MLS FC Dallas

FC Dallas and Columbus Crew Honor Lamar Hunt's Legacy with Annual Pioneer Cup Sunday

Published on September 27, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Dallas News Release


FRISCO, Texas (Friday, Sept. 27, 2013) - FC Dallas hosts the Columbus Crew at Toyota Stadium Sunday night in the annual battle for the Pioneer Cup, honoring founder Lamar Hunt. The match, presented by Taco Bell, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and airs live on Time Warner Cable Sports.

Sunday night is also Hispanic Heritage night at Toyota Stadium with former Dallas Maverick and Mexico native Eduardo Najera serving as the honorary pre-game scarfer of the Lamar Hunt statue on the stadium's North Concourse. The scarfing ceremony will happen at approximately 7 p.m. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Najera was only the second NBA player born in Mexico and the first to be drafted. He played five of his 12 NBA seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. Najera is currently head coach of the Texas Legends.

The winner of Sunday's match will claim the Pioneer Cup, a tribute to the late Lamar Hunt, who was the investor and operator of both the Columbus Crew and FC Dallas. Recognized as one of the greatest sports visionaries in American history, Hunt pioneered professional soccer in the United States. In 1967, Hunt became an original investor in the Dallas Tornado Soccer Club, in what was known initially as the United Soccer Association and then the North American Soccer League in 1968. A model franchise during its 14 years, the organization and its legacy of soccer disciples was an early catalyst in the development of the game, placing North Texas at the cutting edge of the American youth soccer market.

The Hunt family once again stepped to the forefront of U.S. soccer in 1996 by becoming a charter investor in Major League Soccer, and became original investor-operators of the charter teams from Columbus (Ohio) and Kansas City. Hunt made his greatest contribution to soccer in this country in 1998-99, when he made pro soccer history by funding the construction of the first soccer-specific stadium in the United States as the Columbus Crew opened their revolutionary facility. In 1999, he was awarded the National Soccer Hall of Fame Medal of Honor and saw the U.S. Open Cup Tournament renamed in his honor.

Single-game tickets start as low as $19. The FC Dallas Raise Your Red 2014 Season Ticket campaign is also in full swing with big benefits for early commitments. For more information on group or season tickets, contact the FC Dallas Front Office at (888) 323-4625 or go to raiseyourred.com .

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