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.
