.