Press Release by the County of Monterey

Salinas, CA — The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex has been officially recognized by the U.S. Congress for its ambitious vision to transform previously undeveloped land into a vibrant, state-of-the-art sports and recreation hub. The US Congress has awarded $500,000 in federal funding, thanks to extraordinary efforts made by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren. This grant will help support the next phase of expansion for the Complex, a critical investment that advances what is poised to become the largest sports facility between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“I was proud to have submitted the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex as one of my community project requests this year, and I’m glad to see this funding coming to Monterey County,” Rep. Lofgren said. “This is a big investment in Salinas’ future as a regional cultural hub, and I am thrilled that Californians of all ages will get to enjoy this complex for generations to come.”

The funding marks a significant milestone in the development of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and reinforces the project’s transformative impact on youth, families, and the broader Monterey County community. Once completed, the Complex has the potential to serve up to 18,000 + children and youth weekly, along with their families.

The expansion project, developed in partnership with the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, includes:

• 7 new natural grass soccer fields
• A 3,000-seat, lighted outdoor stadium with two synthetic soccer fields
• Sand soccer fields
• A 60,000-square-foot indoor soccer arena featuring concessions, classrooms, and maintenance facilities
• An outdoor sports court
• An outdoor restroom facility
• 421 new parking spaces and pedestrian walkways
• An on-site irrigation well to serve both proposed and adjacent existing fields
• Stormwater control facilities, including Low Impact Development (LID) features and infiltration basins
• Environmental protections, including setbacks from Gabilan Creek and adjacent wetlands, as well as minor compensatory wetland restoration

Although the project site is owned by the County of Monterey, the Soccer Complex has been a partnership between the City of Salinas and the nonprofit organization, the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, which will construct and operate the next phases of the facility.

“This $500,000 investment is a major win for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and for the families and youth we serve across Monterey County,” said Jonathan De Anda, Executive Director. “We’re grateful to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and the County of Monterey for their leadership and partnership in securing these funds. This support helps us continue building out high-quality, accessible natural grass fields that promote health, community connection, and opportunity for thousands of residents each week.”

Beyond expanding recreational opportunities, the project reflects a strong commitment to sustainable land use and environmental stewardship. By revitalizing land once considered unusable and incorporating thoughtful stormwater management and habitat protections, the Complex demonstrates how community development and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

County of Monterey, District 1 Supervisor Luis Alejo emphasized the regional importance of this investment.

“This federal funding represents a powerful investment in the health, well-being, and future of our young people,” said District 1 Supervisor Luis Alejo. “The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex will expand access to safe, high-quality recreational space for thousands of youths and families in Salinas, while also generating economic activity and strengthening regional pride. I’m proud to continue supporting a project that transforms underutilized county land into a lasting community asset for generations to come.”

The $500,000 grant provides partial funding for the next phase of development and positions the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex to continue advancing toward its vision of becoming a premier destination for youth sports, tournaments, and community events throughout California’s Central Coast.

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

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex announced a five-year, $250,000 partnership with the Costa Family Restaurants, marking a major vote of confidence in the future of the Complex.

This investment supports the continued growth of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, which already welcomes more than 11,500 weekly users. With lighted fields, year-round programming, and regional and statewide tournaments, the Complex has become a beloved community hub and an economic driver for the Salinas Valley.

Currently in the middle of a $45 million capital campaign, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is actively building out Phase 3, which will add seven new tournament-size grass fields as well as eight soccer sand courts to meet overwhelming community demand. When fully built out, the Complex will serve more than 22,000 people weekly and will stand as the largest sports facility of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Ray Costa, founder of the Costa Family Restaurants and longtime McDonald’s owner-operator, said his support is rooted in impact, not the sport itself.

“What stood out to me was the bigger picture. This is about community, health, and opportunity,” Costa said. “Our company philosophy is to help families and children, and when you see how many families the Complex serves every week, the impact is undeniable. It keeps our kids busy and on the right track. We are proud to be a part of it.”

The partnership was shaped by a strong alignment of values between the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex and the Costa Family Restaurants. The Complex provides safe, accessible space for youth and adults, strengthens family connection, opens doors for young people to succeed in their sports and educational goals, and delivers measurable community benefit at scale.

Board member Ian Jones emphasized the importance of Costa’s hands-on engagement.

“We are deeply grateful that Ray took the time to come out, learn about the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, and see the impact firsthand,” Ian Jones said. “Once you stand on the fields, meet the families, and understand the scale of what is happening here, it is impossible not to believe in it. Ray’s partnership reflects a genuine commitment to the Salinas Valley and to doing something meaningful for the community.”

The partnership is a strong example of how business and community thrive together, and the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex welcomes the opportunity to build lasting partnerships, based on shared values, with the business community.

About the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex

The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is a nonprofit community facility serving thousands of youth, families, and adults each week. With existing and planned grass and turf fields, lighting for extended hours, and space for regional tournaments, the Complex is transforming underutilized land into one of the most impactful community assets on California’s Central Coast.

About Costa Family Restaurants

Costa Family Restaurants is a locally owned McDonald’s organization operating nine restaurants in the Salinas Valley and Hollister, California. Led by Ray Costa and his family, the company has a long-standing commitment to supporting employees, families, and the communities it serves. In 2016, the Costa family established the Raymond H. Costa Family Scholarship to expand access to higher education and trade programs for employees and their families. Through its restaurants, scholarship program, and philanthropic partnerships, Costa Family Restaurants continues to invest in opportunity, education, and lasting community impact.

