Landmark Partnership Brings Mexican National Team to AT&T Stadium

By Office of Communication

Posted on November 28, 2018, November 28, 2018

From left to right are SUM Sr. Vice President of Properties and Events, Camilo Durana; Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President/Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Jerry Jones, Jr.; FMF Secretary General Gilberto Hernandez; FC Dallas COO Jimmy Smith; Dallas Sports Commission Executive Director Monica Paul. Photo Credit: Kelly Alexander

The Dallas Cowboys, Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, MLS' FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission announced today a landmark sports partnership that will bring the popular Mexican National Team U.S. Tour to North Texas through 2022.

The agreement, facilitated by FMF's U.S. partner for the past 16 years, Soccer United Marketing , was made public today at a news conference in Arlington that included FMF General Secretary Gilberto Hernandez and Cowboys Executive Vice President/Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Jerry Jones Jr. Under the partnership, North Texas will play host to an annual match of the Mexican National Team for the next four years at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, starting with a match on June 9, 2019, just days before the start of the 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup. Tickets for the June game will go on sale at 10 a.m. Dec. 11 via MexTour.org or SeatGeek.com. The opponent and kickoff time will be announced at a later time.

As part of the new partnership, the following initiatives will be implemented:

• The North Texas region will highlight its soccer growth and showcase their state-of-the-art world-class facilities across multiple fan facing events
• In conjunction with the Dallas Sports Commission, Mexico will participate in local community initiatives geared towards growing the sport and promoting the region's blooming Hispanic population (including a bilingual childhood reading program)
• Events will be hosted throughout Dallas/Fort Worth all year long, culminating with a celebration of the sport and its culture at a fan-fest in downtown Dallas before each match
• AT&T Stadium will build cross-promotional opportunities between its initiatives and the FMF, including integration of athlete messages into its annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration Dallas Cowboys game
• FC Dallas will stage watch parties for out-of-market Mexico matches to build excitement for the annual AT&T Stadium match. The MLS club will also participate in youth clinics and community initiatives

"With the Dallas Cowboys fan base in Mexico, and the Mexican National Team being one of the most popular teams here in North Texas, we are excited for the opportunity to host Mexico at AT&T Stadium for years to come," said Jerry Jones Jr. "We are thrilled to continue to engage these incredibly passionate fan bases with two premiere sports brands at one the best stadiums in the world."

Since opening in 2009, AT&T Stadium and North Texas has become a second home for the Mexican National Team; el Tricolor have played seven games at the Cowboys' home - a facility Mexico inaugurated - and have enjoyed a winning record of 5-1-1. The squad last played in Arlington against Croatia as part of its 2018 U.S. Tour.

"We are very pleased to enter into this partnership, not only for the opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas with important colleagues in the sports industry, but also for the chance to bring the Mexican National Team closer to its fan base, which for years has demonstrated its passion and commitment to the team," said Gilberto Hernandez.

"Soccer United Marketing is proud to facilitate this multi-year partnership between the Dallas Cowboys, the Federación Mexicana de Fútbol, FC Dallas, and the Dallas Sports Commission," said Gary Stevenson, President and Managing Director, MLS Business Ventures. "This unique relationship will elevate soccer's popularity to even higher levels in North America and create new opportunities to celebrate the sport and its unique culture in a perennial sports and entertainment hub. We're thrilled to work with partners committed to advancing the game, growing participation, giving back to the community, and providing unparalleled soccer experiences."

"Mexico has such a large fan base in Dallas/Fort Worth," said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. "We're thrilled to help host the team and further establish the region as the premier home for soccer fans from around the world."

"We look forward to welcoming the Mexican National Team to Dallas and North Texas over the next four years as their home away from home as we further expand the impact of soccer here locally," said Monica Paul, Executive Director of the Dallas Sports Commission. "Whether it be through the fan fest, reading programs, and other community initiatives, we are excited about the opportunity to celebrate the culture and sport of soccer as we continue our quest to be a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city."

The annual #MexTour has become one of the most popular sporting events in the country, with an average of approximately 50,000 fans per game throughout the years. With nearly 85 games played since 2002, the Mexican National Team has utilized the matches to reach its fervent fan base across North America and prepare for important competitions like the FIFA World Cup and Concacaf Gold Cup.

More than a 90-minute game, each tour stop is a week-long celebration of the sport, featuring public and media events, and culminating on gameday outside the stadium with the AT&T Futbol Fiesta, a 120,000+ sq. ft. interactive fan area featuring sponsor booths, food, music, and autograph sessions by Mexican soccer legends.