The city of Dallas is planning to give $200,000 to Atlético Dallas to lure the new men’s pro soccer team to move its headquarters from Richardson to near Fair Park before its first season in 2027.
Atlético Dallas is part of the United Soccer League Championship and will play home games at the Cotton Bowl.
Under the grant deal announced Friday by city officials, Atlético Dallas will lease 12,000 square feet at 820 Exposition Ave. for its headquarters and a retail shop, plus it will develop a bar/restaurant and street soccer court across the street.
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Atlético Dallas will receive the grant money in three installments tied to creating jobs and investment goals. The team is committing to retaining 12 existing jobs while creating 85 over the next five years, leasing their Exposition Avenue headquarters for at least seven years and spending at least $1.2 million in building improvements, according to a city memo on the agreement from Assistant City Manager Robin Bentley.
The grant deal was authorized by City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in December and doesn’t have to be approved by the City Council, according to Bentley’s memo.
“Relocating our headquarters to Expo Park allows us to put down roots in a historic and culturally significant part of Dallas while creating a true hub for community, creativity, and connection,” Atlético Dallas founder and chairman Matt Valentine said in a statement. “We’re building a place that welcomes fans year-round and reflects our commitment to growing the game and giving back to the city that’s embracing us.”
The Den at Expo Park, the bar and restaurant planned for 827 and 829 Exposition Avenue, will include a 6,000-square-foot indoor space, a 10,000-square-foot patio and beer garden, and a street soccer court.
The street soccer court is set to open in time for the FIFA Men’s World Cup this June, with the bar expected to open later this summer, city officials said. A spokeswoman for Atletico Dallas didn’t respond to a request for comment Friday on when the new headquarters is planned to open.
According to the memo, Atlético Dallas plans to invest $1.35 million in its Dallas headquarters, with most new jobs paying at least $23.06 per hour and averaging $90,000 annually. Around 20% of the new positions must go to Dallas residents, and the team is required to work with Dallas College to provide job training and career opportunities for area students.
To get the grant money, the team has to give the city’s economic development director detailed documentation proving it has met the deal’s requirements, according to the memo.
Atlético Dallas is still searching for a training facility after Garland dropped plans for a proposed $71 million soccer complex in September.