Over 1.5 million fans visit Pizza Hut Park in 2006

FRISCO, Texas - On the heels of drawing over 1.5 million visitors to the complex in 2006, Pizza Hut Park today completes it's first event of 2007 - InterLiga 2007 - the tournament with the top eight Mexican First Division soccer teams that are vying for two spots into South America's Copa Libertadores, which is the equivalent of the European Champions League. The first of back-to-back doubleheaders saw Cruz Azul tie Tigres 2-2 and Necaxa defeat Monterrey 3-2 on Saturday. Today's games feature Morelia versus Club America and Tecos versus Jaguares beginning at 4:00 p.m. CT.

InterLiga also opened the 2006 year last January, one in which over 1.5 million spectators and participants visited the complex for FC Dallas games, concerts, soccer tournaments, and other special events through the year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS OF 2006:
STADIUM - 670,000

Sports - In addition to serving as the home for every FC Dallas home game played in 2006, Pizza Hut Park also had its share of visitors from around the world:

Ten Mexican First Division clubs played at least one game at the stadium (Atlas, Chivas, Club America, Cruz Azul, Monterrey, Morelia, Necaxa, Pachuca, Tigres and Veracruz), with Tigres visiting twice. Additionally, Everton FC of the English Premier League played here (vs. Club America).

The final soccer game of the year, the 2006 MLS Cup, set the current sports attendance record when an overflow crowd of 22,427 fans saw the Houston Dynamo defeat the New England Revolution.

The National Team of the United States played Guatemala, and Mexico played Ghana in key friendlies in preparation for three of those countries participation the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

The prestigious youth tournament, the Dr Pepper Dallas Cup, also brought large crowds, with the Under-20 teams of Real Madrid and Manchester United highlighting an event that also drew teams from Mexico, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica, Iraq, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Adult and youth amateur soccer tournaments held numerous finals in the stadium throughtout 2006

In partnership with the Frisco Independent School District, the stadium also hosted seven high football games featuring various local and regional powerhouses.

The University of North Carolina women soccer team defeated SMU on their way 18th National Championship.

Concerts - The stadium at Pizza Hut Park was also used for a series of concerts that attracted music fans to Frisco from all over the country:

World-famous artists such as Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Mexican pop-ensemble RBD, George Strait and Carrie Underwood played to thousands of their loyal fans at Pizza Hut Park, with the Chesney show setting the concert stadium record at 27,337 last summer. More than 30 hard rock acts including Staind, Toadies, and Blue October joined us in an all day concert, Edgefest 15. The Bluegrass Festival, Kool and the Gang, and other artists also performed in the stadium throughout the year.

Miscellaneous events - The Verizon Wireless Club, Suites, field and other offices were also used throughout the year to host many events, including: World Cup Viewing Parties, which drew over 7,000 fans in June and July; Alter Ministries, meetings, event luncheons, company outings, holiday parties and a New Years Eve Blast.

SPORTS PARK - 880,000

Events - By far the events that brought the most public to the park were the nearly 20,000 games played throughout the 17 fields that make up the complex.

Both youth and adults traveled from all over the country to participate in tournaments and competitions.

The FC Dallas Youth system, which consists of over 100 teams from U-7 to U-18, used the fields for training.

The North Texas State Soccer Association league's used the complex for their competitions.

The 500-seat Dr. Pink stadium field hosted numerous Frisco middle and high school soccer and football games.

And finally, in association with the City of Frisco, the lots at the facility were used for events such as the Great Steak of Texas 5K run, the City of Frisco Merry Main Street event, and the City of Frisco Community Circus.

About Pizza Hut Park: Opened on August 6, 2005, Pizza Hut Park is a 145-acre multipurpose sports and entertainment facility located at the intersection of Main Street and Dallas North Tollway in Frisco, Texas, and is the home stadium for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. The stadium, which has a permanent stage on the north end situated off the playing surface, has a capacity of 20,500 fans for sporting events but can expand to accommodate over 27,000 fans for concerts by utilizing field seats. The complex also includes 17 tournament-grade fields used for youth and adult soccer, as well as high school sports and other events. The $105 million public-private complex is owned by the City of Frisco in partnership with the Hunt Sports Group (HSG), the Frisco Independent School District, and Collin County. In February 2006, it was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal as the winner of the Best Community Impact Award for 2005, given to a property that was judged to have created the most positive economic and social impact on a community.