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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I don't really give a rats a@% where they build the stadium. (Put it in Jack Fisher Park for all I care) but I do take exception with you discounting the opinions of those who don't have kids or whose kids are grown. I know a fellow on the Planning Commission who is a single, middle aged man still living with his mom but I happen to think he's a good guy and I respect his opinion and would vote for him for city council or school board in Santa Ana.
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.
I believe the City Council should also look at the racist neighborhood traffic policies. (Would be a great subject for a post I think) Why should the residents of Santa Ana have to deal with parking permit areas and street diverters which were put in place mostly by Anglos when they had the majority on the City Council to keep Latinos from driving or parking in their neighborhoods. If you allowed parking in Washington Square for instance, you would have no problem dealing with Chivas parking until their new stadium in Willowick is completed. Remove those stupid divertors on the edge of Wilshire Square, and French Park Park and allow traffic to flow freely. Open up Flower street to Northbound traffic at 17th and open up Santa Clara at either end and take the pressure off of other streets. The City Council has the power to do this and should.
and one more thing...why do we still have the racist front yard fence law in Santa Ana? You know the one that says I can't build a fence in my front yard unless it's the kind the Gringos like to look at! I happen to be in the wrought iron business and could build a great looking, high quality block/wroght iron fence to keep my kids and dogs safe but the white people in my "historic" Wilshire square neighborhood say it offends their Western European sensibilities! I say good fences make good neighbors! This Council could give us back our fence building freedoms and should.
Bolsa Grande,
The planning commission is pretty diverse, with the exception of gender. The anti-Chivas NIMBYs are not. They are all cut from the same bitter cloth.
I hope that Chivas is not counting on whitey soccer families from south county supporting their soccer team - because that aint going to happen. As evidenced by the constantly dismal attendance of south county high school football fans at their football games vs. Mater Dei at Eddie West.
Whitey will not drive more than 2 blocks from a freeway through Santa Ana to attend a soccer game - and whitey will NOT use mass transportation - forget the trolley/light rail for whitey.
The previous comment is courtesy of Mike Tardif owner of Tardif Sheet Metal in Santa Ana. Does that sound like someone you'd hire?
wheres junior??,
Facts are stuborn things - apparently you can't handle the truth or even know what it is.
Speaking of facts, it is a fact that you, junior, are Mike Tardif owner of Tardif Sheet Metal. People need to know that fact so they know what type of person you really are before they hire you.
What type of person do you think that Mike Tardif is? Please be specific.
Hey Tardif how come you aren't on the anti-Chivas committee with all your friends? Did Lutz not realize that you're that asshole junior and not invite to the Klan rally that he and Nancy threw?