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San Diego FC continues maybe the most important stretch of games in its young history, with the second of three straight home dates and the third of five in the month of May at Snapdragon Stadium.

Saturday’s opponent at 7:30 p.m. is Sporting KC, which currently sits in 13th place in the 15-team Western Conference and has won just once in its last four outings.

The schedule stiffens considerably over the back half of the season.

“Good teams win at home,” goalkeeper CJ Dos Santos said. “This is a really important time for us, especially to take advantage of these home matches to gain as many points as possible going into the tougher games, the longer road trips in the summer and the playoff push in the fall.”

The only downside of playing on their home field might be, well, the field. It is beginning to show signs of stress.

This is not a new development at Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022 and has struggled to maintain pristine turf conditions as the facility has added tenants and events. Last fall, the San Diego Wave women’s pro soccer team scrapped a home game and played at Racing Louisville instead because, according to a club statement, “the current field conditions … have not met the standards required for a safe playing environment.”

The Snapdragon grass hasn’t devolved to quite that state, but it wasn’t exactly a pool table for SDFC’s 2-0 win against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday.

“We actually talked about it after the last game,” SDFC captain Jeppe Tverskov said. “You kind of feel it, especially progressing through the game. It gets a little loose. There’s a lot of sand already put on the pitch, which probably would mean not that it’s struggling but a couple games maybe too much on it, I don’t know.

“We are still able to play the way we want right now, so it’s not like it’s a bad pitch. We don’t complain as of yet. But we noticed. It feels like the top of it easily goes off.”

Saturday is the fifth of seven soccer games in a 23-day stretch — May 3, 14, 17 and 24 by SDFC, May 4, 10 and 25 by the Wave.

And imagine if the San Diego Legion pro rugby team, which called Snapdragon Stadium home for the previous two years, had not moved to USD’s Torero Stadium for its 2025 spring season. (It had home games the past two weekends.)

“We are in close communication with San Diego FC, working together to provide the best pitch possible given the heavy match schedule this month,” a statement from the Oak View Group, which manages the facility and its field for San Diego State, the stadium owner. “We have also experienced some unseasonably cool weather over the past month, but our investment in grow lights has helped improve the playing surface significantly.”

SDFC coach Mikey Varas remained diplomatic Friday following practice at the club’s East County complex, which does look like a pool table.

“Our training field is amazing; the stadium field can improve,” Varas said. “I think I’ll probably just leave it that it can get better and we’re working with San Diego State to make those improvements from a details perspective. With our style of play, it’s really important that the quality of turf is good.”

Varas prefers a high-risk, high-reward approach, controlling possession and pushing bodies forward to pin the opponent in its own half. That works best on a flat, smooth, predictable surface, where there are no surprises with unexpected bounces or hops.

Lose your footing, lose the ball, and suddenly the other team is racing toward your goal with numbers.

“What we ask of these guys is already really, really hard,” he said. “So a really, really great field gives us a huge advantage. When the field is not great, it gives the opponent the advantage.”

There’s little respite in sight. Major League Soccer takes a break in June for the CONCACAF Gold Cup for men’s national teams, but there are six events that month: two Wave games, a June 15 Concacaf Gold Cup doubleheader, a June 20 exhibition between SDFC and Mexico City’s Club America, and a June 26 Shakira concert where the grass will be covered for several days.

The real test will come later in the summer. There are three games in six days in late August between SDFC, the Wave and SDSU football, then four games in nine days in mid-September. There’s also the potential for fixture congestion in November if either soccer team makes the playoffs (and both are trending that way).

Mid-October was when the field degraded last year, drawing criticism from Wave interim head coach Landon Donovan. Two weeks later, the club moved its Nov. 3 home game to Louisville.

The stadium typically has installed a hearty Latitude 36 Bermudagrass turf but opted to switch to Kentucky bluegrass in late September in an unplanned re-sodding. It never fully took, and a few weeks later it was a bumpy, unsightly mess with huge patches of sand.

“This is the busiest stadium in America, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Mike Kerns, the Oak View Group’s director of fields and grounds, told the Union-Tribune last October. “We’re doing our best. … Everybody has an opinion on what we do on a day-to-day basis on how it should be done, but nobody does it on an everyday basis.

“People think we don’t care. No, we probably care more than you think on behind-the-scenes stuff. Everybody wants to be a turf manager or a politician until it’s time to come to work, you know?”

The bluegrass was replaced with Latitude 36 Bermundagrass after the motocross events in January, the eighth re-sodding in the stadium’s 2½-year history. It held up through the March and April start of the soccer season but appeared to deteriorate in recent weeks.

Following Wednesday’s game, SDFC initiated a “feedback loop” from players and staff to stadium officials with the goal of improving field conditions.

