Pizza Hut Park will once again play host to MLS Cup, as Major League Soccer, FC Dallas and the Hunt Sports Group on Tuesday announced the league's championship game will return to Frisco for the second consecutive year.
Pizza Hut Park hosted MLS Cup 2005 last November, the Los Angeles Galaxy defeating the New England Revolution on an extra-time goal from Guillermo Ramirez, before an overflow crowd of 21,193 at the new stadium officially opened just a few months earlier.
Since then, the stadium has seen huge crowds for InterLiga matches, and before the 2006 MLS Cup Final on Nov. 12, Pizza Hut Park will see games involving both the U.S. and Mexican national teams. The stadium will also play host to First Kick 2006 when FC Dallas begins their season against the Chicago Fire on April 1, televised by ABC Sports, making for an MLS first with Pizza Hut Park hosting both the league's opening match and the championship game.
"This facility, this complex will be the focal point for this sport throughout the 2006 calendar year," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. "It is unequivocally the success of the Cup, the success of recent games (InterLiga) that we've had and these two national team games we have coming up that leads us back to Pizza Hut Park for the 2006 MLS Cup."
Pizza Hut Park won the right to host MLS Cup 2006 based on the creativity of FC Dallas general manager Michael Hitchcock and his staff, and the success of last year's league final.
Like most major sporting events, the Hoops front office had to submit a bid to the league office to be considered. Hitchcock made a genius move to link the stadium branding partner to the process and had the club's bid sent by way of a Pizza Hut delivery man, with the paperwork and plenty of pizza in hand.
"To us the decision by MLS to bring this game back to Frisco is truly a credit to the unbelievable soccer fans in north Texas who packed this stadium last year for the 2005 MLS Cup," said Hitchcock. "Even though FC Dallas wasn't in the game they came out and provided an unbelievable atmosphere for everyone in the stadium and for the worldwide audience."
Last November, the FC Dallas front office had to work night and day to get Pizza Hut Park into shape in time for the big game. But this time around the stadium will be just over a year old and the front office will be able to concentrate on other things, which should make for an even better MLS Cup 2006.
"This season is all about starting live on ABC on national television against one of our rivals -- the Chicago Fire -- and finishing the season live on ABC on the field against a team to be determined out of the Eastern Conference," said Hitchcock. "We're very proud to have won the bid, we've got our work cut out for us and we will host one of the best if not the best MLS Cup in history."
Pizza Hut Park opened on Aug. 6. Combining a world-class stadium with an extensive sports park, Pizza Hut Park is one of the best and most unique soccer facilities in the world. The complex includes the 20,500-seat stadium, and 17 championship-quality soccer fields located just north of the stadium. The 145-acre site is used more than 300 days a year, hosting MLS matches, U.S. men's and women's national team games, major concerts, international soccer matches and high school sports.
"Speaking for the Hunt Sports Group and FC Dallas, we are most appreciative that Major League Soccer has chosen Frisco and Pizza Hut Park as the location for the 11th MLS Cup," FC Dallas investor/operator Lamar Hunt said. "The 2005 event was an unqualified success with exceptional weather and a standing-room only crowd for the Los Angeles Galaxy-New England Revolution game. The entire Hunt family is very proud to once again help bring this national professional championship event to the Metroplex."
Ticket prices will range from $35 to $150. In early summer all FC Dallas season ticket holders will have first priority on the purchase of MLS Cup 2006 tickets to be followed by a private corporate sale and then a public registration for a random computerized drawing, which will assure fans on a nationwide basis they will have access to 10 percent of the seating capacity of Pizza Hut Park. The public on-sale date will then take place in the early fall for all remaining tickets. More information on MLS Cup 2006 tickets is available by calling 1-888-FCD-GOAL or visiting www.fcdallas.net.
Scott Joiner is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
