Major renovation project underway at Santa Barbara City College La Playa Stadium

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A $1.7 million renovation project is underway at La Playa Stadium and will entail the closure of the facility for much of the summer.

Santa Barbara City College announced that the stadium — which has been closed to the public since last March — will be off limits while its’ 11-year-old field turf is being replaced.

“Just about any turf is going to be great the first few years,” SBCC athletic director Rocco Constantino said. “We were worried about what is this turf going to look like seven, eight, nine or ten years down the road."

The product that is being installed is FieldTurf. The infill will include CoolFill, which will keep the surface temperature of the turf cool. 

After COVID-19 cancelled all its sports seasons, SBCC’s athletes can't wait to take the field in the fall.

“I’m just looking forward to playing on it, sliding on it,” soccer player Savannah Mohatt said. “We've gotten some bad turf burns."

“I feel like the old stadium was just constant shin splints and sore knees,” football player Charlie Bittle said. “Having that turf field where you’re practically walking on a cloud, it’s the best feeling in the world."

The school will also be updating the drainage system, which is believed to be around 20-years-old. 

After a detailed inspection, the existing track will remain in place under its current condition.

“It's going to be a source of pride with the community, campus and students,” Constantino said.

“It's exciting, they're anticipating a great facility,” SBCC head football coach Craig Moropoulos said. “It just creates energy and that's what you like."

The Vaqueros will practice at Santa Barbara High School’s newly renovated Peabody Stadium throughout the summer months.

The La Playa Stadium reconstruction project will be complete on August 21.