Though 1904 FC has unveiled a concept for a new Oceanside stadium that could open in 2019, local officials still have to sign off on the plan.
Last week, 1904 FC–the upcoming San Diego-area NASL club backed by an ownership group that includes European star Demba Ba–unveiled plans for a new stadium in Oceanside. The 10,000-seat facility, a modular structure, is slated to be constructed at the 22-field SoCal Sports Complex, with a projected opening date of 2019, one year after the club’s debut.
However, 1904 FC has not submitted an application to the city or Sudberry Properties, which controls development at the site. Local officials are pointing out that the proposal has to clear some hurdles before it moves forward. More from The San Diego Union-Tribune:
“They are going to need what we call a development plan,” [Peter] Weiss said. “They need to prepare all the necessary studies … traffic, biology, sewer, water and so on.”
Obtaining all the necessary studies and approvals takes at least seven months and probably nine, if all goes well, he said. It can take a lot longer if residents or any of the many agencies involved raise objections over things such as traffic or noise.
“It’s do-able,” said Councilman Jerry Kern, who said he’s been working for months to line up the deal. “The stadium can be built in 120 days.”
Kern emphasized that the city offered no financial incentives to get the team, which he said has a huge economic upside for Oceanside.
Officials also noted that the proposal would not eliminate any of the existing fields at the complex. FC 1904 is slated to begin play in 2018, with an agreement in place to use the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium. However, there are questions about the NASL’s future, as it was revealed in September that the U.S. Soccer Federation declined to extend the league’s Division II status into 2018. There has been legal fallout from that decision, with the NASL suing USSF, alleging that is has violated federal antitrust law. A hearing for a preliminary injunction is scheduled for October 31.
RELATED STORIES: 1904 FC Unveils Oceanside Stadium Plan; New for 2018: 1904 FC; San Diego NASL Expansion Team in Works