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FC Dallas Team Formation
In March 2005, FC Dallas signed Guatemalan forward Carlos Ruiz, who had scored 50 goals in 72 games for the Galaxy and earned the MVP award for helping them to the 2002 MLS Cup. On August 6, FC Dallas played their inaugural game at Pizza Hut Park and tied the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, 2–2. Ranked second in the West behind the San Jose Earthquakes, Dallas returned to the playoffs for the first time in two seasons, losing in the conference semifinals to Colorado in a penalty kick shootout, with Roberto Miña’s attempt saved by Joe Cannon. In 2006, the team finished the regular season at the top of the Western Conference, but lost in the playoffs in the conference semifinals again, leading to Clarke’s dismissal. He was replaced by Steve Morrow. In 2007, a third consecutive playoff appearance ended at the same stage with a 4–2 aggregate defeat to fellow Texas club, the Houston Dynamo, who would go on to win their second consecutive MLS Cup. In 2005 and 2007, Dallas reached its first two U.S. Open Cup finals since its 1997 victory, losing both by one-goal margins to the Galaxy and the New England Revolution respectively. For the following two seasons, Dallas missed the MLS playoffs. During the 2008 season, Morrow was replaced by Schellas Hyndman. In 2009, the club signed Bryan Leyva as the club’s first Homegrown Player from its development academy.
Dallas plays its home games at their 20,500-capacity soccer-specific Toyota Stadium, where they have played since 2005. In the club’s early years, Dallas played their home games in the Cotton Bowl. The team is owned by the Hunt Sports Group led by brothers Clark Hunt and Dan Hunt, who is the team’s president. The Hunt family also owns the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and part of the Chicago Bulls.
FC Dallas in 2016 won their first Supporters’ Shield. In 2010 they were runners-up in the MLS Cup, losing to the Colorado Rapids in extra time. The team has won the U.S. Open Cup on two occasions (in 1997 and again in 2016). Their fully owned USL affiliate, North Texas SC, won the 2019 USL League One regular season and overall championship titles, the third division title in American soccer.
Established
1995
City
Dallas
League History
1996 – Present / Major League Soccer
Team History
2005 – Present / FC Dallas
1995 – 2004 / Dallas Burn
Nickname
FC Dallas – In August, club owner Lamar Hunt announced that the club, would be re-branded and known as “FC Dallas” to coincide with their new soccer-specific stadium in Frisco for the 2005 season. Lamar Hunt explained that he would like to see his club take on a name more synonymous with the sport of soccer worldwide.
Championship
MLS Cups 0
Stadium
2005 – Present / Toyota Stadium
2003 / Dragon Stadium
1996 – 2002, 2004 – 2005 / Cotton Bowl
Owner
2006 – Present / Clark Hunt
2001 – 2006 / Lamar Hunt
1995 – 2001 / Major League Soccer
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history