Dallas, Texas - Hunt Sports Group President John Wagner announced today that the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center (FSEC) and AEG LIVE, the live-entertainment division of Los Angeles-based Anschutz Entertainment Group, finalized a five-year agreement whereby AEG LIVE, the nation's second largest concert promoter, will be the exclusive music and concert booking agent for FSEC. FSEC will have a concert-configuration capacity of 27,000 seats and is set to open in spring 2005.
"While the main focus of the facility will be on the sport of soccer, the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center will provide an intimate, fan-friendly concert atmosphere," said Wagner. "With AEG LIVE, FSEC can provide the ultimate entertainment experience with the hottest acts and the most unique stadium configuration in the United States."
AEG LIVE expects to present eight to 12 concerts per year at the state-of-the-art outdoor stadium located in Frisco, Texas. FSEC will be the home of FC Dallas and will host a variety of sporting competitions, concerts, tours, and other special events. AEG LIVE's Dallas-based regional office will oversee concert booking activities for the new venue.
"AEG LIVE is totally committed to the Dallas-Fort Worth market as evidenced by our operations at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie. The Frisco Soccer and Entertainment Center will be the state-of-the-art, consumer-friendly large outdoor venue where every seat will be a great seat and the logical extension of our promise to bring the finest quality live entertainment to this vitally important major market," said AEG LIVE Chief Executive Officer Randy Phillips.
"We believe that the new Frisco Soccer and Entertainment Center is ideally positioned to become one of the nation's great live entertainment venues. AEG LIVE looks forward to presenting many memorable concert events for Dallas, Ft Worth and Frisco music fans," said AEG LIVE Chief Strategy Officer Jay Marciano.
The first large-scale soccer facility of its type in the United States, FSEC will include a permanent concert stage in the north end of the stadium. A unique underground truck tunnel leading to the stage area will facilitate the unloading of up to five 18-wheel truck trailers simultaneously. This arrangement will allow touring performers to set up and tear down within a matter of a few hours, enabling FSEC to stage a major concert on Friday night and an FC Dallas soccer match on Saturday. The capability of being able to change from concert to sporting event configuration overnight sets FSEC apart as one of the most versatile and adaptable facilities in the United States. The partnership between FSEC and AEG LIVE will serve as a model for future Major League Soccer stadiums around the country and will make Frisco a highly desirable destination for visitors.
"We're excited about the partnership between Hunt Sports Group and AEG LIVE, which will work together to bring major concerts and sporting events to Frisco," said Mayor of Frisco Mike Simpson. "Hosting such events will not only draw thousands of visitors to our community, it will help Frisco achieve its goals of becoming a 'sustainable city' and a 'destination place."
