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Soccer president says one complex at a time
By Randy Sharer
rsharer@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- Before a 20-field soccer complex is built in Normal, why not enhance the 22-field soccer complex in Bloomington?

Ben Kissel, president of the 1,650-player Prairie Cities Soccer League, believes the latter makes sense.

“From a soccer standpoint, we can always use more grass,” said Kissel, responding to news that Mitsubishi Motors North America has offered to lease 100 acres near the car plant in Normal for a new soccer complex.

“In my opinion, it would be nice to finish the one we started.”

The PCSL Complex still needs restrooms and lights to accommodate night play.

Mike Fletcher, president of the Bloomington-Normal-based Illinois Fusion Soccer Club, called the new complex “exciting if it becomes a reality.”

He said there is a need for another complex to reduce wear on the existing one.

“The Fusion has 25 teams (with a combined 380 players), so definitely a nice complex like that is something we would love to be a part of,” Fletcher said.

In 1993, then PCSL president Quinton Koch announced plans to build the 62-acre PCSL Complex on Ireland Grove Road in Bloomington.

He said it could bring in 200-team, three-day tournaments, which could have an economic impact of more than $2 million on the community.

Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said the proposed $3.5 million complex in Normal “could generate a lot of new tourism business and bring in hotel/motel tax dollars … (and) be a real economic boon to the community.”

There is no need for a second soccer complex at this time, but there will be in two to five years, according to Illinois Wesleyan men’s soccer coach Ryan Lakin, the Illinois Fusion director of coaching.

“I think it is a fantastic idea from a standpoint of soccer,” Lakin said of the proposed complex. “The PCSL Complex is fantastic, and they are working to improve it. Another complex allows for more options.”

Creating and maintaining large tournaments can be tricky.

“The funny thing about tournaments is you have to build them up,” Lakin said, noting that out-of-town teams might not wish to visit the same place year after year. “It’s not like it’s clientele you can always count on.”

The costs of the new complex would include a “nominal” lease fee of $10,000 to $15,000, which might be paid by the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We do sponsor quite a few events that come into town,” visitors bureau director Crystal Howard said. “This certainly fits into our plan of work.”

Howard said the bureau has yet to determine how much of a financial commitment it would make to the project. The board meets monthly. The amount the bureau commits will depend on how much financing can come from grants from the state, corporations and soccer’s national governing bodies.

“Adding any soccer fields to the community is important,” Normal Parks director Garry Little said. “It is a growing sport. I think having more fields is a good thing whether in this complex or someplace else.

“This is really in the preliminary stages. Nothing is certain as of yet.”

David Magers, former chairman of the Bloomington-Normal Sports Commission, said the original plan for improving local soccer facilities three years ago was to build a high-end, championship-level facility and at the same time upgrade the PCSL Complex.

“We talked with Bloomington and Normal about jointly doing that,” he said. “They would jointly maintain and manage those facilities, and we as a sports commission would be responsible for marketing outside events to both facilities.”

That idea fell through as Bloomington developed financial issues.

“We started to work exclusively with Normal to build a second facility,” Magers said.

Supporters of the new complex envision lighting on 10 of the 20 fields and two fields having artificial turf. The complex could bid to host Illinois High School Association and Missouri Valley Conference events.

The IHSA state tournaments are held at the 4,500-seat stadium at North Central College in Naperville, which will remain as host until its five-year contract ends after the 2010-11 school year. Bidding would then reopen for the 2011-12 through 2015-16 seasons.

“We have the bidding process and would welcome any proposals,” IHSA Assistant executive director Beth Sauser said. “We would take a look at what would be good for soccer.”

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Reader comments on this story - 24 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

dear mr man jock wrote on Nov 21, 2007 5:26 PM:

" I bet you live at home with your mom and have never played a sport in your life...WIMP! Dont judge a sport unless youve tried it. And to the article the PCSL complex needs amenities before they think of adding a new one... we should fix up the one we have to make it even better. "

to Man Jock wrote on Nov 21, 2007 2:19 PM:

" I've played soccer all my life, and you wouldn't be able to take a hit from me. Keep your mouth where your a$$ is... on the couch. "

to: Man Jock wrote on Nov 21, 2007 2:16 PM:

" Please feel free to sign up at the local indoor complex for the rec league. I assure you, you will have a different view on soccer if you were to play at a competitive level. Oh, and the other comment was correct... the level of conditioning that it takes to play soccer at a competitive level is well beyond what almost any other athlete does. I know individuals who are competitive triathletes that have made the comment that they need to get back into "soccer shape". In regards to the article. This is a good thing. Maybe the latin (most competitive) adult league would be allowed to use these fields. "

Great idea wrote on Nov 21, 2007 2:11 PM:

" As long as the organization can pay for it on it's own. "

BA wrote on Nov 21, 2007 2:11 PM:

" We agree with success of Champion Fields. They have done a great service to the community. The current complex could not accomodate more than 80 teams at this time. They have already hosted tournaments at that capacity and space is limited. With a new complex teams would come from all over to attend tournaments in B-N. As an old Kevin Costner movie once quoted "If we build they will come." Thank you City of Normal for supporting our youth. "

Costanza to: intheknow wrote on Nov 21, 2007 1:08 PM:

" you're way off base. Champion Fields has hosted several national tournaments... at least seven I can think of. Not twelve-year olds, but all different age groups. But the biggest problem I have with your comment is this - do the 12-year olds come by themselves?? Don't you think there are parents and other adults involved? Do they stay in hotel rooms? Eat in the restaurants?? Shop at the mall?? See where I'm going here?? Champion Fields is one of the most cost effective revenue streams for the community (cost vs. reward). "

tired of it all wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:51 AM:

