A regional group looking to build a large youth soccer complex
has made an offer to buy land in San Benito County, where the group
hopes to build more than 20 soccer fields that would draw
people
– and their money – from across the nation.
Hollister – A regional group looking to build a large youth soccer complex has made an offer to buy land in San Benito County, where the group hopes to build more than 20 soccer fields that would draw people – and their money – from across the nation.
In mid August, the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation made an offer to buy about 170 acres on Highway 25 near Shore Road, according to Dave Morton, the organization’s president. The foundation has yet to hear if the property owner is going to accept the offer. Morton declined to say how much his group offered.
“It’s very close to Highway 101 and there’s services close by within Hollister and Gilroy,” Morton said.
If the sale goes through, the SJSCF hopes to eventually build 24 to 26 fields on the property as well as some permanent buildings, such as concession stands. People from throughout the United States would travel to the soccer complex for youth soccer tournaments for about 45 weekends a year, bringing customers to local restaurants, places of lodging and other businesses that surround the facility, according to Morton.
“I think it would be very positive,” Morton said. “The people visiting the facility would want food services, potential lodging and gasoline.”
Supervisor Don Marcus said he met with Morton several weeks ago and was impressed with the SJSCF, its plans for the soccer complex and the potential that it would have for bringing revenue into the county.
“The organization sounds like it has the experience level needed to create the soccer fields. It sounded to me like a good viable activity for our county,” he said. “I think it will lead to people from outside coming into San Benito County for weekend activities.”
The SJSCF had been trying to come to an agreement to build a soccer complex in Morgan Hill, but Morton said the foundation was unsuccessful, and a deal fell apart in June.
At the time, Morton said that problems with the Morgan Hill site – namely a lack of utilities and not being able to erect permanent buildings – prompted the foundation to look elsewhere for the complex. At the same time, though, Morton expressed his appreciation for the city’s support of the proposed Silicon Valley Soccer Complex.
According to Morton, the SJSCF will continue looking at other potential locations until it hears back from the San Benito County property owner. But, he added, the foundation is very interested in making San Benito County it’s new home because of the size and price of the parcel as well as it’s location.
“This is the first offer we’ve put in,” he said. “We’re pretty focused on the San Benito County parcel.”
The SJSCF, an offshoot of the California Youth Soccer Association North, was formed in 2003 to find a new place for the soccer association to hold games and tournaments. Currently, tournaments are held at a soccer complex in Morgan Hill. But that city plans to convert the facility into an outdoor sports complex that would include baseball, softball and football.
“So we went looking for a new home,” Morton said.
In addition to the property in San Jose and San Benito, the foundation has also looked at properties near Garlic World, just south of Gilroy along Highway 101.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
