Santa Ana to Announce Site of Stadium : Existing Facility to Be Razed for Proposed 18,500-Seat Arena

Santa Ana will announce plans Thursday for an $11-million stadium to replace Santa Ana Stadium, which will be razed for the proposed 18,500-seat Westdome arena.

Deputy City Manager Rex Swanson confirmed Tuesday night that a site has been selected. The new stadium, he said, will have a capacity of 13,400 and will be able to host football, soccer and track and field events. He would not reveal the site, but said about six had been studied, including Centennial Park.

“You’re going to love this design,” he said.

Swanson made his comments at a public meeting held to discuss the $35-million Westdome arena; he fielded some angry questions from the audience.

Students Oppose Plan

“Were going to fight this to the end,” said Ted Moreno, student body president of Santa Ana High School, who was joined in his opposition by Mike McGlinn, student body president of Mater Dei High School, and Tony Espinoza, student body president of Santa Ana Valley High School.

Moreno said the issue involves more than economics. “There are a lot of memories in that stadium,” he said. McGlinn said the arena proposal should be put to the voters.

Swanson rejected that. “I don’t think major complicated decisions should always be put to the voters. This isn’t government by plebiscite,” he said.

Michael Gebauer, general manager of the Tacoma Dome in Washington and a consultant for the Westdome developers, called the proposed site at Civic Center Drive and Flower Street the “best location” he had ever seen for an arena. He said the site has good access and ample parking in the Civic Center area. But he also noted that 95% of the country’s arenas are not profitable.

Don Oliphant, a Westdome partner, said the Santa Ana arena will be in the other 5% because the development will include offices, stores and restaurants. “There are about 18,000 people working in that area every day. If you’re around here at lunchtime, you’ll see those people pour out of the building,” he said. “This is not going to be a losing proposition.”

Another Westdome partner, Allen Durkovic, said the arena’s main tenant would be a professional basketball team, but added that it could also be rented for indoor soccer, ice shows, circuses, concerts and trade shows.