Image featured is not of the current park in Frisco.
In a move that has sparked excitement across Texas and beyond, Universal Studios announced that they are bringing a new entertainment park to Frisco, Texas. This unprecedented development has the potential to reshape Frisco’s economy, infrastructure, and tourism industry. Here’s a deep dive into what this means for the city, backed by data and projections.
Why Frisco?
Frisco, once a quiet suburb north of Dallas, has evolved into a booming epicenter of growth. With its population doubling from 116,989 in 2010 to over 215,000 by 2024, the city has attracted major corporations, sports venues, and now one of the world’s most recognized entertainment brands.
Universal’s choice of Frisco over other locations is rooted in several key factors:
Demographic Growth: Frisco’s population growth rate of approximately 4% per year since 2015 positions it as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. This provides Universal Studios with a substantial, ready-made local audience.
Affluence: Frisco’s median household income of $131,989 (nearly double the national average of $70,784) suggests a population with significant disposable income, which is critical for entertainment and leisure markets.
Tourism Potential: With Frisco already home to destinations like the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters (The Star), PGA Headquarters, and the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Universal’s park adds another anchor for Frisco’s tourism industry. Over 5 million visitors are expected annually from both within Texas and neighboring states, according to projections from Visit Frisco.
The Universal Studios Park Plan
The new park in Frisco won’t be a traditional large-scale Universal Studios theme park like the ones in Orlando or Hollywood. Instead, this project is billed as a family-focused, smaller-scale experience, geared toward younger children. This marks a strategic shift for Universal, as they explore more intimate park designs tailored for specific demographics.