Cricket News

U.K. venue with a pickleball take on cricket makes U.S. debut in Dallas

Who doesn't love a sport where you can whack a ball with a big paddle?

scontent-dfw5-1.xx.fbcdn.net

A new entertainment option is coming to Dallas-Fort Worth that capitalizes on an emerging sport: Called Sixes Social Cricket, it's an innovative venue from the U.K. that lets participants dabble in cricket in an easy and fun way, and is opening its first location right here in the DFW.

Specifically, it's coming to Grandscape, at 5740 Grandscape Blvd. #115, The Colony, where it will debut in summer 2023.

A release says that Sixes has become one of the most popular social entertainment concepts in the UK, having bowled over 10 million balls across seven locations. That's a lot of balls.

The company was launched in 2020 by entrepreneurs Calum Mackinnon and Andy Waugh, who describe Sixes as an immersive experience that re-imagines cricket with state-of-the-art tech-enabled batting nets.

Similarly forgiving as pickleball, it allows first-timers to enjoy "adrenaline fuelled batting" at nets placed throughout the venue.

Guests grab a bat, select a level, and swing. Sixes' technology bowls soft cricket balls, with points scored depending on which targets you hit.

There's also food: burgers, pizzas, and other sharing plates, plus classic cocktails, beer, wine, and shakes.

Their audience is everything from corporate and social events to family and friend get-togethers, says Calum Mackinnon in a statement.

"We're thrilled to bring Sixes to the United States, and what better city to launch our first venue than Dallas," Mackinnon says. "We believe that sport and hospitality hold an unrivaled ability to unite and connect people for good and good times shared and we're confident that Sixes will become a staple of the Dallas community."

"It's also an exciting time with Major League Cricket launching in Dallas this June, who we'll be working closely with to grow the game and give people more ways to play," he says.

Cricket is the second most popular sport in the world with a global fan base of around 2.5 billion followers. It's now making headway in the U.S. with the formation of Major League Cricket (MLC), the first professional cricket league in the U.S., including a new Texas team that will be based in Grand Prairie.

Grandscape president Jeff Lind says, "We are thrilled to welcome Sixes Social Cricket to Grandscape and the Dallas community. Their unique and exciting cricket experience is a perfect addition to our already diverse array of entertainment options. We cannot wait for our guests to experience the thrill of cricket at Sixes' state-of-the-art venue."

sports openings

RIP Mark

Colorful Dallas musician and DJ Mark Ridlen passes away at 65

Instagram

Mark Ridlen RIP

A bright and colorful light in Dallas' music scene went out: Mark Ridlen, DJ and musician, passed away on November 17, following a bout with cancer; he was 65.

From his appearance in Ron Howard’s 1978 directorial debut, Cotton Candy, to his groups Quad Pi, Lithium X-mas, and a plethora of side projects with scores of DFW musicians, to his full-time job as a professional DJ under the moniker "DJ Mr. Rid," Ridlen had been a steady staple on the local creative scene.

He surfed pretty much every musical wave: from Dallas' epochal dance music scene in the early 80s, to punk rock to his role as one of Dallas' top DJs — the guy you called when you wanted your event to be cool and fun.

Ridlen had been quietly battling kidney and lung cancer for the past three years. Over the summer, he had his second kidney removed, which meant he was on dialysis treatment a couple times a week.

He remained upbeat, but according to friends of the family, two more tumors were recently found in his brain. His family and friends decided to forego further treatment and were by his side when he died.

He remained in demand until his passing. In May, he DJed a party at the Kessler Theater, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Starck Club, the legendary '80s dance music club designed by Philippe Starck, which had a huge influence on Dallas, and which Ridlen was part of.

He was invited to DJ at the Starck Club when it opened in 1984 and remained in that role until the club closed in 1989.

Reid mark ridlen Mark Ridlen (right) with close friend Reid RobiinsonFacebook

From there, he migrated to Expo Park, the underground neighborhood across from Fair Park where art and music ruled. His stints at XPO Lounge, Double Wide, and other neighborhood venues made him a staple in the community.

At the same time, he was a member of Lithium Xmas, a psychedelic art-rock band which he formed with acclaimed musicians Chris Merlick and Greg Synodis.

He was also a pop culture savant with a comprehensive knowledge of music, who balanced a low-key charm with a vibrant sense of style, able to carry off shirts with colorful pop-art flowers and flashy sequinned jackets with panache.

In August, a large circle of musicians and friends rallied to participate in a benefit, to help pay for his medical costs — a sweet indication of the high regard in which he was held.

“I do want people to know that I am not being slowed down by cancer,” Ridlen said at the time. “I'm ready to continue working. I have more-or-less a clean bill of health for the moment, and hopefully that doesn't change.”

music deaths