DFW Soccer fans already have the FIFA World Cup at AT&T Stadium to look forward to, and now they will get to put their enthusiasm into action.
TOCA Social, an immersive soccer, entertainment, and dining experience suitable for players of all ages and skill levels, is coming to Grandscape in The Colony, according to a press release.
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 refers to the Spanish word for “touch.” It has come to signify “pass me the ball” in the context of soccer in Spain. In Spanish soccer slang, “toca, toca” means “let’s play fast!”
“We are thrilled to open our first American TOCA Social in Dallas,” said Yoshi Maruyama, CEO of TOCA. “Dallas is an amazing market with a deep passion for soccer and entertainment. As a host of the World Cup and building on TOCA’s existing presence and partnership with FC Dallas, it is the perfect location to showcase TOCA Social. Our goal is to create unforgettable experiences that blend soccer, technology, and social entertainment.”
The venue is a collaboration between TOCA Football, the world’s first technology-enabled soccer experience company, and Major League Soccer (MLS).
TOCA currently already operates five TOCA Soccer Centers in the metroplex and has a strategic partnership with local team FC Dallas.
“We are excited to partner with TOCA to bring TOCA Social to the United States,” said Chris Schlosser, MLS SVP of Emerging Ventures. “This innovative concept will provide a unique and interactive experience for our fans, further enhancing their connection to the sport we all love. Our goal is to add innovation to soccer in the U.S. as we prepare for the upcoming World Cup.”
The first TOCA Social venue opened in London in 2021 and quickly began to draw in more than 25,000 guests each month. It was recently named a winner of the 2024 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards. The second venue opened in Birmingham, England, in June. Dallas will be host to the first TOCA Social venue in the U.S., which the partners hope will set the stage for a nationwide expansion.
The new venue was originally set to open in Dallas’ Design District in 2023, but plans stalled, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
It’s an exciting time for soccer in the U.S., with major events coming up, including the CONMEBOL Copa America USA 2024, FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and the FIFA World Cup taking place in 2026.
TOCA Social is expected to open in the summer of 2025.