Formal talks to start for Modesto stadium with professional men’s, women’s soccer
Modesto will hold formal negotiations with the United Soccer League to bring a men’s and a women’s professional team here and build a stadium seating at least 5,000 spectators.
City Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved a letter of intent with the USL for 12 months of exclusive negotiations to bring soccer to the region. The negotiations can be extended for an additional six months.
The proposed stadium could be expanded to at least 10,000 seats and would also be a venue for concerts, festivals, trade shows and similar events. The negotiations will include discussions about development surrounding the stadium, such as housing, restaurants and stores.
The negotiations will include potential sites and designs for a stadium, who would own and manage it and how it would be financed, including public and private financing.
The letter of intent does not obligate the city to do anything more than hold talks with the United Soccer League. The reality of a stadium being built and professional soccer being played here is at least a few years away and would require a series of steps and council approvals.
Council members on Tuesday were excited about the possibility of a new stadium and professional soccer. “This is really an exciting opportunity for Modesto,” Councilman Chris Ricci said. “Modesto deserves something like this.”
Modesto Youth Soccer Association Executive Director and Director of Coaching Mitch Watson told council members the sport is hugely popular in the region. He said about 3,000 youth participate in MYSA and an additional 500 adults play in the MYSA’s coed league.
Councilwoman Rosa Escutia-Braaton pressed city officials on how they know whether residents support the proposal and how residents will be able to participate. “What is the outreach ... for the community to come together and give feedback,” she asked.
Community and Economic Development Director Jessica Hill could not provide specifics but said there would be public outreach once the city has nailed down such details as a potential location for a stadium.
The city along with a top USL official held a news conference Thursday in front of Tenth Street Place — the city-county government center — about the letter of intent.
Officials were excited about the possibility of bringing professional soccer to Modesto and its potential to drive economic development. But City Manager Joe Lopez also said the city would act in the best interests of its taxpayers.
The Tampa, Fla.-based United Soccer League started in 1986 and has several professional and preprofessional leagues throughout the United States. Major League Soccer is the top soccer league in the United States.
The Championship is the USL’s top professional men’s league and consists of 24 clubs, including the Oakland Roots and Sacramento Republic and four future clubs. League One is the the other professional men’s league and consists of 12 clubs — including Fresno’s Central Valley Fuego — and six expansion clubs that have not yet begun to play.
The Super League is the USL’s professional women’s league and consists of eight clubs with eight expansion clubs expected to begin play in 2025. The letter of intent calls for the Modesto clubs to compete at the USL’s first or second professional tier.
This story was originally published September 11, 2024 at 2:04 PM.
