With excitement building for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup, Dallas College students got a behind-the-scenes look at the growing sports industry in North Texas.
The Office of Intercultural and Global Student Engagement organized a cultural immersion trip on April 24 to Toyota Stadium and the University of North Texas at Frisco, offering students a closer look at both the infrastructure and education driving the region’s athletic growth.
The visit began at Toyota Stadium, the home of FC Dallas and the National Soccer Hall of Fame. While the Hall of Fame offered a deep dive into the history of the sport, the tour focused heavily on the stadium’s future. The facility is currently undergoing a $182 million renovation aimed at modernizing the third-oldest soccer-specific venue in Major League Soccer.
Key highlights of the project include a 6,000-square-foot video board, slated to be the largest in any soccer-specific MLS stadium, and a robust new roof structure designed to provide shade for most of the seating bowl.
The tour guide for the day, Chip Kisabeth, emphasized that these upgrades represent more than just aesthetic changes; they are a total functional overhaul.
“After these renovations are finished, this venue is going to be completely different,” Kisabeth remarked during the tour. “The way fans experience games here is going to be completely transformed.”
The timing of these renovations is critical, as Toyota Stadium has been designated as a primary base camp for the Sweden National Team during next month’s World Cup. The facility will serve as a high-performance “bootcamp” for the Swedish squad as they prepare for high-stakes Group Stage matches, including a highly anticipated clash against Japan right here in Dallas. Students were able to see exactly where international stars will be training as the eyes of the world turn toward North Texas.
Following the stadium tour, the group headed to UNT Frisco to explore the academic side of the industry. The university offers specialized programs designed to prepare students for the competitive landscape of sports and entertainment, specifically through their Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration in Sport Entertainment Management.
The curriculum is grounded in project-based learning where students act as consultants for major clients like the Dallas Cowboys or the Texas Rangers. This hands-on approach allows them to work on real-world marketing campaigns and international brand strategies while building a direct pipeline into the professional sports ecosystem.
By bridging the gap between a world-class training venue and these specialized business degrees, the trip highlighted the diverse workforce pathways available in the field. Whether a student’s interest lies in venue operations, athletic training, coaching, or fan engagement analytics, the visit proved there is a place for them in this booming sector.
As the first whistles of the World Cup approach next month, the experience offered Dallas College students a clearer view of how they could be part of an industry that extends far beyond game day.
