Best Fields In America

Discussion in 'Youth & HS Soccer' started by koppite4ever, Nov 6, 2008.

  1. koppite4ever

    koppite4ever New Member

    Mar 5, 2004
    Washington DC
    One of the most disappointing aspects of youth tournaments after traveling so far to play is the quality of fields at the tournament site. Done right, every pitch used should be totally flat, cut the night before an event and watered that morning. I believe that the best grass fields to play on are Bermuda and Kentucky Bluegrass.

    Here is a list of top fields in America that I have experienced as a coach and hope you can add to them to help folks choose a quality place to play:

    1. Soccerplex, Germantown, MD: Bethesda, Discovery and Potomac Tournaments
    20 Bermuda and Bluegrass fields in circular complex and 2 lighted Turf fields. Stadium field for finals. Bathrooms every 4 fields and indoor complex.

    2. Olney Park, Olney, MD: Capital Cup and Bethesda Tournaments
    8 Bluegrass fields on site. Portapotties.

    3. Polo Grounds, Del Mar, CA: Surf Cup
    20 Bermuda fields all together. Close to Pacific Ocean. Portapotties.

    4. Wide World Of Sports, Orlando, FL: Disney Adidas Showcase
    6 lighted Bermuda fields in top class site with stadium seating. Bathrooms at each end of the site.

    5. Tyrell Park and Chinn Park, Woodbridge, VA: PWSI Toys For Tots Tournament
    Total of 9 Bermuda fields at 2 separate locations. Portapotties.

    6. Covenant Park, Columbia, MD: SAC Columbia Invitational
    6 lighted Turf fields, 4 Bluegrass fields and one Bluegrass stadium field. Bathroom at clubhouse and portapotties.

    7. Striker Park, Richmond, VA: Jefferson Cup
    8 Bermuda fields, incl. one stadium field. Portapotties.

    8. Hampton Roads Soccer Complex, VA Beach, VA: Beach FC Tournament
    14 Bermuda fields. 2 bathrooms on site.

    9. WRAL Soccer Complex, Raleigh, NC: CASL Shootout and Showcase
    12 Bermuda fields and one stadium field. Bathroom on site in clubhouse and portapotties.

    10. Valley View Park, Manassas, VA: PWSI Toys For Tots and NVSC Tournament.
    6 Bermuda fields. Bathroom on site.
     
  2. LOL! since no one is jumping in...best fields we see.....

    our 2 brand new turf fields. hit the potty before you leave home because the port-o-potties are usually days past due for service. nice full bathrooms that are always locked in a nice concession building that was given to baseball and they never have it open. 2 ss fields at the same locations, severely overplayed, did ya ever see the movie The Sand Lot? no grass at the goal or half. just dirt.

    County park- full bathrooms that are always good and clean with beautiful grass fields (sorry, don't know the grass type but it is pretty and soft. LOL). problem is if anyone spills a bottle of water on a field they close them! they should look great, they are hardly ever played on. Rough parking at the tournament.

    sounding familiar to anyone? ;)
     
  3. Bird1812

    Bird1812 New Member

    Nov 10, 2004
    You would have to add Citizens Bank Field at Progin Park in Lancaster, Mass. to the list. Eleven sub-surface irrigated Kentucky Blue Grass fields, 5 Field Turf synthetic turf fields, all 110 x 75 yds, concession stand, restrooms, and portapotties. A few things still need to be added like lights, expanded parking and more shelter for inclement weather, but the 2009 Nationals will be held there, so maybe some of you will get to see it for yourself.
     
  4. JohnR

    JohnR Member+

    Jun 23, 2000
    Chicago, IL
    Des Moines, IA hosted Region II championships in '07. Twenty flawless fields. Better facility than the Rockford, IL site that is typically used by Region II. Rockford is just about the biggest, with maybe 45 fields over the two parks, but there aren't many truly good fields in the complex.

    The Pizza Hut Park/Frisco facility in Texas is outstanding, of course, with about 15 quality grass fields, 2-3 turf, the stadium field, and lights.

    Worst fields the kids ever played a tournament on was at Jefferson Cup in Richmond. Slim pickings outside of Striker Field, apparently. I wouldn't have let a cow onto that field, although I think it would been acceptable for a goat.
     
  5. Bolivianfuego

    Bolivianfuego Your favorite Bolivian

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Va
    Club:
    Bolivar La Paz
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    Tyrell is beautiful to play on!

    I played there tons of times back in 2000 and a little after.

    Only problem with bermuda grass is the 'turf burn' you gert when slide tackling on there.

    Also the fields that Michael Jordan made in dedication to his father in north carolina IMO are one of the best on the east coast too.
     
  6. Dalglish

    Dalglish Member

    Sep 26, 2005
    A couple of my favorites in Chicago include the fields at McKinley Park and Douglas Park on the near southwest side. Neither field has Bermuda or Kentucky Blue grass like the fields you mention. In fact, by late summer these fields do not have much grass at all. No portapotties, the toilets are located behind a tree.

    These fields have recently helped to produce 2 youth US Nats team players. Additionally, I bet the fields you mention do not have police security cameras or police panic call towers nearby. They can be very useful when you hear gunfire or see a car being stolen at 10am.
     
