The Dallas Cowboys.

FC Dallas.

Home of the Texas Rangers Double A baseball team.

The Dallas Stars practice facility.

The PGA’s headquarters. 

There’s no doubt Frisco has earned its reputation as Sports City USA.

But now, Frisco is about to make its mark in the theme park world as Universal Studios is building a new theme park in Frisco. From Orlando to Los Angeles, Universal Studios stretches from coast to coast. But now, the entertainment giant has made plans to make a theme park in the middle of the country.

“All of you can see why they chose Frisco,” mayor Jeff Cheney said to NBC. “Frisco is known for being family friendly. It’s known for being innovative, being first and leaders and everything. We’ve been named the number one place to raise a family and the number one place in America to live.”

According to the Dallas Morning News, the Orlando-based company acquired 100 acres of land at the Northeast corner of the Tollway and Panther Creek back in December. The announcement comes after decades of speculation that companies, such as Disney, were looking at building a theme park in North Texas. 

“I’m excited to be here, excited to be in Frisco,” CEO of Universal Studios Mark Woodbury said to NBC. “It’s vibrant, it’s full of energy, and it’s full of young families that make it the perfect place to do what we’re doing. So it’s just a rich experience for families to enjoy.”

Frisco’s growing population drew the park to it, and Universal Studios’ arrival will likely boost the city’s tourism industry. 

“I think it’s really exciting and it’s cool that it is coming to Frisco,” junior Anushka Dwivedi said. “However, I think it might increase traffic and that might be concerning.”

The Frisco resort is nearly a fourth of the size of the Florida park, but could still take years to complete, and no official opening day has been given. The resort is aimed at families and younger consumers in the region, so future generations will be able to enjoy the theme park.

“I can have another place to go to besides Stonebriar,” senior Samantha Natividad said. “So I’m really looking forward to that. When I go out of state for college, I can come back to Texas and go to Universal Park.”