San Diego’s City Council Awards Surf Cup Sports with Lease for Prestigious Polo Fields
Far more than other extra circular activities, youth soccer brings together those who share a common passion — and this common passion for the world’s most beautiful game will continue to flourish in San Diego — the real heart of youth soccer in America.
City Council of San Diego voted 8-1 to approve a twenty-eight year ground lease of the Polo Fields to Surf Cup Sports LLC on Monday, July 25th. While many have seen this as controversial — the lease of the San Diego Polo Fields going from the small, local polo club to the renters who have cared for the property for years — it is now final. After months of endless procedural events, & hearings, the lease has been granted to Surf Cup Sports, which has been operating the tournaments and running club teams for more than two decades on the site.
Drive by the expansive grass on the prestigious Polo Fields on Via de la Valle just East of Interstate 5 in the Del Mar area and you will usually see either a majestic vast vista of green or you will see the exuberant mayhem of youth soccer taking place on 60 acres. On July 25, the San Diego City Council confirmed that this experience will continue and only get better. In fact, now that America’s Finest City — San Diego — has awarded the lease for the Polo Fields to Surf Cup Sports, plans for renovations to the property will start immediately. The goal is to create a world-class, premier youth soccer event facility in the nation and no one can accomplish this goal better than Surf Cup Sports.
Mike McDowell, President of the San Diego Sports Commission, Joe Terzi, President of the San Diego Tourism Authority, John Lynch, Future Hall of Famer and NFL Announcer, Sandy Pendleton, National Account Executive, Marriott Hotels and Frank Zimmerman, Director of Coaching for Oceanside Breakers were among the many leaders in San Diego who strongly advocated the Polo Fields lease be awarded to Surf Cup Sports.
Surf Cup Sports supporters spoke highly of the prestigious soccer tournaments which bring in youth soccer teams from all across the country and of the life-enriching experiences of playing soccer. Youth soccer players of all ages – proudly wearing Surf Soccer Club’s logo on their chest spoke to the City Council. From young ones whose voices captured the audiences’ heart to sophisticated college students who told stories of life changing scholarships, the parade of youth players was impressive. Looking out at the audience, the strong support for Surf Cup Sports was evident.
As Surf Soccer Club wrote on their Facebook, “These local leaders touted the importance of Surf Cup Sports’ events to the local economy and the positive impact Surf has had on the thousands of local kids who have received college scholarships for soccer.”
One of the most impressive and persuasive members of the San Diego City Council was Republican Chris Cate who said, “Surf is part of the fabric of this community and this city.”
“San Diego is known worldwide for stars that we develop every single year who play soccer — who are part of Surf Cup — and go on to do amazing things,” Cate said. “This has gone on for a long, long time, and I couldn’t imagine San Diego without Surf.”
Cate also acknowledged that Surf Cup Sports helps youth soccer players who are financially disadvantaged and that this decision is a Win-Win for San Diego moving forward. Cate referred to the agreement between the City of San Diego and Surf Cup Sports as a “Fantastic partnership I am happy to support.”
Council member Republican Scott Sherman reminded those in attendance that the Polo Club was in default, owed 6 months back rent and has been in violation of code enforcement for the past eleven years. It is clear that “Grass needs time to grow and [the city needs] someone who can pay the rent,” said Sherman. Democratic Council President Pro Tem Marti Emerald added “The Polo Fields are a gift for kids in all neighborhoods to share.”
Back Story – On Behalf of Surf Cup Sports, Jim Madaffer, had spoken on the plans for the 80-acre property. The San Diego Polo Club’s lease expired in 2012 and they were six-months late in rent payments, and had defaulted before on lease payments.The San Diego Polo Club had been leasing the gorgeous 80-acre property on a month-to-month basis since their lease expired.
Surf Cup Sports will complete a significant, multi-million dollar restoration which includes a community trail access as well as public restrooms. Even dogs on leashes are now welcome to walk around the grass fields.
In fact, Surf Club Sports was the only real, experienced option when the city requested a proposal (RFP) for the replacement of the prior San Diego Polo Club lessee. With the approval for 25 events a year, Surf Cup Sports was the only ‘viable’ RFP under consideration according to the City. With an outstanding reputation for professionalism and a clear dedication to care for the condition of the grass on the Polo Fields, Surf Cup Sports was the right choice.
In fact, Surf Club Sports was the only real, experienced option when the city requested a proposal (RFP) for the replacement of the prior San Diego Polo Club lessee.
Although the new lease allows 25 events a year, Surf Cup Sports intends to use about 1/2 of the allowed dates. The fields are our number one commodity and we cannot maintain the quality of the grass if over used,” said Rob Haskell Director of Operations.
Surf Cup Sports was the only ‘viable’ RFP under consideration according to the City. With an outstanding reputation for professionalism and a clear dedication to care for the condition of the grass on the Polo Fields, Surf Cup Sports was the right choice.
While there was an endless steam of complaints on the traffic congestion caused by soccer events held at the Polo Fields, new parking plans are being developed to help alleviate snarled traffic. A few wealthy homeowners in the Fairbanks Ranch area fought to kick youth soccer out of their neighborhood, citing noise problems and declining real estate values — and of course there were the usually cries for environmental surveys for the impact on neighboring bugs, but clear logic won out.
The influence of the rich and powerful and their single-interest groups tried to exert their power and failed. Trying to unravel the original land deed’s intentions and restrictions, which date back to 1983, is complex and difficult. Whether or not Surf Cup Sports violates the non-commercial activities clause is no longer an issue, and while the events were accused of making a ton of money selling goods and service, it is clear those funds find their way back into the community, often serving the good of those less fortunate. The City of San Diego will also benefit from awarding the lease to Surf Cup Sports – under the terms of the lease, the more money generated at the Polo Fields, the more funds will be paid to the city.
This weekend, the Best of the Best – Surf Cup kicks off. A two-weekend event, youth soccer players and coaches from around America will come to San Diego and spends hours outdoors watching soccer — and spending money!
The bottom line: The organization that brings in more hotel room nights annually than any other organization or event in the city of San Diego — with the exception of internationally acclaimed Comic Con (which is recognized as big business for the city’s nearly $10 billion tourist industry) — Surf Cup Sports won the lease and earned the right to continue to help kids gain college scholarships, stay healthy by playing sports outdoors — with eyes watching soccer balls instead of glued to a cell phone.
