Zodiac Plans to Move Its Games to UC Irvine

The Zodiac professional soccer team is completing plans to move its home field to UC Irvine from Santa Ana Stadium, General Manager Ricardo Minaya said Friday.

Minaya said the move is designed to cut costs and help build a more loyal fan base. The Zodiac averaged 1,278 in announced attendance in 14 games at 10,000-seat Santa Ana Stadium last year, and Minaya said the team wanted to find a less expensive place to play.

At UC Irvine, the Zodiac will play night games on the Anteaters’ old baseball field and day games in the track and field stadium.

It will be a familiar locale for the Zodiac’s new coach, former UCI goalkeeper Mike Gartlan. Gartlan, a goalkeeper for the Zodiac last season, has taken over for Tony Cerna, whose contract wasn’t renewed after leading the team to a 10-16 record in its inaugural season.

The Zodiac, which also has moved its headquarters--to Mission Viejo--will start the A-League season in April.