Stadium News

Frisco's Toyota Stadium to get $182 million renovation after 20 years

Toyota Stadium is getting a facelift.

Toyota Stadium

A stadium in Frisco that's been hosting sporting events for more than 20 years is getting a major facelift: Toyota Stadium, which is home to professional soccer club FC Dallas as well as Frisco ISD's athletic program, will receive a $182 million renovation that will include a new roof, more seating, and state-of-the-art audio/visuals.

According to a release, construction is set to begin in 2025 and continue through the World Cup, happening June and July 2026.

Upgrades will include an "architecturally distinctive" roof structure to provide more shade; an additional 3,400 seats; improved ingress and egress; new concession stands and restrooms; and three new clubs featuring premium food, drinks, and entertainment.

FC Dallas Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt says in a statement that the renovations will "modernize the stadium and elevate the fan experience, once again establishing Toyota Stadium as one of the premier facilities in Major League Soccer."

The renovation was approved by the Frisco City Council at its September 17 meeting. Funding will come from a public-private partnership between the City of Frisco, the Hunt family, Frisco Independent School District, and Frisco Community Development Corporation. The City of Frisco and Frisco ISD are contributing $77 million. The Hunt Family is contributing $65 million. FCDC is contributing $40 million.

The council also voted to extend its lease to FC Dallas.

“When Toyota Stadium opened in 2005, it was a state-of-the-art facility that was ahead of its time, and the stadium’s success has helped pave the way for dozens of other soccer-specific stadiums across the country," Hunt says.

Other improvements include:

The largest TV screen of any Major League Soccer stadium
Luxury suites
Upgraded scoreboards, video signage, and sound system
Increased concessions: A 59 percent increase in concessions to expand the game day menu and ensure quicker service
Upgraded media facilities: New press box, media, and broadcast suites with "cutting-edge" technological upgrades

FC Dallas partnered with HKS Architects and Manhattan Construction Group on the project. Construction will happen in phases, with work on the east side of the stadium to begin after the FCS Championship game on January 6, 2025. The west side of the stadium will remain open during the 2025 MLS season.

The renovation is scheduled to be completed by 2028. Additionally, the council approved plans to develop a mixed-use development near the stadium featuring a hotel with 200 rooms and a multi-family luxury apartment complex.

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RIP Joe

Texas country music singer-songwriter Joe Ely dies at 78

Joe Ely/Facebook

Joe Ely was a major figure in Texas' progressive country scene.

Joe Ely, the legendary songwriter, singer, and storyteller whose career spanned more than five decades, has died from complications related to Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and pneumonia. He was 78.

According to a statement posted to his Facebook page, Ely died at his home in Taos, New Mexico, with his wife Sharon, and daughter Marie, at his side.

Born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, Ely was raised in Lubbock and became a central figure among a generation of influential West Texas musicians. He later settled in Austin, helping shape the city’s reputation as a hub for live music.

"Joe Ely performed American roots music with the fervor of a true believer who knew music could transport souls," said Kyle Young, CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

In the 1970s, Ely signed with MCA Records, launching a career that included decades of recording and touring around the world. His work and performances left a lasting impact on the music scene and influenced a wide range of artists, including the Clash and Bruce Springsteen, according to Rolling Stone.

"His distinctive musical style could only have emerged from Texas, with its southwestern blend of honky-tonk, rock & roll, roadhouse blues, western swing, and conjunto. He began his career in the Flatlanders, with fellow Lubbock natives Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, and he would mix their songs with his through 50 years of critically acclaimed recordings."

Read the full story at KVUE.com.

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