Photo By Katelyn Newton

The years-long quest to install better lighting and full seating on the Rio field brought players, coaches and parents together last week for a “Light the Field, Seat the Fans” meeting, one of several events organizers say is part of the movement gaining momentum.

Parents Deborah Aguilar and Shauna Cvetovac are hoping to organize the Rio community to help secure funding for an improved stadium. 

“It takes away from [the school spirit] when you’re going to another school to play a home game instead of doing it at home,” Aguilar said. “It affects the athletes as far as having scouts come out.”

But countless sports seasons worth of pleas have not resulted in much progress, as it ultimately remains in the hands of voters and the school board.

However, there is more discussion on the issue now than in recent years, according to athletic director William Taylor.

“There is a lot of movement, and the district knows that we’re fighting for it,” Taylor said. “As athletic director, I’d like nothing more than to be able to play our football games at home, our soccer teams to play under the lights, not [just] during school hours.”

Several weeks ago, school board member Zima Creason, who represents the area, visited Rio Americano to speak with students about the possibility of adding bleachers and permanent lights.

San Juan Unified School District is currently exploring the option of a November bond measure that could include funding for the stadium expansion, which is estimated to cost around $5 million.

Some other San Juan Unified high schools secured their full stadiums from the “signature project” funding that was the result of another bond measure. Around $46 million in facilities improvements have trickled down to Rio from recent bonds.

The district will also hold a Facilities Master Plan forum in the Rio gym on May 8, where organizers are expected to advocate for the stadium upgrades.

The parent organizers have floated the idea of getting a local celebrity or business owner to sponsor the field, possibly alleviating some of the cost. Another potential option is to complete the construction in several phases, starting with permanent lights. The full project could include the lights, seating for about 1,500 people and a press box.

But any construction would first require extensive environmental impact reviews, which would encompass evaluating the concerns of community members and nearby residents.

“We can all agree on the benefits of athletic and physical education facilities that are well equipped to meet the variety of needs of a comprehensive high school,” San Juan Chief of Staff Trent Allen told the Mirada. “We have heard and share the interest to further invest in athletic and physical education facilities and staff have undertaken several steps in the process. This has included reviewing past actions and conversations around improvements. The ideas for lights, seating and other features have been conversations in the past that created significant discussion and debate within the neighborhood surrounding the campus. Staff have carefully reviewed the environmental impact report completed for previous improvement projects, which did not include lights and other desired features in their scope.”

The parent organizers have floated the idea of getting a local celebrity or business owner to sponsor the field, possibly alleviating some of the cost. Another potential option is to complete the construction in several phases, starting with permanent lights.

It’s not only the football team that would benefit from better seating and lights—lacrosse, soccer, rugby, and track and field all use the same facility. Graduation and rallies could also take place on the field if more seating was installed.

“We’re not just doing it for the football team,” Aguilar said. “The kids want to be able to play home games at home. I don’t think it’s fair to anyone playing that they have to go to a different school, especially for the night games.”

Sports players are also participating in the “Light the Field, Seat the Fans” campaign.

“It’s really important because it helps with school pride,” athlete Alex Balazs said. “Every school has a football team and a stadium and that’s a big part of the school culture, going to the football game. Because Rio is a really good academic school, if we can just expand to athletics, [it can be] a great, well-rounded school.”

The parents behind the new stadium committee hope the pressure on the school board continues.

“Our purpose is being a voice for all of our students, our community, our school faculty, coaches, athletes, alumni and educators,” Cvetovac said.

For now, Rio football fans can appreciate another victory—next year’s “home” games will be played at El Camino, closer to Rio than the previous location at Del Campo.