The Match fuels construction of first-rate playing fields expected to begin opening this winter

SALINAS, CA – Construction is officially underway on the next major expansion of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, bringing eight new fields closer to the tens of thousands of players and families who will use them and advancing the Complex’s growing role as a premier destination for soccer in the region.

More than six years of environmental remediation concluded in June, and construction began immediately in July. Crews are now installing nearly 20,000 linear feet of irrigation, while the special blend of hybrid Blue grass and Rye grass selected for the new fields is already being grown at Greenfield Turf.

That transition from remediation directly into construction was made possible by years of community investment and the momentum of The Match, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex’s $3 million campaign to complete the new fields and supporting infrastructure. Taylor Farms launched The Match with a $1.5 million challenge gift, followed by campaign gifts from the Kobrinsky Evans family, Cass and Mike Antle, Church Brothers Farms, Janet Rodgers and Kurt Gollnick, Toyota Salinas and other generous donors.

Federal funding secured by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and grant support from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control have also helped advance this phase of expansion. Philanthropic investments continue a model that has shaped the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex from the beginning. The Complex is developed and operated by a volunteer led nonprofit organization, and its growth has been powered by philanthropy, public investment and a community willing to invest in an extraordinary place to play.

Build for the Future

The new fields are being built to a standard that reflects both the community they will serve and the caliber of soccer the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex increasingly welcomes.

 

 

A specially selected, high-quality Rye and Blue grass blend is being grown specifically for the project and will be installed in phases as each field is completed. The playing surfaces will be laser-leveled using geotechnical technology to create exceptionally precise and consistent fields, and the Complex is exploring specialized mowing equipment capable of creating crisp, visible lines across the grass that provide referees with additional visual guidance for offsides calls.

 

 

The result will be beautiful, high-performing fields designed for everyday community use as well as the leagues, tournaments and regional events that continue to bring more players and visitors to Salinas. As the facility grows, so does the opportunity to attract larger competitions, welcome more teams and showcase a sports complex that reflects the pride and ambition of the community that built it.

More Room to Play

Over 15,000 people now use the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex each week, up from 11,500 weekly users just a year ago. With the expansion, that number is expected to grow to more than 22,000 weekly users, creating significantly more impact for youth and adult soccer, women’s leagues, tournaments, community events and programming, and families from throughout the region.

The new fields advance one of the central goals behind the continued development of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex: creating greater access to exceptional places for local children and families to play, while building a regional sports destination that brings people to Salinas and strengthens the community around it through meaningful economic impact.

The new fields are expected to open for play this winter.

For more information about The Match and the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, visit https://salinassoccer.org/the-match/

About the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is a nonprofit community asset dedicated to providing a safe, accessible, and family-centered space for youth and adult recreation. Serving more than 15,000 weekly users, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex continues to grow as a premier destination for local play, community connection, and regional tournaments.

For more information about the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and opportunities to support, please visit https://SalinasSoccer.org

Media Contact
Jonathan De Anda
General Manager, Salinas Regional Soccer Complex
831-216-5643
jonathan@salinassoccer.org

Salinas Regional Soccer Complex launches its first in-house youth league, combining Major League Soccer resources, scholarship support and community coaches under former professional player Simon Dawkins

 

SALINAS, Calif. – This fall, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is expanding opportunities for local youth to experience the game with the launch of its first-ever in-house youth soccer league through MLS GO, Major League Soccer’s recreational youth soccer program. Combining accessible registration, scholarship support, trained volunteer coaches and the resources of MLS, the new league creates another pathway for young players across the Salinas Valley to learn the game, develop their skills and become part of the soccer community.

 

 

The eight-week fall league builds directly on the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex’s commitment to making soccer accessible to children throughout the community. That commitment has shaped the Complex from the beginning, including free field access for youth leagues supported through the generosity of donors and community partners. With MLS GO, the Complex is extending that same philosophy into its own recreational programming, creating a welcoming place for young players of all experience levels to learn, play and grow in the game.

 

 

Through the MLS GO PLAY FUND, families can apply for financial assistance toward player participation fees, part of Major League Soccer’s national effort to expand access to recreational soccer. For the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, the scholarship program creates another direct connection between the vision behind the Complex and the families it was built to serve.

At the center of the new league is Simon Dawkins, Director of Soccer Programs & Development for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, whose career has taken him through some of the highest levels of the game. Dawkins developed through the Tottenham Hotspur system in England, competed professionally in England, represented Jamaica internationally and became a standout with the San Jose Earthquakes, helping the club win the 2012 Supporters’ Shield before later returning as a Designated Player. He joined Monterey Bay F.C. for its inaugural season in 2022 and remained with the club through the conclusion of his professional playing career in 2024 before moving into coaching and technical leadership.

Today, Dawkins is bringing that experience to young players at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. He helped identify and develop the MLS GO partnership and will direct the league while guiding the volunteer coaches who will play an essential role in the program.

“Soccer gave me opportunities to grow, travel, compete and learn from people at every level of the game, and being able to bring some of that experience back to young players here is incredibly meaningful,” said Dawkins. “MLS GO gives us a strong structure for teaching the game, while our volunteer coaches bring the relationships and community connection that make youth soccer special. We want coaches to feel prepared and supported, players to feel encouraged to grow, and families to see a place for their children in the game.”

Volunteer coaches will be supported by Dawkins and MLS GO coaching resources, including age-specific training materials, practice plans, videos and exercises designed to help coaches teach technical skills, teamwork and game understanding. The model gives parents and community members the tools to become more confident coaches while strengthening the network of adults helping local children develop a lasting connection to the sport.

“Access is central to the vision for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, and that vision comes to life when our fields are filled with local kids who are learning, growing and discovering what they are capable of,” said Jonathan De Anda, General Manager of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “MLS GO gives us another way to turn the investment our community has made in this Complex into direct opportunities for families across the Salinas Valley, while Simon and our volunteer coaches create the kind of experience that can help a child build a lasting connection to the sport.”

The inaugural season will welcome players ages 7 to 14 from September 23 through November 11, with one training session and one league game each week. Players will receive an official MLS GO uniform kit, including jersey, shorts and socks, and the program is designed for children with a wide range of soccer experience. Registered players will also receive a complimentary ticket to an October San Jose Earthquakes match and have the opportunity to participate in a pregame on-field parade, connecting their weekly experience at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex with the professional game.

The MLS GO Fall Season at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex runs September 23 through November 11, 2026. Individual registration is $180 and team registration is $160 per player, with MLS GO PLAY FUND scholarships available for qualifying families. Registration, scholarship information and program details are available at salinassoccer.org/mlsgo.

About the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is a nonprofit community asset dedicated to providing a safe, accessible, and family-centered space for youth and adult recreation. Serving more than 16,000 weekly users, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex continues to grow as a premier destination for local play, community connection, and regional tournaments.

For more information about the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and opportunities to support, please visit https://SalinasSoccer.org

Media Contact
Jonathan De Anda
General Manager, Salinas Regional Soccer Complex
831-216-5643
jonathan@salinassoccer.org