Neglected Soccer Fields to Get World Cup Face Lift

World Cup ’94 officials announced Tuesday a program to upgrade neglected soccer fields in Los Angeles’ poorest neighborhoods, beginning with a sports field in the Nickerson Gardens housing project.

At a news conference attended by Mayor Tom Bradley and Peter Ueberroth, co-chairman of Rebuild L.A., World Cup ’94 chairman Alan Rothenberg stood on the modest field and pledged to work together with the city and private organizations to nourish soccer in the inner-city.

“It is very important to us that this city is ready spiritually as well as physically when the world drops in on us in 1994,” he said.

The World Cup, considered sport’s largest single event, is a one-month 24-team tournament to be held in nine U.S. cities. The Rose Bowl in Pasadena will play host to eight matches throughout the tournament including the third-place game and the final, to be played on July 17.

Rothenberg said the program will include upgrading fields, installing lights at some sites, conducting clinics with players and coaches from the U.S. national team and providing children with tickets to international soccer matches held locally and to first-round World Cup matches.

Ueberroth said Rebuild L.A. will join the World Cup organization to sponsor the project, called the World Cup USA Inner-City Soccer Program.

According to Tonie Groom, commissioner of soccer for the Watts Friendship Sports League, of the 5,000 residents of Nickerson Gardens, about 200 children play in a local soccer league.

“If they upgrade this field and put up lights, I predict you’ll see 400 kids out here next year,” said Groom, who is an LAPD officer.

Officials said work on the field is scheduled to begin immediately.