Facility Usage & History
The History of the Facility
“1983
The property was originally deeded to the City in 1983 and the first tenant was the San Diego Polo Club (“SDPC”). The SDPC developed the property primarily for equestrian activity, polo training, polo matches and started using the property in full in 1986.
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“1985 - 2015
From late 80’s to 2015, SDPC members illegally landed airplanes on the fields twice per year. In two instances, multiple planes recklessly and without warning started landing while Surf Soccer kids were still on the field, luckily avoiding injury.
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“1989 - 2018
In the late 1980’s, SDPC received permission from the City of San Diego to install and use light towers at the facility for evening arena polo usage. Located directly under many of the homes that border the fields, arena polo, which also used air horns to signal the start and end of periods, was played regularly until 2018, sometimes as late as 10pm.
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“1990-2018
San Diego Polo Club boasted the longest polo season in North America, with over 16 event weekends per year. These matches included amplified music, and a commentator who narrated the matches over loudspeakers heard throughout the valley.
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“1992 - 2003
Between 1992 and 2003 the Polo Club hosted 2 dog shows per year. Attendees and vendors were allowed to park over 100 motorhomes throughout the playing fields for onsite and unsupervised camping. The noise and disruption to the neighborhood was disregarded as revelers would party into the night.
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“1992-1995
From 1992 to 1995 the Polo Club hosted the “Concert on the Green” an annual event with a full orchestra that attracted large numbers of attendees.
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“1992 - Present
In 1992 in an effort to raise funds for polo club operations, the SDPC signed a sub-lease with Surf Cup and later that same year the 13th annual edition of the San Diego Surf Cup took place onsite.
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Watch video from Surf Cup 1992
“1993- Present
In 1993, San Diego Surf Soccer Club began using the facility for daily trainings and weekend matches.
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“1994
Starting in 1994, San Diego Polo Club began regularly hosted “After Racetrack” parties and concerts at the facility, including amplified music and live music. These parties would regularly end poorly with drunken behavior and loud music sometimes leading to physical & verbal altercations.
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“1994 - Present
Surf Cup added a second major tournament over Thanksgiving weekend named Surf Girls Cup which eventually was re-branded as the Surf College Cup.
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“1995 - 1999
Between 1995 and 1999 an annual Classic Car Show was held, with hundreds of cars parked on the grass with attendees parking on surrounding areas and neighborhoods.
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“1997 - 2012
In 1997, Surf Cup and San Diego Polo Club signed a 15-year soccer exclusivity agreement, guaranteeing Surf Cup and Surf Soccer Club a permanent home.
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“1998
In 1998, the San Diego Polo Club hosted the inaugural “NFL Experience” at the facility prior to Super Bowl XXXII, hosting fans, corporate sponsors and VIP’s.
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“2006 - 2016
In 2006, after years of illegally grading the adjacent Coast to Crest trail to exercise polo ponies, the SDPC was cited by the City of San Diego. For over 10 years, SDPC ignored their responsibility to restore and rehabilitate the trail and that responsibility was passed along to Surf as a requirement in the new lease.
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“2011
City of San Diego, recognizing Surf’s event management expertise, placed Surf in charge of all onsite 3rd party field events after Polo mismanagement led to numerous complaints and city infractions. Surf began running all 3rd part events and this led to the creation of Surf Cup Sports in 2012.
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“2012 - 2016
In 2012, the original lease between the City of San Diego and SDPC expired and SDPC remained on a month-to-month arrangement.
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“2015
In 2015, with the property in a deep state of decline, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure a long-term tenant. After years of on again and off again negotiations, Surf Cup Sports offered to jointly respond to the RFP with the SDPC as 50/50 partners, but that offer was declined by the SDPC as they only wanted full control. Surf Cup Sports submitted on its own for the lease, promoting both a dedication to youth sports activities and a significant economic benefit to the County of San Diego. Surf Cup Sports pledged to make necessary improvements, treat the facility as a community asset, and make the fields more accessible and accommodating.
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“2016
On July 25th, 2016, by a vote of 8 to 1, the City of San Diego granted control of the facility to Surf Cup Sports and soon after we signed a 28.5 year lease. San Diego City Council Member Chris Cate said, “Surf is part of the fabric of this community and this city.”
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“San Diego is known worldwide for stars that we develop every single year who play soccer — who are part of Surf Cup — and go on to do amazing things,” Cate said. “This has gone on for a long, long time, and I couldn’t imagine San Diego without Surf.”
Council Member Scott Sherman reminded those in attendance that the Polo Club was in default, owed 6 months back rent and has been in violation of code enforcement for the past eleven years. It is clear that “Grass needs time to grow and [the city needs] someone who can pay the rent,” said Sherman. Council President Pro Tem Marti Emerald added “The Polo Fields are a gift for kids in all neighborhoods to share.”
“2017
Primarily based on declining membership numbers, mismanagement and infighting, the San Diego Polo Club fell into insolvency and ceased operations. They left behind a trail of substantial debt to Surf Cup Sports and other creditors, and the still ignored Coast to Crest trail. Surf Cup Sports, in a desire to protect the historical usage of the property, worked with former polo club members to create the Surf Polo Club. However, that project only lasted until 2019 when Surf Polo Club also become insolvent, leaving thousands of dollars in unpaid bills to Surf Cup Sports.
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“2017 - Present
Between 2017 and 2019 Surf Cup Sports invested $3m into upgrades on the property These investments included $1.8m in a state-of-the-art irrigation system that will be used to save millions of gallons of water per year and improve the health of the grass. A further $1.2m was spent on safety improvements, property clean up and beautification. In 2018, SCS partnered with OMWD (Olivenhain Municipal Water District) to bring reclaimed water to the facility – a win for the local environment.
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