" Sounds like maybe the Fuzion group should have to try to build a nice complex of their own with their own raised funds like PCSL had to do. Maybe if PCSL had all the tax dollars to spend like the proposed complex will have, maybe their complex would be as nice as the proposed complex is sure to be. Soccer is a sport, however, for me it is a boring sport to watch as a spectator unless one of your own kids is playing and even then it is somewhat boring to watch, but to each is own. This isn't about wether soccer is a sport or not, it is about wether the public should have to pay to provide the playing field or not and the answer is no!! If you want to play the game provide the funds to provide the fields on your own. If you can't then you can't play the game. This should be the motto for all of the games not just soccer. "

to: To PCSL wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:43 AM:

" The PCSL president stated that 'from a soccer standpoint we can always use more grass,' so it doesn't sound like they are strongly against the idea. It just sounds like he wants to remind everyone that their fields could use additional development. I have a child playing for PCSL and think that those fields could be really great with a little more money thrown their way. Oh, and tournaments could easily be held there when the PCSL season isn't going on. (the season isn't that long) "

Gramps wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:37 AM:

" Mike, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. "

to Man Jock.. wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:16 AM:

" Can tell you have never played - so to give you an idea - take off your football pads, now don't stop the game every 5 seconds and rest for 30 seconds, just keep going... There you go, not try to keep it up for 2 - 45 minute halves... still with me.....oh no, we lost you after the first 5 minutes, keep running.... Oh, and don't quit when its 95 in the sun or 35 in the snow.... NO hands now. Oooo - sorry about the body check, you could have used those football pads... Hope that you don't get a concussion, broken leg, etc.... Just try it some time. "

Man Jock wrote on Nov 21, 2007 9:28 AM:

" Who cares? Soccer is for wimpy kids anyway. Those kids who are too afraid to swing a bat, take a hit in football, or who are too short and scrawny to play basketball. Soccer shouldn't even be considered a sport. "

To PCSL wrote on Nov 21, 2007 9:09 AM:

" Nice try. You saw the dollar signs and you want what you think is your share. I've had two kids through PCSL and one through club soccer. First of all, your parking lot wouldn't be able to handle the crowds, there is no place for all the vendors, and how would you work around a weekend tourament when you have PCSL playing on Saturdays and Bloomington HS playing ther games out there? That field handles the current needs, but not what they are talking about with the new comples. To intheknow, you not know. Soccer tournaments cover several age groups AND their parents spending money in the community (hotel, food, the mall, Wal-Mart, etc). "

To Tournaments wrote on Nov 21, 2007 9:04 AM:

" The Fusion soccer club hosted a 3 day tournament this past August with alot of greif given back from PCSL.... To get the 200 team tournaments to come you have to host good quality tournaments to get your name out there & they will come. This what the Fusion soccer club is trying to do...... "

jay wrote on Nov 21, 2007 8:37 AM:

" peraps this needs a rethink, this would put about 40 fields with in short reach. looks like another financial drain to me, but then again the 'uptowners" have a little man complex and need to upstage again. "

Come on! wrote on Nov 21, 2007 8:02 AM:

" Ben Kisssel said it all.......“In my opinion, it would be nice to finish the one we started.” Enough said!! "

Pastafarian wrote on Nov 21, 2007 7:42 AM:

" I think what some people are missing here is the opportunity to have good organized adult leagues. The PCSL facilities only serve children (rightly so), this new facility could serve adults and children. Anyone who plays or has played in the adult leagues in this community can tell you the availability and condition of adult fields is sorely lacking. Playing on multipurpose fields (gotta love a 6 inch wide trench where a softball fence once stood) and retention basins lead to numerous injuries. I think these proposed fields would be a terrific asset. And to those who keep forecasting the demise of Mitsubishi and/or turning the building into a prison, keep forecasting. If everyday you predict rain, eventually you will be correct. "

I've said it before . . . wrote on Nov 21, 2007 3:33 AM:

" How much is this going to be used? I don't understand why so much money is being spent here . . . "

Interesting wrote on Nov 21, 2007 3:31 AM:

" You say Bloomington had financial issues, well Normal does too, they have just not come out to the public yet. Ask anyone that works for the Town, they will tell you they (Normal) is having money issues too. "

An Observation wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:13 PM:

" I noticed the phrase "Bloomington developed financial issues". Perhaps it should state that Bloomington built a coliseum and hence came the financial issues. "

To Tournaments wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:52 PM:

" For the fields to be a success there needs to be a lot of planning. The amount of man hours involved is immense, you have to pick the right weekend (there are hundreds of tournaments and you dont want to overlap to much with them), you have to have everything in place, have a good presentation, ect ect ect... i could go on and on. ive been to hundreds of these tournaments, and you know what the good ones are and which ones are the bad ones. i know its a 15+ yr idea, but you need the premier facility first. "

intheknow wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:37 PM:

" Another white elephant and waste of money for the Town of Normal. All that money spent on Maxwell(Champions Field) to bring in a bunch of twelve year olds once a year. On the upside: The soccer complex could be a source of employment for Mitsubishi employees. Looks like Mitsubishi is starting to divest in advance of closing. "

RE:Tournaments wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:18 PM:

" They haven't brought in the "200 team, three day tournaments" because the PCSL facilities are not "championship" quality. We do not have a facility like this in Bloomington-Normal and it is about time we had one! "

BILLY BOB wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:53 PM:

" What a great plan. A complex that will meet the needs of the community and a growing activity for many McLean County youth. The PCSL needs to get on board before someone decides to start a new league at the expected facility. I can forsee the facility as the premier drawing point to enhance the sport of soccer in McLean County. "

Tournaments? wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:17 PM:

" Is it correct to say they have yet to bring in the "200-team, three-day tournaments"? I don't think they have done this yet.... and that statement was 14 years ago. Nice work Mr. Koch. "
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