Galaxy break ground on national training center
February 26, 2002
The Los Angeles Galaxy broke ground Tuesday on a new soccer stadium as part of the 85-acre, $120 million National Training Center complex to be built on the campus of Cal-State Dominguez Hills.
Once completed, the Galaxy will use the state-of-the-art sports facility for its home games and front-office operations.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said the stadium will be host to the MLS Cup in 2003 and to the MLS All-Star game in 2004.
In addition to a 27,000-seat soccer stadium with covered seating, the complex will include a 13,000-seat tennis stadium. Construction also calls for the renovation of the track and field and velodrome facilities on the campus, as well as its baseball fields and tennis courts. The Pete Sampras Tennis Academy also will be housed at the complex.
The bulk of the project is being funded by the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which runs five MLS teams.
"It will move soccer ahead in this country light years," said AEG President Tim Leiweke, also president of Staples Center. "For the first time ever, there will be a stadium built in this country that will be comparable to some of the great soccer stadiums in Europe."
Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony was attended by sports, community and business leaders. Galaxy defender Alexi Lalas and tennis star Pete Sampras arrived at the site aboard a full-size construction bulldozer for the festivities.
"When I reached a certain age, there really wasn't a place to practice or people to play with so I went to Florida," said Sampras, who grew up in Southern California. "I look forward to really growing the sport to a new level."
The Galaxy are expected to play the first MLS game at the stadium in the middle of the 2003 season. The Galaxy currently play at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and open the 2002 season there on March 23 against D.C. United.
The Carson facility be the second stadium in the country created exclusively for soccer; the other is the home stadium of the Columbus Crew. The AEG version will cost twice as much and will feature a roof over the stands that enhances intimacy and contributes to the fan experience.
The complex will also include:
Seven soccer training fields.
Thirty tennis courts, 18 of which will be newly constructed.
A 6,000-seat track and field venue that expands to 15,000 seats and could
potentially serve as the permanent home to USA Track and Field.
A relocation and upgrade of an existing velodrome, inline roller-hockey
rink, and baseball and softball fields.
A three-mile jogging trail with a dozen fitness stations around the perimeter
of the complex
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