Hallelujah!
That was the reaction of the Free Lance editorial board upon
learning that the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation has made an
offer to buy 170 acres on Highway 25 near Shore Road.
While the deal has not been completed, this is the most
promising project our county has seen in a while.
Hallelujah!
That was the reaction of the Free Lance editorial board upon learning that the San Jose Soccer Complex Foundation has made an offer to buy 170 acres on Highway 25 near Shore Road.
While the deal has not been completed, this is the most promising project our county has seen in a while. The foundation – an offshoot of the California Youth Soccer Association North – wants to build between 24 and 26 soccer fields on the property along with some permanent buildings such as concession stands. Once it’s done, the complex would host games and tournaments that, President Dave Morton said, would bring people from all across the country to San Benito County for 45 weekends per year.
That means 45 weekends that soccer fans, players and parents would spend money locally on gas, lodging and food. In other words, this project would not just be about sports; It’s would also be about positive economic development. And, in a county desperate to draw tourists and jobs and to create a flow of money into the local economy, this is a project we should seize on.
“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,” Supervisor Don Marcus said. “I think it will lead to people from outside coming into San Benito County for weekend activities.”
And for once, Santa Clara County’s loss can be our gain. The opportunity to land the Silicon Valley Soccer Complex, as it’s being called, is coming about because the foundation is having problems getting a permanent site near Morgan Hill. That presents us with a chance to draw Santa Clara County residents’ money into our county – a welcome reversal.
Still, though Morton says the group is focused on the San Benito property because of its size and price, the deal is not done. So, we’d like to see our county supervisors get actively involved in making this project happen by helping the foundation secure the property and working to make sure that necessary road improvements to Highway 25 are ordered and paid for.
A soccer complex is a project that, unlike the proposed casino, is a good fit for our community. It would not only give locals more opportunities for healthy fun, but in drawing people and commerce to the area it would become a piece of a healthy San Benito County economy. Truly a win-win situation.
