Major League Soccer (MLS) team FC Dallas have sold the naming rights to their stadium to Japanese carmaker Toyota.
The ‘long-term’ agreement, financial terms of which were not announced, will see the 20,500-seater arena renamed the Toyota Stadium. Meanwhile, the 17 soccer fields adjacent to the North Texas venue will be renamed the Toyota Soccer Center.
Toyota signage is set to be installed in time for the team’s final league match of the season against Seattle Sounders on 19th October.
FC Dallas is owned by Hunt Sports Group (HSG), which sold rival MLS franchise Columbus Crew in July. The stadium has been known as FC Dallas Stadium since Pizza Hut ending its sponsorship at the end of 2011.
According to Dan Hunt, the vice president of HSG, Toyota’s involvement is likely to enable the club to invest in stadium improvements, such as installing a partial roof and expanding seating. “It will obviously help with those things,” he said. “As we continue to grow, I know that the city is committed to helping improve this facility, so it’s all coming together.”
“This is a monumental day for our organisation,” added Hunt. “My entire family and I are so excited to be partnered with Toyota. I wish my father was alive today to see Toyota join FC Dallas in helping soccer grow across the Metroplex and Texas. This stadium complex was one of his favourite projects and will always be extra special to me as the last project I got to do with him before he passed. I know having such a wonderful partner as Toyota step up and put their name on it would make him proud.”
FC Dallas – Toyota
