Big step approved for new soccer complex in Salinas

With Monterey County’s growing population, finding a place to play soccer isn’t always easy. But a new lease agreement could make Salinas a soccer hub in just a few years.

As many of us know, people in Monterey County and the surrounding areas love playing soccer. but with all the leagues and clubs in the area, teams sometimes find themselves fighting to reserve a field.

But that all will change in a few years now that it was announced today the Monterey County Board of Supervisors have finalized a lease agreement for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. The new 42-acre complex will sit adjacent to the existing 26-acres of soccer fields off Constitution Boulevard, and is expected to create nine or ten brand new fields. Supervisor Luis Alejo says there will be many benefits to having the new fields.

“It’s gonna bring familes out, it’s gonna provide coaches more opportunities to mentor young people. But certainly getting young people to exercise and stay busy after school, not get in trouble.I think that’s going to be something we can all rally behind in these next couple years,” said District One Supervisor Luis Alejo.

The final approval will now allow the local non-profit organization, the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, to initiate fundraising efforts to pay for the first phase of the project. That’s the phase that will create the nine or ten new fields. Phase two is expected to see a two-thousand person open stadium with artificial turf.

As mentioned, this first big step to move forward with the project will now allow the future manager of the complex, the Salinas Regional Sports Authority to fundraise for phase one. With that being said, there’s no current time table on when the complex will begin construction or be completed, but we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.