Industry Spotlight: Artificial Intelligence, Capital & Finance

Dallas & Fort Worth are rapidly transforming into a major hubs for intelligent infrastructure, capital markets, sports, entertainment, and film, with the film industry alone generating nearly $1 billion in economic impact and supporting over 50,000 jobs over the last decade.

This growth is fueled by aggressive state incentives, world-class production facilities, and a surge in high-profile sporting events leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

"Y'all Street"—the explosive boom that has made the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex the second-largest financial center in the US—relies on Fort Worth to anchor its western economic engine, provide corporate headquarters, and absorb the region's surging population of young professionals. Fort Worth contributes to the greater financial narrative of the region with massive operational and corporate footprints for financial heavyweights, including Charles Schwab and Deloitte. As the DFW financial sector grows, Fort Worth has experienced a housing and multifamily supply boom. It serves as a vital residential and lifestyle draw for the thousands of financial workers driving this economic shift.

The city has officially dubbed film its "next great industry," positioning it alongside legacy sectors like aviation and energy. In August 2025, SGS Studios opened at AllianceTexas. This 450,000-square-foot campus is now the largest production facility in Texas and serves as a primary hub for major productions. Fort Worth has become the creative home for Taylor Sheridan, with series like Yellowstone spin-offs (1883, 1923) and Landman filming extensively in the area.

The Fort Worth Film Collaborative, a partnership with Tarrant County College and 101 Studios, provides fast-track certification for local crews to meet rising demand for gaffers, grips, and makeup artists. Texas recently committed $1.5 billion to film incentives over the next decade, making the state—and Fort Worth specifically—highly competitive against traditional hubs like California and Georgia. 

Sports tourism is a critical economic driver, with events in fiscal year 2025 projected to bring a $180 million impact to the city. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Fort Worth is investing over $9 million in preparations, serving as a key training location for international teams like Czechia and Sweden. The city has proposed an $82 million investment into athletic upgrades, including a new multi-field baseball and softball diamond complex to meet growing youth and regional sports demand. Dickies Arena and other local venues continue to host major events, including the NCAA Gymnastics Championship, March Madness games, and the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) World Finals. The Fort Worth Braves are set to launch in May 2026 as part of the newly relaunched Continental Football League (COFL). 

The city's entertainment scene is evolving to blend its Western heritage with digital innovation. Major redevelopments in the Fort Worth Stockyards and the Convention Center are expanding the city's capacity for large-scale concerts and cultural festivals. The entertainment culture is increasingly hybrid, with local incentives encouraging the growth of gaming, digital post-production, and virtual content alongside traditional live music venues