To understand the true genius that is the idea behind putting the Chivas Soccer Stadium complex at the site of the Willowick Golf Course, you have to look at the Google satellite map of the area. You see that diagonal grey line that abuts the north side of Willowick and runs from Garden Grove to Santa Ana Blvd.? That is the old P&E Santa Ana line. It is an abandoned rail line. And it is where Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido wants to run a new street car system.
Now it all makes sense. I thought the street car idea was pretty lame until I connected the dots – this new light rail system will begin at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, where the Metrolink trains currently stop, over on the east of Downtown Santa Ana, and stretch all the way to downtown Garden Grove. And it will bring Chivas fans to the new Stadium complex.
Take a look at the neighborhoods surrounding Willowick. This is a very blue collar area. The new light rail/street car will transform all of the neighborhoods lining the old P&E line. And the new Chivas Soccer Stadium Complex will be a game changer. I am told that it will include recreational facilities for our youth.
Think about the big picture. The Chivas U.S. soccer club is a professional sports franchise. It will be Santa Ana’s first pro team. It will put us on the map – and soccer is the most popular game in the world. Here in the U.S. it is the most popular youth sport.
The street car to Garden Grove will also give our residents direct access to a cluster of colleges, including Cal State Fullerton’s Extension campus.
What is the downside? I don’t see it. The street car system would be funded by Measure M and federal grants.
There is already a precedent for this in San Diego, where a light rail system delivers fans to the San Diego Chargers Stadium.
The opposition to this project is comprised of a cluster of mostly white Republicans – none of whom live near the Willowick Golf Course. The Voice of OC recently provided us with a list of some of these malcontents:
A friend of mine recently attended a meeting of these malcontent “Usual Suspects. I asked my friend what they talked about. The response was just as I figured, “they talked about how Mexicans always leave trash and diapers behind.”
As usual, the opposition to the Chivas soccer team and soccer complex is rooted in overt racism. That should not come as a surprise given the folks who are involved and given that most of them are Republicans. I don’t know what possessed Amezcua to join hands with these xenophobic haters. Bad move Al!
These folks are crying about traffic and noise – and are saying that the Chivas will push Santa Ana High School and Santa Ana College football games out of Eddie West Stadium. The truth is that the Chivas will play at that facility but only until the new complex at Willowick is built. The Santa Ana City Council will work with the SAUSD School Board and the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Education to make sure that the school football teams are accomodated. Pulido has allies on both of those elected bodies. The City of Santa Ana has good relationships with both school districts.
As for traffic, the fact is that many Santa Ana residents will get to Eddie West field on foot, by bike and on the bus. Eddie West Stadium has limited capacity. I expect each Chivas game to be a total sell-out.
The good news for the school districts is that there will be improvements made to Eddie West Stadium that will benefit the school teams, at no cost to them.
It has been suggested that the Chivas soccer complex be built in east Santa Ana. But when you consider the implications of the proposed street car system, it is obvious that Willowick is a slam dunk.
Will the City of Garden Grove, which owns Willowick, play ball? You bet. The street car system will bring new customers to their downtown, revitalizing that area too. You think the restaurant owners in their downtown will be opposed to that? No way!
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Eddie West Stadium currently has a capacity of 9,000 spectators. Plans include expanding the stadium to 15,000 seating capacity. I don't know what they plan to do about additional parking.
junior,
Eddie West Stadium is literally ringed by parking lots. The extra capacity will be a nice gift to the school sports teams that use the facility. SAUSD also holds graduations there.
How is this a problem?
The potential upside for having Chivas USA move to our city is incredible. The area surrounding the stadium could be redeveloped bringing in restaurants and other amenities to serve the fans attending the games.
Also the MLS broadcasts on national outlets like ESPN and ABC not to mention regionally on Fox Sports West and Prime Ticket. This will help showcase our community in a possitive fashion and perhaps bring new investment into Santa Ana and the surrounding area.
Big kudos to Mayor Pulido and the others if they are indeed working to do this.
"How is this a problem? "
I didn't indicate that I thought that this was a problem or not - just providing info.
Well Junior, thanks for verifying what a great deal this will be for Santa Ana's residents!
Admin said: "Well Junior, thanks for verifying what a great deal this will be for Santa Ana’s residents!"
As I indicated above Admin, I am not expressing an opinion either way at this time.
"It has been suggested that the Chivas soccer complex be built in east Santa Ana. But when you consider the implications of the proposed street car system, it is obvious that Willowick is a slam dunk." Admin
If you look at your Google maps, you will see that the proposed street car systems goes to the train station too, and has the added bonus of freeway access, car pool access, bus access (OCTA, Greyhound, Trail ways) Train access (Amtrak and metro link) Even room for a helicopter pad (add air access)
Except for the helo and trolley, the other transportation infrastructures are already in place.
The difference between “Willowick” and the “station district east” is “the finders fee”
Another bonus, such a sports entertainment complex would require an EIR calling for traffic improvements, in other words the long awaited for grand ave expansion could be completed at the same time.
And for all of those removed from their homes in the area of the east train district, there is the opportunity of a nice new housing tract that could be built on Garden Groves property that sits in the middle of a residential area.
There was a reason the Santa Ana Pond lost out to the Anaheim Pond, so the thinking of Eddie West field as a site is still a losers pick.
Now take 3 sheets of blank paper and draw a cross on each, write pro on one side and con on the other and title each sheet, one Willowick, one Eddie West, and one East Train. Fill out your pro’s and con’s and see for yourself where the best location for a sports entertainment complex in Santa Ana.
Of course there are other spots too, like the abandon orange grove on Santa Clara near the graveyard or the lawn bowling center in Santiago park, or the empty food for less in the old Zody’s complex on N Grand.
cook,
Eddie West will be a temporary home for the Chivas. They will eventually have a new soccer stadium complex at Willowick.
It makes no sense to put the soccer complex at the Xerox site. That is just plain ridiculous.
We may have lost out on the Anaheim Pond, but we won't be losing out on the Chivas.
I didn't think of the area at 4th and the 5 freeway, but that area is better than GG property too. (I was thinking about east of train station and west of the Register paper, right off the freeway.
Heck, there would not be any residential relocation at that 4th and Cabrillo site, and with the businesses on all 4 sides, there would be a natural buffer for the Mabury Park residential area too.
There is even room for a rail yard to hold , work on and store the trolley cars, just extend the trolley another ¼ mile east
That is not going to happen Cook. This is an opportunity to bring positive change to parts of our city that really need it. The area you are talking about would be more appropriate for office buildings.
Willowick is much better than Eddie West, it is right by the 22, but it seems unclear how many years for construction? A different team with our own Santa Ana name would make a world of difference. It would have been truly progressive. I played soccer. I attended Galaxy and a Chivas U.S.A. game. If the Chivas fans act like they are rooting for Mexico, and hate U.S. teams, I won't go. That is not Racism on my part. That is New Santa Ana Pride talking. No drunken comments tonight Admin! Try to get some sleep.
shwoo. O.k. up and Sober. One last point Admin, In the World Cup, Did California "Chivas fans" support the U.S. team even when the were not playing Mexico or competing with Mexico? A few yes, but most, probably not. I have a feeling this debate is going to get ugly. And rightly so. This is not just about Mayoral dealings. Have a good morning.
What about the people who live there? Willowick is surrounded on all sides by residential housing.
Didn’t fly in the 90’s.
Cook,
Go back and read my post again. The folks who are trying to stop the Chivas do not live anywhere near Willowick.