Modesto kills professional soccer stadium idea. But is the decision final?
At its meeting Tuesday night, Modesto City Council voted unanimously, with one recusal, to end negotiations with the United Soccer League.
For nearly two years the prospect of a soccer stadium was pitched as a way to revitalize downtown, increase tax revenue and drive tourism to the area. The city held numerous, hours-long public meetings and workshops during that time to gather data, public input and even select a stadium location downtown.
But presented with analysis by a consultant agency hired by the city, Kosmont Companies, that showed building a stadium might cause “generational debt,” a recent poll that showed residents did not view it as a priority and structural changes within USL, the City Council opted to kill the idea.
Council members felt the project had changed quite a bit since it was first pitched to them and that increasing an already existing financial strain on Modesto’s purses was not worth the return on investment.
“It just makes no sense to invest into something that’s going to incur generational debt, and why would we do that to our children, to our families?” said City Councilmember Rosa Esutia-Braaton.
Councilmember Chris Ricci echoed Escutia-Braaton’s comments and said he was always for the idea, with the exception that it would be a good deal. After the council temporarily punted the decision to choose a stadium location in March 2023, Ricci told The Bee he was “bullish on the opportunity” but he wanted the city to “make sure that we do it in a responsible way.”
“Not incurring that generational debt is an important priority for me. I’ve got kids here, I don’t want them to pay for something that’s a bad deal,” said Ricci at Tuesday’s meeting. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Councilmember Nick Bavaro once promised USL leaders a stadium would happen, saying in March 2025, “The message you can take back to your office is that this council will get this done.” However, in April of this year, he announced the project was “dead on arrival.”
“In my opinion, this council still works well together and is focused on getting projects in our city done … city management worked with the USL to get this project done, but discussions changed, and they changed since a year ago,” said Bavaro at Tuesday’s meeting. “The financial due diligence just doesn’t add up.”
What changed Modesto’s plans for a stadium?
The city pointed to changes in USL’s deal since they first started negotiations, in September 2024, as a major reason for killing the project. USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer Justin Papadakis was a key facilitator between the two entities. However, after 10 years with the league, he left. The city did not state at which point in the negotiations he stepped away from the role.
City officials also pointed to a change in the league’s structure. When negotiations began, USL would act as an owner or help find one while a team, and stadium plans, were put together. Now, the city says, USL wants an ownership structure first before they award a team.
Modesto had ambitious plans for a downtown stadium, opting to build mixed-use housing and commercial space surrounding it. But even by conservative estimates — which looked at building a smaller and cheaper stadium with no surrounding development — Modesto was coming up short on funds.
With the estimated $90 million building cost, plus land acquisition estimated at $5 million and potential revenues that could be pledged for financing from taxpayers — $55 million — there remains a gap of about $40 million to fund the project.
Modesto isn’t closing the door completely with USL
City Manager Joe Lopez said during conversations with USL representatives, Modesto’s decision to not move forward “doesn’t close the door” and that if private funding, and an owner, were to present themselves, the idea could come back.
“They indicated that we’re still going to have conversations, should that come to fruition, and we will always take their call if they’re wanting to have that conversation,” said Lopez.
Mayor Sue Zwahlen, who always seemed enthused at the idea of having professional soccer in Modesto, echoed Lopez and said the offer wasn’t off the table, if terms were more agreeable for the city.
Said Zwahlen: “While I am disappointed in this — I was really looking forward to soccer, both men’s and women’s coming to Modesto — I know that we are still open to any opportunities. And I want to make sure that that’s clearly stated, abundantly, that if people are interested in bringing soccer here, and the numbers work out, that I am certainly open to it.”
USL is a professional soccer organization with more than 100 teams across the United States and Canada, including Stockton and Sacramento.
Councilmember Jeremiah Williams recused himself due to owning a business downtown, near where the proposed stadium would have been constructed.
