Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame nominations now open
FC Dallas Media Relations
FRISCO, Texas -- Pizza Hut Park opened Thursday the public nomination process for the 2009 class of inductees to the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame - a stretch of soccer history at Pizza Hut Park that recognizes members of the soccer community who have been instrumental in helping build the sport in Texas.
Nominations for this year's candidates will be accepted until June 26. Honorees may include former players, coaches, administrators and other contributors to the sport. The official nomination form for the Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame can be found online here.
After June 26, a Nomination Committee, together with finalists from 2005-2008, will review all 2009 nominees and narrow the list of candidates down to three finalists.
Finally, a four-member Selection Committee will then vote to enshrine the inductee(s) for the Class of 2009 Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame. The official enshrinement ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 17, prior to FC Dallas' final regular season home game, against the Colorado Rapids.
NOMINEE CRITERIA
Any coach, player, soccer administrator or other soccer contributor who has made extraordinary contributions to soccer in Texas, which have significantly enhanced and helped the sport grow.
Eligibility
Male and female nominees will be considered. All eligible candidates will be considered whether living or deceased. No person on the Nominating or Selection Committees may be considered for enshrinement.
1. Coach: A coach does not have to be retired to be eligible.
2. Player: A player must be fully retired for at least two years from professional soccer before being eligible for enshrinement. He/she may then be considered for enshrinement in the third year of retirement.
3. Contributors/Administrators: A person is eligible for enshrinement as a contributor or administrator at any time for significant contributions to the game of soccer. What constitutes "significant contributions" shall be determined by the Nominating and/or Selection Committees.
2005 INAUGURAL YEAR INDUCTEES:
Gordon Jago, Bill Kinder, Carla Overbeck, Kyle Rote Jr., Tatu and Lamar Hunt.
2006 INDUCTEES:
Jeff Agoos and Ron Newman.
2007 INDUCTEES:
Kenny Cooper Sr. and Schellas Hyndman.
2008 INDUCTEES:
Neil Cohen and Bobby Moffatt.
ABOUT THE TEXANS CREDIT UNION WALK OF FAME
The Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame is a stretch of soccer history at Pizza Hut Park that spans approximately 1,400 linear feet and includes commemorative markers with plaques recognizing members of the soccer community and key events that have been instrumental in helping build the sport of soccer in Texas. Situated just north of the Pizza Hut Park stadium, this unique landmark is not only a tribute to those who have dedicated much of their lives to the sport of soccer, but is also a point of historical interest for all fans visiting the facility.
About Pizza Hut Park
Opened on August 6, 2005, Pizza Hut Park is a 145-acre multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility located at the intersection of Main Street and the Dallas North Tollway in Frisco, TX, and is home to FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. The stadium has a capacity of 20,500 fans for sporting events and can expand to accommodate over 27,000 for concerts by utilizing field seats. The facility includes 17 tournament-grade fields used for youth and adult soccer, as well as high school sports and other events, drawing millions of visitors since opening. The $105 million public-private complex is owned by the City of Frisco in partnership with the Hunt Sports Group (HSG), the Frisco Independent School District, and Collin County. In November 2006, Pizza Hut Park was recognized as the first "Green" professional sports stadium in Texas after administering a formal recycling plan.
