SAN JOSE — A new soccer field complex planned for a 13-acre parcel near the Earthquakes’ Avaya Stadium might be moved to a larger piece of land at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens — but city officials say the move faces several hurdles and lots of red tape.
San Jose elected leaders on Tuesday were getting ready to award a construction contract to build the four-field Coleman Soccer Field Complex with funds from a voter-approved measure for improving parks. The complex would be tucked behind the Avaya Stadium, an area known as the “Airport West site” at 1125 Coleman Ave.
But last month, city officials received a proposal from the San Jose Earthquakes and Hunter Properties, which has an option to buy the adjacent land, to move the proposed soccer park about a mile down the road.
The new site at the Guadalupe River Park and Gardens would allow officials to build seven soccer fields spanning 44 acres, with three grass fields being used by the Earthquakes Academy, the professional soccer team’s youth athletic program. The program, which caters to 120 kids and is based in Danville, would be moved to San Jose.
The other four artificial-turf fields would be open to the public, city officials said. The facility would also include a 7-acre public park and an “overflow” parking lot for home games at the Avaya Stadium, which Earthquakes officials say will help relieve traffic congestion.
“If we can get more people parking a little farther from the stadium, it allows for easier ingress and egress,” said Dave Kaval, Earthquakes president. “But the No. 1 benefit is the size of the complex. We’ll go from having four fields to actually building a soccer complex that will enable us to attract regional, national and international tournaments.”
Kaval said the team will make a substantial private investment in the project, which is estimated to cost between $32 million and $37 million. If the plan is approved, San Jose would chip in $12 million — the existing project budget — but only to build the four public soccer fields.
Matt Cano, assistant director of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services, said the Guadalupe River Park site is “conceptually better,” but there are many hurdles to overcome.
The proposed site is in the flight path of Mineta San Jose International Airport, so there’s a height limit for field lights and restrictions about how many people per square foot can occupy the space. It also means the Federal Aviation Administration has to sign off on the plan.
“It’s going to be a challenging path forward and there’s no guarantee we’ll get FAA approval,” Cano said.
Mayor Sam Liccardo, who will recommend delaying approval of a construction contract Tuesday to study the alternate plan, says San Jose is “severely underserved” by playing fields and placing a soccer complex at Guadalupe River Park has the potential to activate the downtown park as a regional attraction.
And while the mayor agreed that obtaining FAA approval is the biggest challenge, Liccardo said the agency appears to be receptive during early talks.
“We’re grateful that the Earthquakes are willing to step up with this development team to contribute potentially millions of dollars to create a great recreation amenity,” Liccardo said. “I want to make sure to the extent possible it’s truly open to the public.”
The three fields reserved for the Earthquakes Academy will be used year-round, Kaval said but no more than 12 hours a day, allowing other leagues and the public to access them during off-hours. The additional parking for Avaya Stadium would be used no more than 40 days a year.
Liccardo said another benefit is the private investment from the Earthquakes frees up about $5.8 million the city planned to invest as a contingency reserve for other projects, including plans to build a new softball facility.
Follow Ramona Giwargis at Twitter.com/ramonagiwargis or contact her at 408-920-5705.
