As more players and families pack its fields each week the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex notched a major boost in its $45 million capital drive, thanks to a $1.5 million donation announced this week by Taylor Farms.
“Taylor Farms has stepped forward with extraordinary leadership, creating a moment for others to come together and help build something that truly belongs to this community,” said Catherine Kobrinsky Evans, board vice president for the Salinas Regional Sports Authority, the nonprofit organization responsible for the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex on Constitution Boulevard.
The donation by Taylor Farms kicks off “The Match,” a $3 million campaign to build eight new soccer fields and complete critical supporting infrastructure.
“Without the new fields, we are already beyond capacity and unable to meet the community’s demand for high-quality soccer fields,” said Jonathan De Anda, general manager of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “These new fields will allow us to double the number of families using the complex each week.”
Already serving 11,500 people each week, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex has become a hub for youth sports, families and community gatherings throughout Monterey County.
Last summer, the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex was one of just eight venues nationwide, and the smallest by host city population, selected to host Alianza de Futbol, a national tournament that brought more than 5,000 people and 147 teams from across California and beyond to Salinas.
With the addition of new fields and amenities, weekly use is projected to exceed 22,000, and the complex will be well positioned to host state and national tournaments and events that spur economic activity in the region.
“Organizations such as Alianza de Futbol consistently commend the quality of our fields and facility, and they are eager to bring their largest and most competitive tournaments to Salinas once the expansion is complete,” De Anda said. “This will provide a meaningful boost to our community, benefiting both the families who love the game and the local businesses that will see increased sports tourism economic impact.”
The Match
The Match is a $3 million campaign and component of the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex’s broader $10 million effort to complete Phases 2 and 3 of construction.
“Thanks to the generosity and belief of Taylor Farms in our mission,” De Anda said. “This is an ideal moment for the community to step forward and know that their contributions will be matched, doubling their impact.”
In addition to the seven grass fields and sand courts that make up Phase 3, stadium seating, locker rooms and bathrooms in Phase 2b still need to be completed.
The announcement comes as other donors have stepped up in recent months to support a four-phase project that aims to expand the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex into the largest sports and recreation facility between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
In February, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren secured $500,000 in federal funding for the complex, one of 13 community projects she submitted for the Fiscal Year 2026 congressional appropriations cycle. That money will go toward Phase 3.
Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo said he would reallocate $100,000 in discretionary office funds to the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex project after his original proposal for an archway in the Alisal district fell flat.
The supervisor’s funds will go toward the BMX pump track and skate parks, according to Principal for Disruptive Development Alla Zeltser, who is heading the capital campaign.
A $250,000 donation from the Ray Costa family will go toward supporting operations at the complex rather than capital development.
“Both operational and capital support are critical to the success of the complex,” Zeltser said.
When asked if this recent spate of donor activity means the fundraising campaign has reached a new level of momentum, Zeltser said “these are relationships that have been cultivated for years, and we are seeing meaningful progress come to fruition.”
“We are also doing a stronger job of communicating our successes to the community,” Zeltser said, “which contributes to the increased visibility and activity.”
With the Taylor Farms announcement, there is hope it will spur other donations.
“Every donation makes a difference,” Zeltzer said. “We expect significant gifts to follow Taylor Farms’ leadership, and we also hope this is a moment when the broader community chooses to participate at whatever level is meaningful to them.”
The goal is to fulfill their fundraising challenge in 2026 and complete construction of the new fields and supporting amenities by Spring 2027.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Taylor Farms gift kicks off $3M campaign for Salinas soccer complex
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
