A men's professional soccer team will begin playing at Cotton Bowl Stadium in 2027. Atletico Dallas will join USL Championship which currently has 24 clubs including El Paso Locomotive FC and San Antonio FC in Texas.
Valentine says they wanted to bring professional soccer back to Dallas and "empower kids through sports."
"That's what this is really about," he says. "We have all these kids here, and it's really amazing. Someone asked me what's your measure of success? Probably the most impactful for me would be to see a kid play in our youth club, eventually make it to our professional team and become part of the lure of our club. It's not just for that kid. There are many who can't make it to the professional level. Just becoming a community asset and club for all and to be able to call Dallas our home has always been something that's a top priority."
The club made a $100,000 donation to Dallas' youth soccer program.
"I want to thank Atletico for believing in Dallas, believing that these kids are our future," says Dallas Parks and Recreation Director John Jenkins.
Kids played on the field at the Cotton Bowl during the announcement Tuesday.
"I grew up here watching the Dallas Burn play in this stadium," says Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua. "I remember coming down on the Fourth of July, sitting on the field and watching the fireworks. I'm excited to know the next generation of Dallasites are going to have the same memories and experiences I got to."
Bazaldua says he wanted to emphasize Atletico Dallas would call Dallas "home."
"We've got a lot of teams that don't call Dallas home but like to wear our city's name across their chest," he says. "This is not Atletico Arlington. This is not Atletico Plano. This is Atletico Dallas."
Voters in Dallas approved a $140 million renovation of the Cotton Bowl in 2022. The city expects renovations to be complete before the State Fair of Texas this fall. Construction includes upgrades to suites, wider concourses, larger concessions and restrooms, and new escalators.