The National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All Star Cheer Competition is one of the biggest events in the cheerleading world. Since 1995, it has been held annually in Dallas, bringing in tens of millions of dollars to the local economy.
However, the 2024 event took a chaotic turn last weekend, leading to injuries, panic, and a major decision to relocate the competition for the next few years.
Chaos Erupts at NCA Cheer Competition
The NCA All Star Cheer Competition is known for attracting thousands of cheerleaders from across the United States and around the world. For example, in 2018, the event hosted 23,655 athletes from 39 states and 9 countries.
However, the 2024 event took an unexpected and chaotic turn when a fight broke out between some parents at the competition. During the altercation, large poles were knocked over, creating loud booms that echoed through the venue.
With the loud noises and widespread panic, many attendees mistook the sounds for gunshots, triggering a massive stampede as people rushed to escape the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Injuries Reported Amid the Panic
The stampede that followed left at least ten people injured. Thankfully, none of the injuries were life-threatening, but some victims suffered broken bones after being trampled in the rush to exit.
“It was a terrifying situation. No one knew what was happening, and people just started running for safety,” one attendee shared.
The chaos on Saturday led to several teams pulling out of the competition on Sunday, citing safety concerns.
NCA Moves Competition to Houston for the Next Three Years
The Dallas competition made national headlines for all the wrong reasons, and now, it appears that Dallas will lose the event—at least temporarily.
Due to upcoming construction at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, the NCA All Star Cheer Competition will be relocated to Houston for the next three years.
Some are questioning whether safety concerns from the chaotic weekend also influenced the decision. While the NCA has stated that the move is due to renovations, some believe the organization may prefer a fresh start in a new city after the unfortunate events in Dallas.
Currently, the competition is expected to return to Dallas in 2029, but it remains to be seen whether organizers will stick to that plan.