The National Soccer HOF "will be part of 100,000 square feet of renovated space being added over the next two years to the south end" of Toyota Stadium, according to Valerie Wigglesworth of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The $39M in improvements planned for the city-owned stadium that is home to FC Dallas "will start next year with a tentative opening set for Dec. 15, 2017." The U.S. Soccer HOF will "become the only major national sports hall of fame museum to be built into a stadium." The HOF "will have about 24,000 square feet of exhibit space and plenty of room to host special events and dinners." Changes include "two new 100-person locker rooms with separate tunnels leading to the field, a new 3,000-square-foot private club to serve about 1,800 members, new chair-back seats to replace the bleacher seating, a new team store and a 7,000-square-foot party deck with bar and concession stands." There will also be "upgrades to its video and audio equipment, bigger media areas and space to convert the south end of the stadium for amphitheater-style shows for about 5,000 people." Funding for the improvements "comes from the city of Frisco, the Frisco Economic Development Corporation, the Frisco Community Development Corporation and Frisco ISD." Entities belonging to FC Dallas owners Hunt Sports Group will pay an extra $1M in rent for the city-owned facility each year through '37 "to help fund the upgrades." Any costs above the $39M "will be paid by FC Dallas, under the agreement among the entities" (DALLASNEWS.com, 10/14).
