San Diego MLS set to establish pioneering training facility and Right To Dream Academy on tribal reservation.
San Diego MLS is poised to create history by becoming the maiden professional sports organization to establish a dedicated training facility on a tribal reservation.
This groundbreaking venture, situated in El Cajon on Sycuan tribal land, covers an expansive 28-acre area and will encompass the pioneering Right To Dream residential youth development academy, a first-of-its-kind endeavor in the United States.
The project entails the establishment of a Right to Dream Academy, a residential youth academy catering to students aged 11 to 18, spanning grades 6 through 12.
Existing facilities, like the Singing Hills Hotel, will be repurposed to house dormitories and classrooms for students residing on the campus.
The facility will be accessible to students, professional players, and staff, creating an environment of inclusivity, progress, and unparalleled prospects.
Tom Penn, CEO of San Diego MLS, expressed his enthusiasm for the endeavor, remarking, “We couldn’t ask for a more perfect location for our training facility and Right to Dream Academy.”
“This land is absolutely beautiful – rich with tradition and heritage – which will give us the foundation to achieve our vision to become the epicentre of football excellence and innovation in North America.”
Prominent features of the project encompass a 125,000 square-foot campus, featuring a cutting-edge sports performance facility for both the first team and academy teams.
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This will be complemented by five full-sized soccer fields, incorporating both natural and synthetic turf. The initiative will also encompass open-air training zones and enhancements to facilitate seamless access and operations.
Cody Martinez, Sycuan Tribal Chairman, underscored the significance of this collaboration, affirming, “The establishment of the San Diego MLS training facility and youth academy right here on our reservation represents a powerful convergence of our shared passions and our commitment to the San Diego region.”
Mohamed Mansour, owner and chairman of San Diego MLS, emphasized the positive influence of the Right to Dream academy model and its potential to make a transformative impact in San Diego, a region renowned for its abundant soccer talent.
Tom Vernon, Founder/CEO of Right to Dream and a member of the San Diego MLS ownership group, expressed excitement about extending the Right to Dream ecosystem to San Diego, with the aim of redefining excellence in football and maximizing opportunities for young talent.
He stated, “This is a great opportunity to extend the Right to Dream ecosystem to San Diego with our partners. As we have, at the highest level, elsewhere we will continue to redefine what excellence means in football by bringing our unique offering of football, education and life skills development to maximize opportunities for young talent.”
The groundbreaking ceremony for this pioneering project is slated for November, during which detailed renderings of the facilities and the Right To Dream model will be unveiled
