 | |
 | |
| Location | 1034 North Main Street, Salinas, California |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Salinas |
| Operator | California Rodeo Salinas |
| Capacity | 16,670 (SSC Arena); 5,000 (Rabobank Stadium) |
| Surface | Grass, Dirt |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1911 (grounds) 1924 (stadium) |
| Opened | 1911 (grounds) 1924 (stadium) 1996 (Current Stadium) |
| Construction cost | None |
| Tenants | |
| California Rodeo Salinas (PRCA) 1911-Present California Jaguars (USL) 1995-1999 Cal State Monterey Bay Softball | |
TheSalinas Sports Complex is a sporting complex located inSalinas, California on theCentral Coast. The main feature of the complex is a 17,000-seat stadium forCalifornia Rodeo Salinas.Soccer,football, andrugby was also played at the main stadium before the opening of Rabobank Stadium next door.
The grounds have been home to the California Rodeo Salinas since 1911. The original wood stadium structure was built in 1924 and replaced in 1996 with a stadium design by Kasavan Architects. The stadium's field is wide enough to host soccer matches along with football games, and indeed it hosted theCalifornia Jaguars of theUnited Soccer Leagues (thenUSISL) from 1995 to 1999.
For several years, theProfessional Bull Riders (PBR) has hosted events from its "minor league" system, such as the Touring Pro Division (formerly the Challenger Tour) and BlueDEF Tour, at the complex.
The complex is also home tobaseball andsoftball fields.
The stadium not only hosts rodeo and sports events; it can be converted into a race track forauto racing,monster truck shows, andmotorcycle racing.
Concerts have been held at the venue, such as theEagles in 2005,RBD in 2006, theScorpions in 2006,Mary J. Blige in 2007,Luis Miguel in 2007,Creedence Clearwater Revisited in 2009,Alan Jackson in 2012,Aerosmith in 2015,Kid Rock in 2017, &Blake Shelton in 2018.
DuringWorld War II, the Salinas Rodeo Grounds was one of the locations used as a temporarydetention camp for citizens and immigrant residents of Japanese ancestry, before they were relocated to more permanent and remote facilities. One of seventeen such sites overseen by the Wartime Civilian Control Administration, the Salinas Assembly Center was built after PresidentRoosevelt issuedExecutive Order 9066, authorizing theremoval and confinement of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. The camp opened on April 27, 1942, and held a total of 3,608 people before closing two months later on July 4, 1942. Most came from the Monterey Bay area and were transferred to thePoston concentration camp, located on theColorado River Indian Reservation in Arizona.[1]
In 1980, the Salinas Assembly Center, along with eleven other former temporary detention sites, was designatedCalifornia Historical Landmark #934. A historical marker and memorial garden were dedicated on the 1984Day of Remembrance. This location cannot be considered a National Historic Landmark due to its post-war use and land development.[2][3]
From July 1942 until 1945 the center was used by theUS ArmyVII Corps as theSalinas Garrison.[4][5][6]
36°41′39″N121°39′06″W / 36.694183°N 121.651784°W /36.694183; -121.651784