Dallas’ contract with FC Dallas is “not generating the revenue it wants,” so the city is “moving on” to USL club Atlético Dallas for MoneyGram Soccer Park, according to Devyani Chhetri of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. The anticipated deal to have Atlético Dallas use the Cotton Bowl and MoneyGram Soccer Park “has ruffled feathers.” Dallas City Council’s approval of the deal today would “trigger the termination of the contract with FC Dallas,” which currently manages MoneyGram soccer complex, which holds tournaments, clinics, occasional training sessions and which could be a “potential training site” for the 2026 World Cup. FC Dallas plays at Toyota Stadium and practices at the Toyota Soccer Center. A memo said that once the City Council approves the three-year deal with Atlético Dallas, officials “have to give FC Dallas six months’ notice.” FC Dallas could “still use the fields,” but would need to “rent them” from Atlético Dallas. FC Dallas still has four years left on its contract with the city. FC Dallas COO/CFO Jimmy Smith said the club and city were “in active conversations for negotiating a new deal and an extension” and added that he never thought “this was a formal bid process or there was another path that they were seeking.” The city anticipates generating “a minimum” of $1.2M in revenue over three years with the new deal (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/10).
LOSING MONEY: Dallas’ Park and Recreation Department Dir John Jenkins said that FC Dallas has “cost the city several million dollars in revenue” and grown its youth clubs “at the expense of other leagues wanting to use the 19-field facility.” In Dallas, Robert Wilonsky noted that Dallas Park and Recreation board member Tim Dickey has “long maintained the city’s deal with FC Dallas is ‘one-sided,’ tilted toward the team’s side of the pitch.” In a memo Jenkins sent to the Park Board last week, he detailed that since FC Dallas took over the complex in 2014, Dallas “has incurred $6,932,260 in fees and expenses paid to FC Dallas and in utilities. In return, the City has only earned $766,195 in revenues -- a loss of over $6.1M over the term of the contract.” Smith said the club has put those millions into “contractually approved capital improvements” at MoneyGram Soccer Park. According to the term sheet going to the City Council, new soccer team Atlético Dallas “will pay the city at least” $100,000 annually to run MoneyGram. Smith said via email that FC Dallas “told the city months ago it was willing to renegotiate its deal.” He said that the fact the Park Board never got to hear this proposal, “is really disappointing given our relationship.” Instead, Smith and FC Dallas officials will “make their case to the City Council” today (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/10).
