Expansion at Cardinale Stadium seeks to diversify events and attract female soccer teams.

Three years ago, Cardinale Stadium was packed with fans attending Monterey Bay FC’s first home game. The local United Soccer League team played several games away while the stadium modernization was still underway. Once it opened, it still looked unfinished, with 36 portable restrooms; not all grandstands were up. Since then, the club has added bleachers and amenities.

Now, they are proposing a further expansion.

The proposed project would include locker rooms and shower facilities for men and women, permanent bathrooms to replace portables, and a stage and storage area. The upgrades could expand the scope of events, festivals and concerts at the venue, on the campus of CSU Monterey Bay.

Mike DiGiulio, MBFC’s president, says both parties contemplated an expansion since day one. “We play approximately 20 home matches a year and CSUMB has some matches – so that leaves a lot of open dates for the stadium to be used to the benefit of the community for other events and functions,” DiGiulio says.

Besides MBFC, Cardinale Stadium this season will also host Monterey Bay FC 2, a pre-professional men’s team that previously played at Rabobank Stadium in Salinas. If the proposed project goes forward, it could also host two women’s teams, a professional USL Super League and a pre-professional one, USL W League.

According to the CSUMB Board of Trustees’ notice of preparation, upgrades would take nine months and would start in spring next year. The notice is a first step before preparing an environmental impact report; the board is accepting comments until March 31.

They host a meeting at 5:30-7:30pm Wednesday, March 12 at the Otter Student Union (3118 Inter-Garrison Road) on the CSUMB campus. The notice of preparation can be viewed online at csumb.edu/facilities/planning.