Watch History Unfold in Sports City USA

The people of Frisco are innovative, passionate, and dedicated to their crafts. No where is this more apparent than in the city’s larger-than-life sports industry, where the famous Texas grit and tenacious spirit takes center stage. Picture world-class organizations like the Dallas Cowboys and the PGA of America; these mammoths didn’t just appear here. It took a team of people galvanized on a single goal, to make Frisco Sports City USA, working together to bring the vision to fruition. Frisco today attracts top-tier sports talent, businesses, professionals, and events thanks to key players working towards a shared objective. But not that long ago, iconic locations like Riders Field were simply corn fields and cow pastures. How did Frisco become a leader in North America’s sports landscape? It’s a story better told on the big screen.

Sports City USA Brought to Life 

It’s a big story, but Frisco tackled it like every other endeavor they’ve taken on -  together. To paint the picture, a complete series was created telling the story of Frisco’s endeavor to earn the title of Sports City USA. “Where Greatness Grows: The Story of Sports City USA” is a seven part series that looks at everything from the humble beginnings of pastureland and pie-in-the-sky dreams to becoming the Dallas Cowboys headquarters and hosting international events. With the run-time of each episode being under four minutes, you can learn a lot in a short amount of time.

Big Names, Big Titles, Big Dreams

If you don’t already know them, you sure have seen their work! These big names call Frisco homebase and spend their time and energy creating the Frisco we see today and are actively shaping the sport-centered Frisco of the future. They’ll be telling you all about their journeys throughout the series. 

• George Purefoy, First City Manager, City of Frisco
• Mike Simpson, Former Mayor, City of Frisco
• Steve Walsh, Former Parks & Recreation Assistant Director, City of Frisco 
• Tim Goodwin, Former Manager, Superdrome  Dan Hunt, President, FC Dallas 
• Beckie Thomas, Owner/Operator, Kurt Thomas Gymnastics 
• Mike McCall, Former President & General Manager, Frisco RoughRiders  
• Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner, Dallas Cowboys  
• Ron Patterson, Former Assistant City Manager, City of Frisco 
• Dude Perfect, Sport and Comedy Group 
• Jeff Allen, Retired NFL Player, Co-Founder of Cookie Society 
• Varish Karri, U13 Badminton Player, Team USA 
• Grace Cronin, Golfer, Panther Creek High School 
• Jason Mengel, Championship Director, PGA of America  
• Derek Sprague, CEO, PGA of America

The Episodes

Ep. #1: The Rookie

“Is there anything in Frisco?” This was a common question before George Purefoy, the first city manager of Frisco, was asked to help define and make Frisco’s wildest dreams come true. Sports was the answer. A cast of founding characters described the early days and the seemingly far-fetched idea of developing Frisco’s sports scene into the hub it is today.

Ep. #2: The Original

The velodrome set the scene. Elite level from the start, hosting events like national championships and Olympic trials, this cycling venue showed Frisco the meaning of partnership and longevity. Tim Goodwin, former manager of the Frisco Superdrome, and Steve Walsh, former Parks & Recreation assistant director, talk about the impact the Superdrome had on future plans for the city.

Ep. #3: The Building Blocks

The Frisco RoughRiders might have been the first sports team in Frisco, but they weren’t alone for long. In 2005, FC Dallas moved to Frisco and brought America’s premier soccer stadium. As Toyota Stadium, the home of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, undergoes a $182-million renovation, Dan Hunt,​​ president of FC Dallas, Beckie Thomas, owner and operator of Kurt Thomas Gymnastics, and Mike McCall, former president and general manager of the Frisco RoughRiders talk about community, growth, and the value of working together.

Ep. 4: The Next Level 

The Dallas Cowboys put their stamp of approval on Frisco with a big move to the city. Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and Ron Patterson, former assistant city manager of the City of Frisco, walk through the process of moving America’s team to Frisco and who got the honor of being the first to play on their new field.

Ep. 5: The Ecosystem

It’s bigger than just the teams; sports have brought economic prosperity and breakthrough industries to the forefront of the Frisco landscape. Sports and trick shot group Dude Perfect and retired NFL offensive lineman and owner of Cookie Society, Jeff Allen, talk about why they chose Frisco to set up their businesses, the community support they've received, and the benefits of being business owners in the area.

Ep. 6: The Rising Stars 

Did you know Frisco was voted the best city to raise a young athlete in the United States? It’s not hard to see why, especially with institutions like the PGA of America setting up world-class facilities right here for golfers at all stages in their career to take advantage of. There’s no minimum age requirement to receive the best training, mentorship, and practice areas when in Frisco. Varish Karri, one of the top-ranked U13 Badminton players in the United States, and Grace Cronin, a competitive golfer and student at Panther Creek High School, tell us about all the open doors they've been able to take advantage of being a member of the local sports community.

Ep. 7: The Future of Sports City USA 

When it comes to sports, it’s happening in Frisco. Being Sports City USA means all members of this vast community work together for the betterment of the whole. Big things are happening in Frisco, and Jason Mengel, the championship director of PGA of America and Derek Sprague, CEO of PGA America, explain what's on the horizon. 

Frisco is Sports City USA

Frisco, Texas is the past, present, and future of sport and sport innovation in the United States of America. They’re proud, loud, and ready for all to join in on the fun and become part of the community. Learn more about Sports City USA and watch the documentary now!