By Calvin Welch, HANC Board

On March 17th, in a unanimous vote, the Recreation and Parks Commission approved a 5- year lease agreement with the San Francisco Deltas for the use of Kezar Stadium for professional soccer.   The approval also included ending a 25-year ban on the sale of alcohol at any such facility. The agreement allows 15 to 20 games a year at Kezar and practice 5 days a week during the season at Kezar and at Boxer stadium in Balboa Park. The lease is to start in 2017.

The Deltas have agreed to pay Rec and Park $460k for one time capital improvements, mainly sound and lighting improvements necessary for the televising of the games, a requirement of the league to which they belong. In addition a $30,000 yearly fee will be charged for the use of the stadium, which by law must go to the General Fund of the City and cannot be earmarked for the stadium’s specific use unless so budgeted by the department. Kezar has never received a specific line time budget by Rec and Park over its 25-year life.

HANC joined the Kezar Stadium Citizens Advisory Committee in opposing the lease. Primary concerns of both groups was the closing of the facility to recreational users on game and practice days and the “privatization” inducement created by ending the 25-year ban on alcohol sales and consumption on the site. That longstanding ban, consistent with the stadium’s primary use as a youth sports facility (as opposed to a youth sports spectator facility) was believed to be the main reason the facility has been utilized for that purpose and for public recreational uses for the last 25 years.

The Deltas hired the well-connected BMLW and Partners campaign consultants to mount a very successful “full court” press in seeking letters and testimony in support from merchant and sporting organizations. While “going pro” to seek community support paid real dividends to the Deltas, it remains to be seen what impacts the 5,000 to 6,000 expected fans per game will have on the folks who live here.