DALLAS - The Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center announced Tuesday that Texans Credit Union has become a Signature Partner of the facility, and will be the title sponsor of the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame, which will be located in the heart of the facility and will recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the sport of soccer in Texas over the past decades.
Texans Credit Union will become the exclusive banking and financial partner of the facility, as well as the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer and the North Texas State Soccer Association, for a ten-year period, beginning in 2005. Texans Credit Union will also be the title sponsor of the West Gate Entrance to the stadium, and will provide ATM's both in the stadium and the soccer park. Additionally, they will receive integrated branding throughout the facility, and will work with both the Dallas Burn and the North Texas State Soccer Association to develop traffic-driving promotions.
"Texans Credit Union has been a respected member of our community for over fifty years, and is a perfect fit to be the title sponsor of what will truly be a unique landmark within the facility - the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame" commented Greg Elliott, President and General Manager of the Dallas Burn and who will also manage the complex. "Texans Credit Union is a vibrant, growing institution which provides services for much of our current and anticipated fan base, making this partnership extremely synergistic from all perspectives."
The Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame will consist of an esplanade located north of the stadium and running directly north through the center of the soccer fields located south of Technology Drive. Various commemorative plaques will be located within this area, recognizing members of the soccer community who have been instrumental in building the sport of soccer in Texas. It is expected a small, inaugural class will be inducted into the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame in 2005, with additional groups to be honored annually in future years. This landmark will not only be a tribute to those who have dedicated much of their lives to the sport, but will also be a point of interest for fans visiting the facility. Additional information regarding the process to determine those who will be honored will be released at a later date. It is expected that honorees will include former players, coaches, and other soccer dignitaries and administrators. An annual induction ceremony will also be part of the enshrinement process.
"The Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame will honor those who have played a significant part in Texas soccer history," said Lamar Hunt, Chairman of Hunt Sports Group and one of the founders of Major League Soccer. "We are especially pleased that Texans Credit Union will play an important part in that place of honor."
"We realize the importance of taking an active role in promoting sporting activities in the community. Soccer is such a popular family sport and we are a family-friendly credit union, so this partnership is a perfect fit for us, said David Addison, President/CEO of Texans Credit Union. "This new state-of-the-art facility provides a perfect venue for all types of family events and we are proud to be a part of it."
The Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer, who will announce a new team name and logo on Aug. 12, will play their home schedule at the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center beginning in the spring of 2005. Located at the intersection of Main Street and the North Dallas Toll Road in Frisco, this initiative was made possible by an innovative public private partnership between the Hunt Sports Group, the City of Frisco and its Economic and Community Development Corporations, as well as Collin County and the Frisco Independent School District. The 117-acre facility will feature a 20,000 seat soccer stadium, accommodating all Dallas Burn MLS matches, major concerts, international soccer matches and high school football. Adjacent to the stadium will be 17 regulation-size, tournament-grade soccer fields which will be utilized on a year-round basis, making the Center the focal point of youth and adult soccer in North Texas as well as the future destination of many of the most prestigious local, regional, national and international competitions. An estimated 1.4 million spectators and participants are expected to visit the facility annually.
"We are very excited about the addition of Texans Credit Union to the growing North Texas Soccer family," said John Sutter, President of North Texas Soccer Association. "Texans Credit Union and North Texas Soccer share the same vision of improving the recreational enjoyment of families in North Texas and we look to partner in future endeavors that will expand our members' opportunities in the sport of soccer."
Texans Credit Union is a Texas-based, member-owned, non--profit financial cooperative with 25 branches in North Texas, Austin and Houston. Texans provides financial products and services to 160,000 members and has assets of $1.3 billion. Visit Texans website at www.texanscu.org for more information.
North Texas Soccer is the largest joint youth and adult soccer association in the United States, representing 145,000 youth players, 24,000 adult players, 40,000 indoor players, 25,000 coaches, 6,600 referees, and over 1,300 administrators. Including member spouses and parents, the North Texas Soccer family is estimated to be at least 500,000 strong.
For more information, contact John Alper with the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center at (214) 777-0216, David Addison with Texans Credit Union at (972)348-2000, John Sutter with the North Texas State Soccer Association at (972) 323-1323, or Randy Bernstein, the exclusive commercial sales representative for the Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center, at (310) 551-1777 x.11. Bernstein headquarters in California where he is also the CEO of Premier Partnerships.
