Dallas FC home major ‘suite up’ plans

Article posted by Coliseum, June 10^th, 2024

Image: WFAA

The Toyota Stadium in Frisco (Texas, US), the home of the Major League Soccer (MLS) team FC Dallas, could be in line for a major facelift.

‘wfaa.com’ stated that while nothing firm has been announced, plans filed with the State indicate new suites and media areas could be on the way in the coming years.

The FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (Texas). The club competes as a member of the Western Conference in Major League Soccer (MLS). The franchise began play in 1996 as a charter club of the league. The club was founded in 1995 as the Dallas Burn before adopting its current name in 2004.

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The Toyota Stadium is a soccer-specific stadium located in Frisco, a suburb of Dallas, Texas, US. Built and owned by the City of Frisco, the 20,500-seat stadium opened in 2005 and serves as the residence of the FC Dallas.

‘wfaa.com’ further stated that the May 28th filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation calls for a 130,000-square-foot expansion “of premium product including clubs and suites” as well as new broadcast and Press areas to meet the Major League Soccer (MLS) guidelines. New canopy lighting could also be added.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) is a State agency of Texas (US). The TDLR is responsible for licensing and regulating a broad range of occupations, businesses, facilities, and equipment in Texas. The TDLR has its headquarters in Downtown Austin.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men’s professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation which represents the sport’s highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams – 26 in the United States and 3 in Canada – since the 2023 season. The MLS is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan.

A source close to FC Dallas called the filing a first step toward a potentially bigger project announcement but declined to elaborate.

Dan Hunt, President of the FC Dallas Owner Hunt Sports Group, has been open in the past about the need for stadium investments, especially in technology and infrastructure.

Dallas (US)-based the Hunt Sports Group LLC is a sports and entertainment company that manages professional sports franchises and develops stadiums in the United States.

The City of Frisco, which owns the stadium, said in a statement it would be “premature to comment” but emphasized that the Toyota Stadium and FC Dallas represent “important pieces” of “Frisco’s tourism and entertainment economy”.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) filing listed an estimated cost of $130 million for the project. It indicated construction could begin in January and be completed in August 2027.

The information in the TDLR filings is often preliminary and subject to change but these fillings provides an early indicator of construction plans.

Dallas-based HKS is listed as the design firm for the project. It has been involved with past renovations at the stadium.

Dallas (US)-based HKS is a global firm of architects, designers, planners, and advisors who create places noted for their beauty and performance. The architecture firm is united by the belief that an environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach to design achieves design excellence. In 2023, it became a carbon-neutral firm.

The Toyota Stadium, which has a current capacity of about 20,500 people, is located at 9200 World Cup Way in Frisco, just off the Dallas North Tollway and Main Street. In addition to hosting matches for the FC Dallas, it’s a venue for other sporting events and concerts throughout the year.

The soccer-specific stadium opened in 2005, meaning it’s now one of the oldest stadiums built for MLS. It has undergone several rounds of renovations, including a $55 million project in 2018 that added a multilevel stand on the South side covered by a large overhang. The HKS handled design for that effort and the Tulsa (Oklahoma, US)-based Manhattan Construction Group Inc. oversaw the construction.

Founded in 1896, Tulsa (US)-based the Manhattan Construction Company is a fifth-generation family-owned company that provides preconstruction, construction management, program management, general building, and design-build services throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Manhattan’s portfolio of work includes mission-critical, sports, healthcare, Government, education, laboratory, science and technology, aviation, transportation, industrial, convention, casino, and hospitality facilities.

Since then, there have been discussions about upgrading the East side of the stadium to include more suites as well as incorporating more shade for the spectators.

Soccer is having a moment in the sports business spotlight in Dallas-Fort Worth. The 80,000-capacity AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, is set to host nine matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup™, more than any other site. And a new professional women’s team, Dallas Trinity FC, is set to kick off in August in the 92,100-capacity Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

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