TOCA Social’s plans to bring an interactive soccer and dining experience to Dallas’ Design District appear to have stalled.
Despite having slated the opening of its second live entertainment destination for 2023, the proposed site for TOCA Social’s Dallas location at 1313 Riverfront Blvd. appears virtually unchanged, according to WFAA.
While the British company has not yet responded to WFAA’s request for comment, its representatives in the U.S. told the outlet that they had no updates to provide on the project.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, TOCA Social was first launched in London in 2021 and quickly began to draw in more than 25,000 guests each month.
The new location in Dallas was described as a three-story building spanning 56,000 square feet and featuring four separate bars. Each would serve guests world-class drinks inspired by soccer legends like the “Mezzi, Lionel” and top-tier sports-bar-esque cuisine with items like a Nashville hot chicken sandwich and fried pickles on the menu.
TOCA Social’s U.S. Senior Vice President Zach Shor promised last year it would become the “best-in-class food, delicious cocktails, cold beer, and a one-of-a-kind soccer experience … [that would] continue to solidify Dallas as an entertainment and sports mecca in the U.S.,” according to CultureMap Dallas.
The concept gamifies soccer much like Topgolf does golf or Chicken N Pickle does pickleball — both of which have a significant presence in Dallas-Fort Worth.
TOCA Social’s plans for the venue in Dallas included 34 TOCA boxes, which are game-playing areas equipped with game simulator screens. Each box has four modes of play, ranging from novice to TOCA Challenge.
Despite the rosy projections and vibrant renderings submitted to WFAA by TOCA Social, the reality seemingly paints a different picture.
As of July 21, the proposed site of the future entertainment hub remains untouched. The planned second and third-floor additions are absent, and the front aesthetic of the building remains unaltered.
It remains to be seen whether TOCA Social will provide the public with an update on the new Dallas location’s progress.
