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 6th 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.