Modesto soccer stadium location could be decided this week. Here’s where, when
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Modesto to host a workshop Wednesday to choose final stadium site location.
- Downtown site offers cost savings, transit access but requires demolition.
- West Modesto site promises redevelopment but raises gentrification concerns.
The city of Modesto is holding another community workshop Wednesday to decide where, and how, a professional soccer stadium will be built.
In March, the City Council held its first workshop on the topic. The presentation given was the most detailed information made to the public about the topic since the city sent a letter of intent last year.
During the March workshop, Councilmember Nick Bavaro promised that a team and a stadium would be coming to Modesto in the future. How has not been decided.
The city is exploring having the United Soccer League expand to include a Modesto team. USL is a Tampa, Florida-based league that started in 1986. It has several leagues throughout the United States.
The March forum whittled down the city’s options to two potential locations: one where Modesto Centre Plaza now stands, the other in west Modesto, near John Thurman Field. Both have their pros and cons.
Some City Council members seemed to favor one location over the other. The council had the option of moving forward with either location but ultimately decided to wait until this month to have city staff prepare more data and gather additional information.
One plus of having the stadium downtown is that it could save the city a lot of money — at least $35 million, according to the city’s consulting agency Seer World. The aim would be for the stadium to spur development of mixed-commercial and residential buildings around it — adding to the city’s hopes of revitalizing downtown.
Parking and transit are ample downtown and the city already owns much of the land where a potential stadium would be built.
The main cons of the location include that it would require the demolition of Centre Plaza. It also could create increased traffic congestion if local transit options aren’t sufficient to support its crowd sizes.
The west Modesto location aims to transform the long-dormant Municipal Golf Course and surrounding area into a sports complex that would include the soon-vacant John Thurman Field. Though the Modesto Nuts plan to leave, the city began closed-door real estate negotiations with the Pioneer Baseball League.
Other advantages of the west Modesto location include its proximity to major roadways and Highway 99, large swaths of undeveloped land and the potential to revitalize an underserved part of the city with new services and economic activity.
The largest downside of this location, however, would be the potential gentrification of the area — which was discussed at length during the March workshop. A key concern raised was the potential for rising property values and, with that, property taxes that could price out longtime residents. This could be prevented with a homestead exemption, which would cap property taxes for residents near the stadium site. This would need to be further explored by the City Council if it chooses the west Modesto location.
Other concerns regarding the west Modesto site are traffic access; distance from the city center, which may limit foot traffic; the need for major infrastructure upgrades, including roads, utilities and stormwater systems; and its location in a residential area with inconsistent or outdated zoning regulations, according to previous reporting by The Bee.
Wednesday’s workshop will include a time for public comments, which must be made in person. Written comments can be sent in but will not be read aloud during the meeting. Written comments must be submitted to councilmeetings@modestogov.com two hours before the meeting.
A vote to determine which location the soccer stadium will be built at could happen at Wednesday’s meeting.
The meeting will be held in the Arbor Theatre at Modesto Centre Plaza, 1000 L St., at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.
