Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) has announced plans to introduce Toca Social venues to its shopping centres in Europe.
URW owns and operates 72 shopping centres in 12 countries, including 38 with the Westfield brand, while Toca Social entertainment venues offer soccer-based games.
Toca Social’s first venue debuted at The O2 in London in August 2021 and was followed by another location at Birmingham’s Bullring & Grand Central shopping centre.
The first two venues under the Toca Social and URW partnership are expected to open in 2025 at Westfield London and Westfield CNIT in La Défense, Paris.
“Building off the huge success of Toca Social at London’s O2, we are delighted to partner with URW to bring this one-of-a-kind soccer experience, which transforms the world’s largest sport, to a global audience,” said Erik Anderson, Toca’s co-chairman.
Alex Harman, Toca Social’s president, added: “Our shared commitment to innovation and creating unforgettable experiences will shape the future of how people engage with soccer throughout Europe, the world’s largest soccer market.”
Toca Social is a division of Toca Football, a technology-enabled soccer training and entertainment company. Its other segment is Toca Soccer, which operates soccer training centres across North America.
As previously reported, the new Toca Social at Westfield London will be located in the vacant Debenhams space. It will feature 25 playing boxes for interactive football games and two world-class bars.
Toca Social expansion
Anne-Sophie Sancerre, chief customer and retail officer at URW, said: “Experience-led sectors are growing within our portfolio.
“Our partnership with Toca allows us to bring this innovative, first-ever entertainment concept to continental Europe, continuing to provide the unique experiences which customers expect from Westfield shopping centres.”
Toca Social at The O2 attracted more than 300,000 visitors in 2023.
Images courtesy of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and Toca Football
