New Texas Soccer Walk of Fame coming in 2019

If you’re like me and you like soccer history, you probably like the National Soccer Hall of Fame being at Toyota Stadium. You also probably like the Texas Soccer Walk of Fame.

There are also probably some of you asking, “What the heck is the Texas Soccer Walk of Fame?”

The Texas Soccer Walk of Fame is a series of monuments that are placed throughout the Toyota Soccer complex on the north side of Toyota Stadium. The monuments are “commemorative markers with plaques recognizing members of the soccer community and key events that have been instrumental in helping build the sport of soccer in Texas.”  You can see a few of them in the pics on this page.

Unfortunately, through no one’s fault, the monuments have fallen victim to Texas weather, minor vandalism, and normal wear and tear by being exposed year-round to the great outdoors and the general public through soccer games and tournaments. Some of them are in pretty bad shape.

The good news is a new Texas Soccer Walk of Fame is coming in 2019.

“We are going to bring it inside the stadium,” said FC Dallas President and Owner Dan Hunt. “We have an area designated inside the stadium. We’ve actually already ordered all the new plaques. So we’re going to pick a game to re-inaugurate it, if you will, this next year.”

Understandably, the National Soccer Hall of Fame was the bigger undertaking but Hunt says he and his brother Clark are invested in the Walk of Fame too. “It’s been something that’s been at the forefront, but as we were trying to figure out the Hall of Fame, to get that right, and then take care of this.”

[The Texas Soccer Walk of Fame] is something my brother and I are very focused on and we already have, like I said, the plaques ordered and the area picked.”

It’s also been quite some time since there has been a new class inducted into the Walk of Fame, the last one coming in 2011. Hunt says that lack of inductions will be remedied and they consider the Walk of Fame part of their family legacy, as well they should since their father was a member of the inaugural class in 2005.

“We’re going to continue to honor the legacy of all those people that have given to the game including our dad who is a member of that. There are so many people that have contributed over time.”

For those of us in the local soccer scene, we know there is a wonderful history of the game in this area. One that should continue to be honored.

“It’s something that we want to have on an annual basis, where we honor a legacy,” Hunt concluded.