A professional soccer team is definitely coming to Modesto, and with it a brand new soccer stadium, according to the Modesto City Council.
A public workshop Wednesday shared the proposed sites for a stadium and what their financial and economic impacts could be. The presentation was the most detailed information made to the public about the topic since the city sent a letter of intent last year.
The workshop was about three hours and touched on a number of angles, including who will be affected, financial implications and the possible expansion of the United Soccer League.
The council had the option to decide during the workshop where a stadium would be built. However, it opted to delay the decision until June to allow for more time and data.
Councilmember Nick Bavarro assured representatives of the USL that Modesto would have professional soccer in the near future, no matter where the team plays. “This is a council that works well together and are focused on getting projects like this done,” he said. “The message you can take back to your office is that this council will get this done.”
USL is a Tampa, Florida-based league that started in 1986. It has several leagues throughout the United States, with The Championship being USL’s top professional men’s league, which includes Sacramento Republic.
League One is the other professional men’s league and has 12 clubs, with plans for six expansion clubs. The letter of intent calls for the Modesto club to compete at the USL’s first or second professional tier, to begin with.
In the workshop, three potential sites were highlighted for a new “entertainment district” that would include a soccer stadium, businesses and potential housing. The locations were identified as “Downtown-South,” around D Street, “Downtown-North,” by the DoubleTree Hotel, and “West Modesto,” which already includes John Thurman Field ballpark and the Modesto Municipal Golf Course.
By the end of the meeting, the council agreed to further explore two locations: Downtown-North and West Modesto. There are pros and cons to both, which the council discussed for all in attendance to hear after the final public comment portion of the workshop.
The city worked with Seer World, a leadership consulting agency, and its founder and CEO Peter Sorckoff, who spoke at Wednesday’s workshop. He said the city already owns “a fairly substantial amount of land” at the Downtown-North site, which would make building there easier. The city also would save, Sorckoff estimated, between $35 and $45 million because of the existing parking structures. The structures can be added onto if needed.
“Our belief is that it can continue to be built up on that parking structure. So if we wanted to have another two floors of that parking structure, we could,” Sorckoff said. “And if you wanted to put an apartment building or a set of condos on top of that, you could absolutely do that.”
While building at Modesto-North would save money, it would require the demolition of Centre Plaza.
Building at the West Modesto location could create a sports hub. John Thurman Field already exists and a soccer stadium added near it would bring a variety of sports to the area. There is also room to build a practice facility on the site. Sorckoff said the possibility of multiple sports at one location could bring an abundance of foot traffic to possible restaurants, hotels and other businesses in the surrounding areas.
“I believe that Modesto is a city that is big enough to support both soccer and baseball,” Sorckoff said. “I really do not think this is an issue of picking one or the other. Of course, that is completely the protocol for this counsel to determine on behalf of the residents. … I think financially and from a land perspective, this site gives us everything that we need to have both of those things interact together.”
One of the downsides mentioned in Wednesday’s workshop about the West Modesto location is the increase in property taxes that would come with a stadium. For the surrounding neighborhoods, the value of houses would drastically increase, meaning so would taxes. The question arose whetherfamilies currently living there could afford to stay. There was lengthy discussion about the potential gentrification of the area, sure to remain a topic between now and June.
Sorckoff also discussed a limited deceleration lane at the Highway 99 exit, which could pose traffic concerns as well as needed infrastructure improvements.
While some City Council members expressed an interest in one location over the other, Mayor Sue Zwahlen said she did not have a preference. Zwahlen said that “not once have I been deterred by a site” in deciding whether or not to go see live sports.
“I think regardless of what site we pick, it will work,” said Zwahlen.
All councilmembers, except one, voted to hold another workshop in June and delay a final decision on the stadium’s location until then.
Councilmember Jeremiah Williams recused himself from Wednesday’s discussion and vote due to a potential conflict of interest. Williams said this was because he owns a business near the proposed downtown location. However, he could participate in further discussions and votes if the Fair Political Practices Commission allows him to in the future.
This story was originally published March 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM.