It’s another win for Frisco, whose growing roster of sports offerings will soon include the National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum.

The U.S. Soccer Federation and FC Dallas announced the deal Wednesday, saying further details would be released at a news conference set for Oct. 14.

The deal became final with Tuesday night’s approval by the Frisco ISD school board for $39 million worth of stadium improvements that includes new space for the Hall of Fame. Also approving the deal were the Frisco City Council, the Frisco Economic Development Corp and the Frisco Community Development Corp.

FC Dallas spokeswoman Leigh Anne Gullett said Wednesday that officials had hoped to make a big announcement on the Hall of Fame. But the various public entities required to approve an amended lease agreement with Frisco Stadium LLC had to release details as part of their public record. The votes were spread out over the past two weeks.

Frisco Mayor Maher Maso said other stadiums in other states — from Florida to California — wanted the Hall of Fame, too. But the fast-growing suburb in Collin County had the edge in part because of the Hunt Sports Group and its reputation in the world of soccer. The city’s growing tourism base and its success at drawing large-scale tournaments and other events to the soccer complex were also factors.

“It’s another destination venue that we’re really looking forward to having grow with us,” Maso said. “The future will bring some very unique ideas and new programs associated with the Hall of Fame that will benefit Frisco.”

As part of the improvements, FC Dallas will pay an extra $1 million a year through 2037 to lease the stadium from the city. Frisco ISD will contribute $4 million, Frisco CDC will pay $5 million, and Frisco EDC will pay up to $5 million.

The city of Frisco will pay the remainder of the $39 million through a special taxing district set up to fund capital improvements. Its annual payment on the debt is estimated to be $800,000. Any costs above $39 million will be paid by FC Dallas.

The Hall of Fame is expected to be part of a newly constructed second level of the stadium located above the south end zone.

Other improvements to the 10-year-old stadium are designed to better accommodate Frisco ISD high school football games and the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision title game, which will be in Frisco in January for the sixth year.

Those upgrades include two 100-person locker rooms, new field-level access tunnels, more restrooms, more concession stands, a team store, a suite-level expansion and a new video system.

Construction on the improvements is scheduled to start no later than May 31 and be completed by Dec. 31, 2017.

The National Soccer Hall of Fame Museum is the latest addition to the city’s sports empire. It will be just a few miles north from The Ford Center at The Star, which is the future home for the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and practice facility. Team officials announced a naming rights agreement with Ford Motor Co. on the indoor stadium earlier this month.

Frisco is also home to the Frisco RoughRiders, who play at Dr Pepper Ballpark, and the Texas Legends, who play in Dr Pepper Arena. The Dallas Stars have their headquarters and practice ice at the arena.

The 20,500-seat Toyota Stadium is part of a 145-acre facility that also includes 17 tournament-sized fields in the Toyota Soccer Center. The complex attracted nearly two million visitors last year to Frisco.

U.S. Soccer and FC Dallas have been in exclusive negotiations since December to bring the Hall of Fame to Frisco. The museum, which has more than 80,000 artifacts and records, was originally based in Oneonta, N.Y., but closed in 2010 because of financial challenges.

The Hall of Fame’s relocation to Frisco allows it to build and expand on what it has to offer.

“What I’m really excited about,” Maso said, “is what we can grow this into to benefit our taxpayers, to benefit the sport and to keep Frisco sustainable.”

 

dallasnews.com

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