The interior of the new East Side Club is seen at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
FRISCO — FC Dallas will return to Toyota Stadium on Saturday for the first time in three months, and fans walking through the gates to watch the match against Sporting Kansas City will quickly realize the venue they left behind in May is not the same one they’re stepping into now.
After a long stretch of road games and thousands of miles traveled, the club comes home to a dramatically reimagined East Side — an ambitious renovation that reshapes both the physical space and the atmosphere of the matchday experience.
The centerpiece of this transformation is the new East Side Club, a 12,000‑square‑foot premium space designed to elevate fan enjoyment beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch.
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High‑top tables, wide semi‑circular sofas, an exclusive kitchen, big screens positioned throughout the room, shuffleboard, pinball machines, mini‑football tables, vaulted ceilings and columns wrapped in smoked‑mirror finishes create an atmosphere that blends comfort, modern design and entertainment.
“This is a luxury premium experience that you probably don’t see in almost any stadium anywhere in the world in soccer,” said FC Dallas president Dan Hunt, underscoring the ambition behind the project.
The new East Side Club is seen at the right at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Dan Hunt, president and co-owner of FC Dallas, tastes the food samples at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A view from the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium is seen, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Food displays are seen at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Toyota Stadium Executive Chef Erika Dabney poses for a photo with food displays at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A plate of Ultimate Short Rib Nacho is displayed at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club and the food, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A plate of Harvest Salad is displayed at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club and the food, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
“ 12 Hour Smoked Brisket,” is displayed at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club and the food, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A plate of Smash Burger with Double Cheese is displayed at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club and the food, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A plate of churros is displayed at the new East Side Club at Toyota Stadium, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, during a media preview of the new premium club and the food, in Frisco.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Outside the club, fans will find 1,800 brand‑new red seats with soft‑fabric backs, replacing older seating and adding a fresh visual identity to the section. Most of these seats are reserved for season‑ticket holders, but there are still spots available for Saturday’s match. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand, reflecting the premium nature of the renovated area.
The infrastructure upgrades extend beyond seating. The roof over the East Side is now fully completed, and from it hangs a modern sound system designed to enhance the stadium’s acoustics. The old lighting towers — once a defining feature of Toyota Stadium — have been removed and replaced with a state‑of‑the‑art illumination system.
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The new lights, installed strategically beneath the roof, offer spectators a clearer, sharper view of the action on the field. It’s a change that benefits fans, players and broadcasters alike.
“We have the opportunity to create an elevated experience for our fans,” said FC Dallas CFO Jimmy Smith.
He noted that the Dallas‑Fort Worth sports market is competitive, with other teams offering high‑end venues and immersive experiences.
“One thing we see, especially in our market with other sports teams,” Smith said, “is that those venues create an unbelievable experience for fans. And I think that’s what this new East Side Club does for our fans.”
The transformation isn’t limited to architecture and amenities. Fans will also encounter a revamped culinary lineup at the renovated concession stands.
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The new menu includes, among others, birria nachos, double‑cheese smash burgers, spicy jalapeño brisket sandwiches, Filipino pork nachos, harvest salad, and caramel‑stuffed churros — items designed to bring creativity and flavor to matchday dining. It’s a shift toward a more diverse and elevated food experience, aligning with the club’s broader push to modernize the stadium.
The opening of the East Side Club comes at a pivotal moment for FC Dallas. The team has spent weeks flying across the country, playing 11 straight matches away from home, a grueling stretch that tested its endurance and depth.
Despite the demanding schedule, the club returns to Frisco in strong form. FC Dallas sits in a playoff position, fifth in the Western Conference with 34 points.
“Winning is still the most important thing,” Hunt said. “I think you see our commitment that winning matters here.”
To illustrate that commitment, Hunt pointed to the presence of Petar Musa, the Croatian striker who has become the team’s offensive engine. Musa has scored 16 goals this season, just two behind league leader Lionel Messi, who has 18. The club, Hunt said, is working with Musa and his agent on a long‑term contract that would keep him in Frisco for years to come.
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“We had a lot of opportunities for Musa to leave us this summer. And that was just something we were not interested in. Winning matters, and that’s why we didn’t want to have any outbound transfer business in a big way,” Hunt explained.
The East Side Club and the broader Toyota Stadium upgrades are part of a full‑venue renovation scheduled for completion in early 2028. The initial cost of the project was $183 million, but Hunt said the total is now “well north of 215,000,220 million,” reflecting the scale and ambition of the improvements.
“Look, the truth of it is this. My brother (Clark) and I get one shot at doing this right and leaving a lasting legacy for soccer fans. For fans of FC Dallas, for the City of Frisco, for North Texas, and we’re financially committed to do that because this is something that will last for generations,” Hunt said.
Some might wonder whether such a high‑end experience could distract fans from the match itself. Smith doesn’t see it that way.
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“I think they go hand in hand. People want to have an experience and enjoy what’s on the field and what’s off the field. And I think that’s what this does,” he said. “This team is different than it was 20 years ago. And now, this stadium is different than it was 20 years ago.”