Health & wellness
BY KAREN CHANEY
Men’s and women’s leagues play at Soccer Spectrum.
COURTESY SOCCER SPECTRUM
Soccer camps are held at Soccer Spectrum.
COURTESY SOCCER SPECTRUM
Soccer Spectrum o ers leagues for all ages
When neighbors Wes Pingelton and Steve Barton bought Soccer Spectrum in 2021, the bustling soccer hub founded in 1989 by the Mungioli family, they committed to preserving its spirit while building a sustainable future. Soccer Spectrum boasts leagues for all ages. “Until you lack oxygen; that’s our age range,” Barton said. The details When Pingelton and Barton bought Soccer Spectrum, which Barton called “the soccer mecca for North Texas,” there were many things they didn’t change. However, they prioritized changes that would allow for growth, including building an outdoor turf eld featuring 7-versus-7 elds. “[We] have a waiting list every night,” Pingelton said. “For this to be able to work for us nancially, and build the community that we wanted, we had to have extra space.” Barton credits Pingelton with the vision for the outdoor space. “Wes saw kind of this Katy Trail Ice House meets English Premier soccer inside, outside [facility],” Barton said. What’s happening On weeknights, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., the youth soccer league practices on the outdoor elds. Throughout the day, starting as early as 6 a.m., adult league games are held.
“On most nights, our average age is 35 to 40. You want exercise but you’re not trying to run a mara- thon,” Pingelton said. “This eld is meant for good exercise and lots of goals, which equates to a lot of fun and a good experience.” What else? In addition to a full bar, Soccer Spectrum also has a full kitchen featuring pizzas named after the four founding Mungioli brothers: The Anthony, The Gerald, The Luigi and The Richard. Head Chef Eloy Tejeda, who has worked at Soccer Spectrum for 17 years, comes up with new menu items including a recently added cinnamon dessert pizza. Going forward The business owners’ one year goal is to be hyper-focused on the World Cup. Operations Man- ager Andy Kaasa has connected Soccer Spectrum with the European Chamber of Commerce with the goal of hosting watch party events for fans coming in from European countries. The business owners have been approached by three di erent companies in the last two years about expanding across the country. “If we’re going to do something we want it to be exceptional,” Pingelton said of their ve-year plans. “If the right opportunity came across, we would open up at least one more location.”
The outside patio provides a space for parents during youth leagues.
KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
Pingelton (left) and Barton bought the business in 2021.
KAREN CHANEY COMMUNITY IMPACT
CAMPBELL RD.
DIGITAL DR.
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1251 Digital Drive, Richardson www.soccerspectrum.com
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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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