As the city of Chula Vista is set to take full ownership of the Olympic Training Center starting in 2017, questions remain as to how the center will operate, and how the city will generate revenue.
But one developer has big plans for the center that will be renamed the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Facility once the city takes ownership in January 2017.
Jeff Phair, one of the original developers of Eastlake community, has discussed with retired athletes and international investors about the possibility of bringing a youth sports academy to the center.
He said the academy could also host baseball, basketball, flag football, softball and soccer tournaments.
This academy, he said, will also teach youth how to play these sports in a safe manner and equip coaches with skills and tools to better themselves.
While the 150- acre center will still house and train Olympic athletes, the city will have plenty of open space available to use.
Phair said he has interest from baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr; retired basketball player Alton Lister, ex NFL cornerback Mike Haynes to bring the academy to the Olympic Training Center as well as some international investors.
Phair would not elaborate on the level of interest of the athletes, saying only that they are interested in the youth academy.
He said by linking up with these former professional athletes, the center can generate revenue for the city.
“That allows us to go out and find corporate sponsors like Nike and Under Armour, and Gatorade who will pay some pretty big bucks to be the co-sponsors of the youth sports academy, which will off-set the cost of running the Olympic Training Center,” he said. “We get that revenue by brining in big sports related corporate donors.”
As of now, Phair said he has not met with the city or the center’s operators, The Point Loma Trust, to discuss this project but he said he plans to make an official proposal to the city in about three weeks.
Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said it is premature to discuss operational uses for the Olympic Training Center considering the city has not yet received ownership of the facility.
“That would be a proposal the Point Loma Trust would have to consider once we take ownership of the center,” she said.
Phair said the Olympic Training Center is an ideal location for a sports academy because the center is underutilized.
He said he has been exploring this idea for about two years when he first heard about the city possible taking over the center.
“I saw that there was this opportunity to expand the use for youth sports and generate revenue,” he said.
Phair said he has not drafted a site plan yet so he does not know how many acres this potential academy will take up.
Phair said the goal is for the academy to cultivae Olympic athletes.
“My hope is that the kids coming through these youth sports academies, being coached by ex professionals, being coached by coaches that are taught the right way, that in five or 10 years some of those young people going to are sports youth academy are now becoming Olympic athletes,” he said.
Last year, Phair and a business partner proposed an idea to the San Diego Chargers about the possibility of building a dual use football and soccer stadium in a portion of South County. Phair said that idea has died since the Chargers are not interested.
