Page 43 - Greet HWY 68 Loop Magazine September 2025

LIVING THE GOOD LIFE

Fields of Hope: Building Community, Health, and Opportunity BUILDING THE FUTURE, FIELD BY FIELD sports and career success. Nearly 94% of women executives in
Ian builds on the theme. “There’s a powerful link between

With a bold expansion plan underway, the Salinas Regional the C-suite played sports growing up. We want that pathway
Soccer Complex is poised for even more impact. When fully open to girls and boys in every part of our community.”
built, the Complex will more than triple in size—becoming the Lino adds, “What we’re doing here isn’t just construction—
largest soccer facility between San Francisco and Los Angeles. it’s community building. Every element we design—from
Upcoming development plans include: lighting to layout to signage—supports a bigger purpose: to bring
• Seven New Grass Fields: Expanding capacity for people together and build a stronger, more vibrant region.”
local leagues, tournaments, and open play
• Field House: Featuring a full-size indoor soccer court and FUELING REGIONAL ECONOMIC GROWTH
flexible community space for events and wellness programs The Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is already making Salinas
• Multi-Sport Zones: Adding futsal, pickleball, a player on the state and national sports tourism map. Thanks
and basketball – broadening to the recent addition of the two new lighted turf fields, major
• athletic opportunities beyond soccer events like NorCal Premier Player Development Programs and
• Action Sports Areas: A BMX pump track and two the Alianza Cup are drawing families from across California.
skate parks designed for all ages and skill levels These events create a ripple effect—hotels fill up, restaurants
• Community Gathering Spaces: A celebration plaza, shaded stay busy, and Salinas becomes known for elite-level athletics.
seating, and open green spaces for connection and recreation Unlike many projects of this scale, the Soccer Complex has
When fully built, the Salinas • Eco-Smart Infrastructure: Drought-tolerant been built with minimal public funding. Instead, it has relied
Regional Soccer Complex will more landscaping, bioswales, and water-saving irrigation on philanthropy, grants, and hundreds of hours of volunteer
leadership—all rooted in a belief that healthy communities and
to ensure environmental sustainability
than triple in size—becoming the strong local economies go hand in hand.
largest soccer facility between San The Salinas Regional Sports Authority has raised $17 million “Our board believes in this valley,” Catherine says. “We
Francisco and Los Angeles. so far. An additional $25 million is needed to complete the live here. We raise our families here. And we know that
full vision. the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is something that will
benefit everyone—economically, socially, and personally—for
BY ADRIENNE LAURENT
WHY IT MATTERS decades to come.”
Across the country, studies show that youth who participate in
sports have better physical and mental health, stronger social GET INVOLVED
skills, and higher academic performance. Yet access is not equal. Whether you care about youth sports, economic opportunity,
“By age 13, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys,” or building places where community thrives—the Salinas
alk to three local leaders—Catherine Kobrinsky Evans of when the nonprofit secured a 50-year lease for the land Catherine says. “And only one in four girls in low-income Regional Soccer Complex needs your support. To donate or
Corral de Tierra, Ian Jones of River Road, and Lino Belli with two 20-year options, Catherine has been a driving force households participate in sports. We’re changing that—by learn more, visit salinassoccer.org/donate
T of San Benancio—and you’ll hear a shared message: the behind efforts to ensure free access for girls’ and women’s removing barriers and offering every girl the chance to grow
Salinas Regional Soccer Complex is about far more than soccer. teams, and to reduce barriers for underserved families – her confidence and leadership.” Let’s celebrate the great things happening in our community! Contact Laurie at Laurie.Martin@
n2co.com or phone 272-4620.
It’s about health and wellness, equity, economic development, work that reflects her deep commitment to inclusion, health,
and creating lasting opportunity across the Salinas Valley. and opportunity for all.
Currently, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex welcomes “We’re not just building fields,” she says. “We’re
more than 11,000 people each week. With continued building opportunity—for physical health, for connection,
expansion, that number could reach 20,000 weekly visits— and for girls to thrive in environments where they’re
fueling everything from youth development to often underrepresented.” Elli’s Great
economic momentum. Ian Jones, a River Road resident and business leader, brings
The nonprofit behind the effort—the Salinas Regional a different lens. “This project is a community investment— American Restaurant
Sports Authority (SRSA)—is guided by a board of local leaders but it’s also an economic driver,” he says. “Sports tourism is
including Catherine, Ian, and Lino, who bring a range of real. When teams travel here, they stay in our hotels, eat at
experience to this transformative community asset. our restaurants, shop at local stores. Every tournament brings Happy Hour Monday-Thursday
revenue into our region.” Ian also notes that with facilities like
LOCAL LEADERSHIP, LASTING CHANGE the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, Salinas can compete with from 4pm-6pm
Catherine, Vice President of the Salinas Regional Sports other California cities to host major tournaments, conferences,
Authority, and lifelong resident of the HWY 68 corridor, and clinics. “We’re not just improving life for families—we’re
first got involved when her daughters played at the Salinas boosting the economy and elevating Salinas as a destination.”
Regional Soccer Complex. “Kurt Gollnick and I looked around Lino Belli, an architect and San Benancio resident, Open Daily at 7am
and agreed -- this community deserves better,’” she recalls. contributes with input on the look, feel, and long-term usability
Kurt, now SRSA Board President and a former San Benancio of the site. “The design matters,” he says. “If you want families
resident for 25 years, shared that vision. Together, they to gather, athletes to return, and the region to grow around it— 1250 SOUTH MAIN ST
helped launch the effort to transform the fields into a first- you need to design spaces that are beautiful, accessible, and SALINAS,CA
class sports facility for families across the region. Since 2018, built to last.”

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