“We’re in a partnership with San Diego State,” Varas said. “We believe that all of us are in this with the same objectives in mind. Right now, it’s about giving feedback week in, week out. They’re open to it. … It’s about pushing the envelope. It’s also about understanding that we’re in this together.”

Originally Published: May 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM PDT

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Neighbor News

Aloha from Hawaii.

John Van Zante, Community Contributor

Come party with us.

Forseti is a 4-year-old, 11-pound, male, Domestic Short Hair cat. His name means Justice and Reconciliation.

His owner surrendered him and two other cats to the Kauai Humane Society in Hawaii. He was moving and could not take his cats (Popokis – in Hawaiian) along.

When nobody adopted Forseti from the crowded shelter, he was transferred to Rancho Coastal Humane Society through Friends of County Animal Shelters (FOCAS). He flew to San Diego with a friend of RCHS who had been in Hawaii.

He's a bit shy as he’s adjusting to life on the mainland. He needs a patient family.

The $100 adoption fee for Forseti includes medical exam, neuter, up to date vaccinations, and registered microchip

Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

For more information visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, call 760-753-6413, or log on to www.SDpets.org. The kennels and cattery are open 11 to 4 every day but Tuesday.

Special note.

Support Rancho Coastal Humane Society at the annual Encinitas Rotary Wine and Food Festival on Saturday, June 7th from 4 to 7 PM at Encinitas Ranch Golf Course at 1275 Quail Gardens Drive.

This Wine and Food Festival benefits local nonprofit charities, including Rancho Coastal Humane Society.

It features wines and beverages from around the world and the best dishes and desserts from local restaurants.

Tickets are available online at www.encinitaswinefestival.com. Select Rancho Coastal Humane Society as your beneficiary and RCHS will receive all but $25 for each ticket you buy. You can also purchase Opportunity Drawing Tickets online at https://one.bidpal.net/wff/ticketing(details:ticketing-summary)

SAN DIEGO, CA — Meet the new baby baboon at the San Diego Zoo.

The San Diego Zoo welcomed a baby hamadryas baboon on April 3, the first born at the world-famous zoo since 2019. The zoo announced this week that the young male is named Defari, which means "strong" in Amharic, an official language of Ethiopia.

Defari was born to first-time mother Lisa Marie and father Zito as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Hamadryas Baboon Species Survival Plan.

For the first three weeks of its life, a hamadryas baboon infant will hold onto its mother by gripping her hair as she moves around. They have pink skin and black hair until they are 1 year old, at which point their hair turns brown and resembles that of the adults.

Hamadryas baboons are active during the day, often waking around sunrise. Defari and Lisa Marie can usually be found in the zoo's Africa Rocks exhibit surrounded by doting females, including Lisa Marie's mom Daphne. Zito is curious and protective of his offspring and maintains watch close by, according to the zoo. The troop may also be spotted on the San Diego Zoo's Baboon Cam.

Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Coalinga, CA (May 16, 2025) – A collision involving two vehicles occurred Wednesday night in Coalinga, resulting in at least one person sustaining injuries.

The accident took place around 9:45 p.m. near the intersection of W California Ave and S San Diego Ave, according to a report from the California Highway Patrol. When officers arrived at the scene, they found both vehicles with visible damage, but the exact cause of the crash was not immediately apparent.

One individual was transported from the scene to a local hospital after being hurt in the incident. Details regarding the severity of the injuries and the identities of those involved have not yet been released.

The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine what led to the crash. This particular intersection, located near the heart of Coalinga, sees frequent vehicle traffic and is known for limited nighttime visibility—factors that may be reviewed as part of the ongoing inquiry.

We extend our thoughts to those affected by this incident and hope for a swift and full recovery for the injured individual.

Car Accidents in California

Wednesday night's crash in Coalinga underscores the risks drivers face on semi-urban roadways, particularly during nighttime hours when visibility and driver fatigue can become major hazards. The intersection of W California Ave and S San Diego Ave is surrounded by residential and local business zones, making it a heavily trafficked area even during later hours.

Although details of the crash are still under investigation, incidents involving two vehicles often stem from situations such as failure to yield, distraction, or unclear right-of-way. These types of crashes can lead to a wide range of injuries, from minor trauma to more severe complications that require long-term care.

In smaller communities like Coalinga, each accident also places a strain on local emergency resources and disrupts the flow of daily life. For victims, the aftermath involves far more than just vehicle repairs—it can include hospital stays, missed work, emotional distress, and financial pressure. That's why timely access to medical, legal, and emotional support is essential.

It's also a reminder of the importance of traffic awareness and responsible driving behaviors, especially during late hours when hazards increase. Preventive measures, such as improving road lighting, enforcing speed regulations, and increasing public awareness, can go a long way in reducing crash rates.

If you've been involved in a similar accident, it's vital to seek professional guidance to understand your rights and options. Swift action can greatly improve the path to physical and financial recovery.

