The next stop in our ‘Residence’ series sees us arrive in Texas, and USL side San Antonio FC’s home ground, Toyota Fields. While it’s well known that Texans love their football, ‘soccer’ has not always been as high on the agenda, but this could be set to change if plans pan out.
Originally home to the San Antonio Scorpions, the current occupants of Toyota Fields, USL franchise San Antonio FC moved in in 2016 following the dissolution of the former. Currently in phase one of a potential three phase development, the stadium boasts a current capacity of just over 8000, including 16 private suites. But envious eyes will no doubt be cast over the field-level beer garden that can entertain over 200 fans, with tiered table and chair seating as close as 15 feet behind the south goal. British ground designers take note…
If plans go ahead, then the next two phases of development could see the stadium expanded to over 18,000 seats, with 9,000 of the new seats on a new upper tier that would create a bowl-like configuration around the playing field.
The stadium has been designed to reflect the industrial heritage of the historic Longhorn Quarry, in which the stadium has been constructed. The metal façades and the metal roof canopy that extends over the west side suite balconies and stadium seating together amplify the crowd noise, creating an atmosphere that often defies the numbers present. The permanent west side roof canopy combined with lower bowl stadium seating that starts only 17 feet from the touchlines gives Toyota Field an intimate feel, a quality that the club would no doubt be keen to retain with the planned future expansion phases.
Photography by Tim Laielli for SoccerBible