$70 Million Pro Soccer Stadium Near Dallas to Lure Development

A suburb northeast of Dallas may soon be home to a pro soccer field.

Garland is considering a $70 million public investment in a soccer complex, the Dallas Business Journal reported. Officials aim to lure a United Soccer League franchise while opening the door for long-term mixed-use development.

Plans for the complex call for up to eight soccer fields, a 28,000-square-foot multipurpose building and significant infrastructure upgrades across 65 acres at the intersection of President George Bush Turnpike and Holford Road.

While officials didn’t name the team directly, renderings prominently featured the crest of Atlético Dallas, a new USL Championship club expected to begin play in Garland in 2027.

City leaders say the facility would serve as a home field and training ground for the team, as well as a base for a youth academy and regional tournament play. Assistant City Manager Andy Hesser said the project is part of a strategy to secure a long-term, two-decade agreement with the club and “catalyze development” in the surrounding area.

The proposed financing includes $25 million for the fields, $20 million for the multipurpose building and $26 million for road improvements and a planned extension of Naaman Forest Boulevard. The club would lease the complex from the city under a 20-year agreement with an annual rent of $75,000 for the fields with a 2.5 percent annual escalation. For the building, the rent would be $350,000 a year, plus 10 percent of net sponsorship revenue or $50,000, whichever is greater.

The team would also be required to maintain and update the facility through an annual city-approved plan.

Beyond soccer, the proposal includes a 14-acre site reserved for potential mixed-use development. While still conceptual, officials floated uses such as a hotel, retail or multifamily housing, hinting at a longer-term vision to convert the complex into a broader destination hub.

— Judah Duke