Reasons to oppose professional sports in Santa Ana

1. Puts property values at risk. With constant noise (announcer, crowds,vuvuzalas and fireworks), parking hassles, potentially rowdy post-game crowds; potential new families will think twice before moving to neighborhoods surrounding a potential professional stadium site.

2. Costs to taxpayers (You & I) in the millions. MLS estimates the cost to construct a stadium at $300 Million. Where is this cash-strapped city going to find that kind of money? Name sponsorships won’t generate that kind of cash. And once built, who covers operating expenses of such a huge enterprise? Us? Really?

3. Hurts local sports. Only Chivas USA will have access to the Eddie West Stadium, no one else. The season is eight months long. That means every program in Santa Ana will have no venue. None. There are no alternatives.

4. Creates traffic and the need for traffic enforcement. Along with traffic comes pollution and more cars mean more enforcement (police officers, cars, dogs, motorcycles and helicopter) are needed. In addition parking mitigation MUST be strictly monitored or our streets will be event parking. In fact based on the number of spaces available (2040) and the average crowd (14000), cars need to average 7 persons per vehicle to be accommodated in existing parking and that leaves no parking for employees or city workers.

5. No due diligence. There are (1) no independent professional impact studies and no environmental impact reports nor have there been any public hearings--all are egregious, deplorable, possibly criminal oversights.

Shouldn't we put our neighborhoods first?

We think so and believe you do too.

The Official City of Santa Ana Statement on Chivas USA

“The City of Santa Ana has had very preliminary and informal discussions with Chivas USA, a Major League Soccer team currently playing at the Home Depot Center in Carson, regarding a potential relocation to a new soccer venue.  At present, the City has not engaged in any formal discussions or negotiations with Chivas, USA for these purposes.  In the event, the City were to pursue formal negotiations with any major league sports team to relocate to our community, we would ensure that all residents, neighborhood associations and other stakeholders would be properly notified and would have an opportunity to participate in the process.”

The above statement was issued by interim City Manager Paul Walters on June 21, 2011.

Is anyone really to believe that The City of Santa Ana would actually notify or involve neighborhood associations in the process to bring a professional sports franchise to Santa Ana?

We don't and neither should you.

The letter above was received from the City of Santa Ana on July 13, 2011 in response to a request for any correspondence between Chivas and The City of Santa Ana.

In the letter the Interim City Attorney Joseph Straka states that "meeting minutes, proposals, contracts, environmental and economic impact studies,records of ongoing negotions, of scheduled future meetings and the placing of related items on the council agenda." are exempt from disclosure.

Doesn't sound like the City of Santa Ana intends to either be truthful with the neighborhoods or offer them an opportunity to participate in the process.

Hello Neighbor

Welcome to the Santa Ana Save our Stadium blog. Glad to have you join us.

After all what is Santa Ana but a collection of more than 60 unique and different neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods requires that neighbors invest time and energy not only in ones own property, but often time and energy in the neighborhood as a whole for the betterment of it.

And in turn those actions usually involve others which create or strengthen relationships with other neighbors, leading in turn to a variety of positive effects.

Join us as we seek to create and strengthen relationships with you and each other to protect and improve our neighborhoods and all the wonderful assests that make Santa Ana a desirable place to live.