Salinas, CA-April 13, 2011-The California Rodeo Association in conjunction with Public Recreation Unlimited announced plans earlier this year to remodel Salinas Municipal Stadium. The remodel will transform the old minor league baseball stadium into a 5,000 seat soccer and football facility. The $5 million dollar project will be built completely with private funding. Depending on the success of fundraising, the project is scheduled to begin construction in the summer of 2012. On Thursday April 7th, Public Recreation Unlimited was presented with its first donation check in the amount of $2,500 from Monsanto in honor of Benny Jefferson, the current 1st Vice President of the California Rodeo. The Rodeo Association is also pleased to contribute $250,000 toward the completion of the project. Roger LaFountain, General Manager of the Salinas Sports Complex, said “We are very excited to receive our first funding for the stadium project that has been in the works for many years. The stadium, when completed, will provide the community with a first-class facility that is desperately needed. It will allow organizations to expand their programs and serve more children.”
About The Stadium:
The stadium will feature a bowl design with the playing surface 11 feet below grandstand level. The field itself will be a synthetic turf surface and will be built to NCAA regulations.
The seating configuration will feature 3,628 seats on the home side of which 744 will be stadium seating. The visitor’s side will have seating for 1400. Behind the north end zone area will be a grass area that can seat another 972 fans.
Other enhancements include a 3,000 square foot field house, two separate entrances, a barbecue and concession area, state of the art scoreboard and announcer/coaches booth. Over 100 new parking places will be added.
This facility will be a premier sports venue for the City of Salinas and provide opportunities to engage youth in positive activities. Potential uses for this facility include: professional soccer, high school all-star games for both football and soccer, Junior College all star games, Junior College bowl games, football and soccer clinics. The stadium will be used by the adjacent Boys and Girls Club, allowing for the club to increase its capacity by 40%.
A Salinas Valley Athletic Hall of Fame recognition area has been incorporated into the entry plaza.