The Modesto City Council voted 6-0 to advance a plan to site a proposed professional soccer stadium downtown while locating practice fields and team facilities at the municipal golf course adjacent to John Thurman Field.

Councilmembers chose the hybrid option over two other proposals — a downtown-only site and a West Modesto site — describing the decision as an initial step to bring men's and women's United Soccer League (USL) teams to Modesto and to spur development in both downtown and West Modesto. The council did not specify a timeline, funding breakdown, or final approvals required.

Council discussion and public comments at the vote emphasized potential economic and community benefits. “Our kids, grandkids, great great grandkids are gonna look back to this day, and they're going to be proud of vision and goals of this council. It brings housing. It brings much new jobs. It brings mix, just amenities to the community that everyone really benefits from. This is a good way to to impact economic development and be the regional attraction,” an unnamed city official said. “I'm really excited. Going forward, I think that this will bring, many, many entertainment options. We will be able to attract people from all over the state of California and beyond,” another unnamed city official said.

According to council remarks, the hybrid plan would place the stadium footprint downtown while using the municipal golf course location next to John Thurman Field for practice fields and team facilities. Councilmembers said the project is expected to support downtown and West Modesto revitalization through new housing, retail, health-care services and sports-related activity, though specific funding sources and implementation steps were not provided during the meeting.

The council described this vote as a first procedural step; additional details — including project timeline, entitlements, environmental review, financing and any required agreements with private teams or the United Soccer League — were not specified in the public discussion. The city posted a notice about the project and next steps on its sports and entertainment page at modestogov.com/3140nine.

No mover or seconder was named on the record; the council recorded a unanimous 6-0 tally to advance the hybrid location option.