The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex has secured a significant $500,000 in federal funding, marking a crucial step in its mission to transform previously unused land into a state-of-the-art sports and recreation facility. This funding, awarded by the U.S. Congress, is expected to enhance local youth and family engagement in sports within Monterey County.
Jonathan De Anda, executive director of the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, which oversees the complex, expressed gratitude for the support from Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. He described the funding as a major victory for the community. “This support helps us continue building out high-quality, accessible natural grass fields that promote health, community connection, and opportunity for thousands of residents each week,” De Anda stated.
Expansion Plans and Community Impact
The grant will facilitate the next phase of the complex’s expansion, which aims to position it as the largest sports facility between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Currently, the complex attracts approximately 11,500 users weekly, a figure projected to double to 22,000 upon completion of the full development.
In 2025, the soccer complex hosted a variety of events, including local school activities and soccer training camps, allowing youth to pursue their soccer aspirations. It also served as a venue for the Alianza de Futbol national tournament, which drew thousands of visitors to Salinas, and the inaugural Harvest Cup, fostering community engagement around wellness and philanthropy.
“I was proud to have submitted the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex as one of my community project requests this year, and I’m glad to see this funding coming to Monterey County,” Lofgren commented. “This is a big investment in Salinas’ future as a regional cultural hub, and I am thrilled that Californians of all ages will get to enjoy this complex for generations to come.”
Funding and Future Developments
The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is part of a multi-year, multi-phase capital campaign with a target of $45 million to fully realize its ambitious vision. The project has already secured substantial contributions from various organizations, including the Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Hayward Family Foundation, Taylor Farms, and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation. In addition to the recently announced federal funding, the project also received $250,000 from the Ray Costa family.
Upon completion, the complex will feature extensive facilities, including seven new natural grass soccer fields, a 3,000-seat lighted outdoor stadium with two all-weather fields, and a 40,000-square-foot indoor soccer arena equipped with concessions and classrooms. The expansion plans also include eight beach soccer and volleyball courts, as well as multi-sport courts for pickleball, basketball, and volleyball. To support athletes, the project will provide men’s and women’s locker rooms, bathrooms, and 400 new lighted parking spaces.
Environmental considerations are integral to the development, which includes stormwater upgrades and protections for adjacent wetlands and Gabilan Creek. Recently, the complex celebrated the completion of a six-year soil remediation project, which safely removed arsenic-contaminated soil from the expansion site, an essential step toward creating a safe recreational environment.
According to Luis Alejo, a Monterey County Supervisor, “The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex will expand access to safe, high-quality recreational space for thousands of youths and families in Salinas, while also generating economic activity and strengthening regional pride.” The complex’s ambitious expansion is secured by a 50-year lease on the land, with an option to extend for an additional 40 years, ensuring its sustainability as a community asset for generations to come.
