An exciting new venue designed for both soccer lovers and haters alike is headed for Dallas’s Design District.
TOCA Social will open its first U.S. location in Dallas at 1313 N Riverfront Blvd. The existing warehouse building is around 37,000 square feet, but two additional levels are in the works by TOCA and landlord Ewing Properties Texas. When all is said and done, the renovated 3-floor design concept will stand at 56,000 square feet.
The historic Tin Man Tower will be maintained and incorporated into the two top floors that will also feature huge decks, allowing TOCA guests to enjoy the sublime Dallas skyline.
“We have worked closely with Ewing Properties and Ed Ewing since 2018 to find the right concept to meet Ed’s vision of a landmark venue that would help take the growing Design District to new heights. After considering and turning down several prospects, we see TOCA Social as a game-changer – no pun intended,” Matthew Rosenfeld of Weitzman said in a statement. Rosenfeld, along with nh, represented Ewing Properties in the lease transaction.
Ewing called the forthcoming arrival of TOCA Social a “significant investment” in the Design District that will hopefully bring families and more energy to the area to change its dynamics.
Billed as “the world’s first interactive and socially competitive soccer entertainment experience,” TOCA comes from a Spanish term meaning to touch or to play. And the fairly new social concept allows guests to do just that, combining gaming with multiple bars and dining options. Guests will be able to enjoy “world-class” cuisine from a UK-based Michelin-trained chef while taking turns showing off their soccer skills (or lack thereof) in immersive target-game “TOCA boxes.”
“It’s pretty undeniable to everybody that Dallas is becoming an entertainment hub, a sport hub, a tech and growth hub,” Zach Shor, SVP of TOCA Social US, told Dallas Innovates in a statement. “We have a bunch of other entertainment concepts that are based here. We really wanted to be a part of that story and continue to push that narrative for the city.”
The first level will hold 27 TOCA boxes and a main bar. It will also have a “Willy Wonka meets Snoop Dogg” designed dessert bar called Sweet Finish.
The second level will hold seven TOCA boxes and a 5,000-square-foot outdoor patio.
The third level will feature a climate-controlled experience bar.
Founded by Eddie Lewis, a two-time US World Cup and former MLS and English Premier League midfielder, TOCA Social is apart of California-based TOCA Football which currently operates 15 TOCA Sport soccer training centers in the States and Canada. The brand is aiming to have over 50 TOCA Sport soccer training centers and five TOCA Social soccer entertainment venues by the end of 2023.
“TOCA experiences are all about enjoying soccer regardless of your skill level and TOCA Social takes that a step further by offering a fun, social environment in addition to gamifying soccer in a new and casual way,” Erik Anderson, TOCA co-chairman, said in a statement. “We’ve seen great success with TOCA Social in the U.K. and look forward to keeping that momentum going here in the United States.”
The first TOCA Social opened in London’s The O2 in August 2021. The Dallas venue is set to open in 2023.