PRESS RELEASE BY MONTEREY BAY FC

SEASIDE, California (Monday, January 19, 2026) – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay FC) announced today a new partnership with the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex (SRSC) designed to expand access to high-level soccer on the Central Coast while creating meaningful, sustainable support for local player development. The collaboration aligns two organizations committed to growing the game and strengthening pathways for young athletes through shared programming, enhanced visibility, and community-first opportunities.

As part of the partnership, SRSC will serve as the Official Training Grounds for Monterey Bay FC’s USL Academy programs, providing a dedicated home for training, development, and select competitions when mutually agreed upon. Together, the organizations will also collaborate on a series of annual initiatives—including camps, clinics, tournaments, and identification opportunities—built to create new experiences for players and families while supporting the operational health of the partnership. “We’re proud to partner with the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, an organization that’s been instrumental in providing opportunities for players and families across our region,” said Oliver Wyss, Chairman and Chief Soccer Officer of Monterey Bay FC. “This relationship is about more than facilities—it’s about building a consistent, connected pathway for development on the Central Coast. By working together, we can create stronger opportunities for young players, expand the reach of our USL Academy programs, and continue investing in the communities that fuel this Club.”

The partnership will also bring SRSC into the Club’s matchday and media ecosystem through shared promotional activations and visibility across Monterey Bay FC platforms, including opportunities for onsite engagement at Cardinale Stadium, digital placements, and community-forward marketing collaboration. Additional pop-up opportunities for Monterey Bay FC merchandise and ticketing engagement will be scheduled jointly throughout the year to better connect supporters with the Club while supporting local soccer initiatives.

“Partnering with Monterey Bay FC is a major step forward for our mission,” said Jonathan DeAnda, General Manager of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “We believe in creating real opportunities for local players, and this collaboration allows us to strengthen that pathway while bringing more resources, programming, and visibility to the soccer community we serve. We’re excited to welcome Monterey Bay FC into our home and work together to grow the game across the Central Coast.”

In celebration of Monterey Bay FC’s continued international collaboration, SRSC will also be a featured community beneficiary connected to the Club’s first-ever international friendly against Liga MX’s Club de Fútbol Pachuca, set for February 28, 2026 at Cardinale Stadium. Proceeds from the match will support SRSC’s ongoing efforts to expand access, development programming, and regional soccer infrastructure. Additional details regarding upcoming joint programming, activation dates, and scheduling for pop-up engagements will be announced in the coming months.

Monterey Bay FC Communications – @MontereyBayFC

Your generosity shaped every milestone. Together, we advanced the promises of our core commitments: youth development, economic vitality, and community health.

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The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex came alive Sunday with energy, competition, and community pride as local businesses and organizations took to the fields for the inaugural Harvest Cup.

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Frank Lopez has transformed the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex’s grass fields from unkempt and patchy into a green, smooth surface.

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Original article from the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Journal.

Jonathan De Anda is the General Manager of the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, where he leads efforts to expand access to sports, wellness, and community development for thousands of local families each week.

He holds a Master of Science in Sport Management from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Notre Dame de Namur University.

Beyond his professional role, Jonathan is deeply engaged in strengthening the community. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Siembra Latinos Fund at the Community Foundation for Monterey County, supporting philanthropy and equity for Latino families. He also coaches the York School boys’ soccer team, mentoring young athletes both on and off the field. With a passion for leveraging sports and service as tools for opportunity, Jonathan continues to create inclusive pathways for youth and families, helping shape a healthier, more connected Salinas Valley.

The Salinas Regional Sports Complex, a 68-acre development across the street from Natividad Medical Center,
is quickly becoming a landmark in the soccer world, said De Anda, general manager of the facility.

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Soccer Dreams by Catherine Kobrinsky Evans, Kurt Gollnick, Salinas (Letters to the editor — Monterey Herald)

In the Salinas Valley, soccer is more than a sport. On weekends, children race across fields, parents line the sidelines with folding chairs, and families travel together for tournaments. The game is woven into daily life here, crossing cultures and languages, and uniting people in a way few things can.

As coaches, we’ve spent years on those sidelines, guiding our own children and hundreds of others. What we’ve seen is that soccer is more than skill and competition. It builds resilience, confidence, and character. Just as importantly, it builds community.

And the opportunities the game provides at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex are wide-ranging. On one end, national showcases like Alianza de Futbol and the Chevron Soccer Academy bring scouts, training, and the possibility of professional play. These events open doors and spark big dreams for our young athletes.

On the other end, there is something equally powerful — playing for connection and pride. That’s why the new Harvest Cup is so exciting. This fall, local companies will field teams not for scholarships or contracts, but for bragging rights. It’s soccer as a celebration of wellness, teamwork, and community spirit. The Harvest Cup reflects what the game has always been about in the Salinas Valley: people coming together.

That’s the beauty of soccer. Whether it’s a child chasing a dream, a teenager testing their limits, or coworkers trading the office for the pitch, the game has a place for everyone.

The Salinas Valley has always been defined by hard work, family, and community. Soccer mirrors those same values. And with traditions old and new — from Alianza to the Harvest Cup — we’re reminded that this game belongs to us all.

— Catherine Kobrinsky Evans, Kurt Gollnick, Salinas