Being injured in a car accident can turn your life upside down, but you don’t have to go through it alone. At Local Accident Reports, we help connect victims with reliable medical providers, legal resources, and recovery support in their local area. Whether you need help understanding your next steps or securing the care you deserve, we’re here to help. Contact Local Accident Reports today to begin your path toward healing and resolution.

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Arizona plates have already taken over San Diego highways, which means only one thing – it's the unofficial start to summer.

But this summer will be different than the rest as quite possibly the most highly anticipated hotel in America is set for a soft opening May 15th, followed by the official blue-ribbon cutting the following days.

A whopping $1.3 billion was spent to bring not only the largest hotel on the West Coast, but the first-ever resort to Chula Vista, a lesser-known city sandwiched between San Diego and the Mexico border, and one of the last remaining swaths of untouched land in Southern California for a secluded, paradisal escape.

As many vacationers seek out ritzy stays in Coronado and Del Mar and family-friendly fun in San Diego's Mission Beach, it's actually Chula Vista that's destined to be California's new summer vacation hotspot with the grand opening of Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center.

Most often, San Diego tourists stay central in and around Balboa Park or venture west to nearby beaches or north to small beach towns or Legoland in Carlsbad, but few tourists even consider Chula Vista unless they're passing through to have a wild night in Tijuana just across the border.

South Bay, as it's known, hasn't been a particular draw to outsiders unless they've seen a viral taco stand on TikTok, experienced a classic drive-in theater, or wanted to see the famous “wall”.

Chula Vista boasts a beautiful bay with lush green parks and a vibrant marina, but no proper beaches. Imperial Beach, the southernmost beach in the U.S., is more known for its hazardous conditions due to sewage run-off from Mexico rather than how its postcard boardwalk and the only other South Bay beach, Silver Strand, is a state-run beach with entry fees, and even so, there's nothing the state can do to temper bacteria from spreading north.

As such, the South Bay didn't have much of a selling point until this month. In fact, the most notable selling point before the Gaylord's soon-to-be grand opening is Seven Mile Casino, a couple of blocks away, which gets its name from the 7-mile drive to downtown San Diego.

So, the Gaylord is actually one of the most convenient resorts to San Diego vacationers despite being in a different city.

“This is Chula Vista’s decade. We will have billions of dollars invested in the Chula Vista Bayfront over the next several years […] and we’ll be doing a substantial upgrade on dining, designing, and amenities that the city has never had before.

– Chula Vista Mayor, John McCann

According to San Diego Magazine, the Gaylord Pacific is set to debut 12 restaurants. Unfortunately, it's not all-inclusive, but guests will have an array of options from the dry-aged experts at Old Hickory Steakhouse with sweeping bay views, sushi to-go at Taiyo so you snack poolside or fuel up for a sunny day spent floating the lazy river, and even Growlers Sports Bar & Taproom, boasting a 75-foot tv screen to watch the big game in peace away from noisy kiddos.

Gaylord has something for everyone, but it's definitely family-friendly, with its 4+ acre water park featuring slides, a wave pool, and a massive water playground.

Not that you would ever want to leave the resort grounds, just last month, Sweetwater Park reopened to the public with miles of pedestrian walkways and bikeways lining the scenic bayside — the perfect place to take in the sunset if you don't care to make the 20 minute drive to San Diego's Sunset Cliffs.

The Gaylord offers a wide range of accommodations, from standard rooms with mountain, marina, or Pacific views to 89 spacious suites, including the posh Presidential Suite with an ocean-view balcony worth the sky-high price alone.

Grand opening weekend rates are as low as $350 per night, while mid-summer rates are in the $500s.

As a resident of Chula Vista, I have to say I love living here! Out of all the places I've lived in San Diego County, this city is my favorite.

Rather than follow the tourists who flood the Gaslamp Quarter, check out Chula Vista's Third Avenue District, a pint-sized drag of breweries, dive bars, cafes, food trucks, taco shops, and my favorite restaurant in the city, Lime in the Coconut.

Eating in Chula Vista is a loophole for your tastebuds to enjoy authentic flavors of Baja without needing a passport. There are numerous hole-in-the-wall taco stands serving Tijuana-style tacos and mulas like famous Tacos El Gordo, or you can compare Jalisco flavors to Baja's with newly-opened El Pastor Del Rica, owned by champion boxer Canelo Alvarez.

But Chula Vista isn't just a place to eat; it's a highly underrated place to explore the outdoors. The further East you go, the more you'll want to come back to the coast to cool off during the summer months.

One of my favorite local secrets is Mountain Hawk Park in the Eastlake neighborhood of Chula Vista.

It boasts panoramic Otay Lake views backdropped by the staggering Otay Mountain range.

Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.

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Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.