Sports Complex Approved by Council

The City Council unanimously approved a plan by Universal Sports Academy (USA) to open an indoor soccer/baseball complex, complete with an after-school study area, in the larger of two warehouse buildings near the waterfront and the Amtrak Station.

The directors of USA told the council they are ready to begin, with the financing in place. The city will spend up to $10,000 to negotiate a 15-year lease with the organization, and USA will spend more than $500,000 of its own funds to retrofit the building and install the turf and other amenities.

The facility will be intended for use by a combination of local youth and league sports play, but the focus will be on local youth.

Another operator, now called Califorrnia Courtside, has proposed using the other, smaller building for basketball and volleyball. It would, according to owner Dan Middlefield, attract local users as well as regional tournament teams.

However, that building has also been proposed as the site of a environmental  research center, pending funding from a state grant. That money, from Prop. 84, has been awarded, but the awardees will not be announced until mid to late April. If California Courtside cannot use that building, city staff has been directed to work with them to find another site for the facility.