  7. JohnR

    JohnR Member+

    Jun 23, 2000
    Chicago, IL
    There's one off Cicero that features a woman selling mangos on a stick, with chili powder. The two baseball diamonds are unfortunate, though, because if it doesn't rain for a while and the wind blows, the infield dust tends to get in the players' eyes, and when they are tackled they arise covered in what appears to be a tawny flavor of flour.
     
  8. tjdsocc

    tjdsocc New Member

    Nov 16, 2007
    I hear people talk about bad fields etc...... most of the best tournaments, wags, jefferson cup, presidents cup, pretty lousy fields except if you make a final. South Dakota has an awesome complex, regionals will be there again for the third time in 10 years. Tough trip for most of the folks.
     
  9. PFCoach

    PFCoach New Member

    Oct 13, 2007
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Bettye Wilson Soccer Complex in Las Vegas, NV. 9 or 10 grass fields that are USUALLY in very good shape. All fields are lighted and there are concessions and bathrooms close. Parking isn't too bad since there is a high school right next to it.

    Kellogg Zaher Soccer Complex Las Vegas, NV. 7 turf fields and 3-4 grass fields that they take good care of. All fields are lighted. Decent concessions and bathrooms near most exits. parking is fairly decent...at least for league games.
    *the worst thing about the turf fields is that they are surrounded by rocks. WORST-IDEA-EVER.
     
  10. viscajunior

    viscajunior Member+

    Aug 3, 2008
    Club:
    Junior Barranquilla
    Nat'l Team:
    Colombia
    This summer i was lookin for a academy in South Florida to play in, i almost went to one that Barcelona was doing in Miami, i really dont know this fields but it is good to learn, i am interested to play soccer in the US.
     
  11. thesoccerphantom

    Nov 4, 2004
    Dallas Texas
    Been to a ton of fields and complex's.............
    Hampton Roads, Virginia has the best pitch surface.
    Close second would be the new pitch surface at NC State.
    Best College facility, Tennessee.
     
  12. gewyglop

    gewyglop Member

    Feb 27, 2008
    Bettye Wilson fields in Las Vegas are world class.
     
  13. gmankane

    gmankane New Member

    Nov 10, 2008
    the academy showcase fields in greensborough were nice.
     
  14. BakEd

    BakEd New Member

    Nov 9, 2008
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Japan
    Nationals in 2007, at Pizza Hut were pretty nice. Not anymore though, as the fields have been completely ruined due to overuse.
     
  15. RegionIIFutbolr

    Jul 4, 2005
    Region 2
    Nationals 2006
    Region II National Championship 2007
    Cownie Soccer Complex Des Moines, IA

    Perfect place to hold a National Tournament. Its in the heartland, so the west coast doesnt have to fly all the way to the east coast and vise versa. :)
     
  16. cleansheetbsc

    cleansheetbsc Member+

    Mar 17, 2004
    Club:
    --other--
    Haven't been there in a couple years, but the fields at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta are outstanding. Not too many ( I remember 4).
     
  17. Pike's Peak, Colorado hands down... The scenery is awesome and the fields were like putting greens when I was there in '90 or so. Perfectly flat and just a little moist. Just a really fun place to play, although the altitude takes some getting used to. All kinds of crazy planes fly over as well, because you are basically on an Air Force base (the Air Force Academy is there as well).
     
  18. peridigm

    peridigm Member

    Apr 19, 2007
    MD
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    Kirkwood Soccer Club has the best complex I have seen near the north MD/DE area. They have several Bermuda grass fields and they are well maintained.
     
  19. zhosereh

    zhosereh New Member

    Jul 28, 2007
    WRAL at CASL? The 3 turf fields are ok (1 being much better than the other)...but the regular grass/dirt fields have typically awful.

    Bryan Park in Greensboro has some of the best fields in the country. Located next to a golf course & maintained by the golf course staff, this complex is for games only.
    The grass is typically like the 2nd cut of off a green.

    Frisco has nice fields when they are in good shape.
     
  20. Celtic3

    Celtic3 New Member

    Apr 5, 2004
    Ah memories....The polo fields in Naperville were just.......Magic?
     
  21. Academy Fan

    Academy Fan New Member

    Sep 16, 2008
    Castaic, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Home Depot Fields are world class. My son really liked the fields in Greensbobo, NC at the Academy Showcase.
     
  22. abgcunited11

    abgcunited11 New Member

    Oct 25, 2007
    Virginia
    maryland soccerplex is the best in the country, hands down.
     
  23. Bolivianfuego

    Bolivianfuego Your favorite Bolivian

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Va
    Club:
    Bolivar La Paz
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    ^^^ Yea it was nice playing there too growing up!
     
  24. CasaMama

    CasaMama New Member

    Dec 8, 2007
    Maryland soccerplex is superb. Now with four turf fields it can't be beat.

    The fields in Little Rock, Arkansas where nationals were held were lovely. The extreme heat and humidity made it miserable, but the fields were very good.
     
  25. Bolivianfuego

    Bolivianfuego Your favorite Bolivian

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Va
    Club:
    Bolivar La Paz
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    ^^^^YUUUCK!! I hate turf...
     

Share This Page