Harlingen to build 14-field soccer complex

HARLINGEN — The city of Harlingen Parks and Recreation Department will host the groundbreaking of the Harlingen Soccer Complex today.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 4515 E. Harrison Ave., approximately 0.8 miles east of Loop 499, at 4:30 p.m.

Jeff Lyssy, director of HPRD, said the construction of the estimated $7.5 million, 14-field soccer complex is a great thing for the city.

“(The complex) will drive tourism to town with tournament play and it will give kids a chance to play soccer,” Lyssy said.

The groundbreaking will initiate the construction of phase one of the soccer complex that will cost approximately $5.2 million and will include 10 of the 14 soccer fields. The city will pay about $4.5 million of the total cost for the complex from certificates of obligation.

Of those 10 fields, Lyssy said, two will be championship fields and six of the fields will have lights allowing for night play.

The Marshall Company, which will construct phase one of the complex, will have 180 days to complete the project after they start construction in mid-September, Lyssy said.

“Phase one should be completed by March and the first large tournament will be held next fall,” Lyssy said.

“The complex will also have a walking trail, playground area, concession and restroom building, covered pavilions, small ponds, beautiful trees and landscaped areas,” a news release states.

Tony Gorman, president of the Arroyo Youth Soccer Club, said everyone is excited and looking forward to the completion of the soccer complex.

“The city has seen how the (soccer) program has grown,” Gorman said. “We’ll have about 1,350 kids signed up (to play soccer this season) by the end of registration this week.”

Gorman said that despite some controversy concerning the cost of the complex, in the end, the city will benefit from the money from the tournaments held at the complex. Gorman said that in 1999, the Holiday Cup, a soccer tournament that brought in about 140 soccer teams from all over Texas and Mexico, generated about $330,000 in revenue for the city.

“It will be an attraction,” Gorman said. “What this will represent is a win, win situation for the community and the kids. We plan to host a number of tournaments there. The complex will pay for itself very quickly.”

“It’s something we thought we’d never see, quite honestly,” Gorman said. “Now our kids will have a place to practice and play. We’re really excited.”