Just looked at the venues for Youngers. Rather disappointed with the posting of the Galway Down info. Wondered if Calsouth ever thought of the soccer parents and their expenses. Maybe the fields are better at Galway or maybe there were "special incentives", but did Calsouth forget that it is the youngers playing. $500 to rent RV without food- yeah right!
I know as well as some of the other parents on this team, would have rather been scheduled at SoCal or Norco, at least the expenses would have been about the same for the last two years, not $200 more--just for the hotel. Just for the ones who think I am just bitching, our family usually spends about $300-350 for the last few times.
Just wanted to know what happened to the other venues which were usually used like San Bernardino, Victorville, Camarillo, etc? Or by the looks of locations-are we catering to OC and San Diego clubs only, or Calsouth which is located in OC-Placentia?
Cal South isn't telling you that you need to stay on site. You are free to grab a $100 hotel room, just like in Norco or SoCal or Lancaster. Unlike those venues, Galway is unique in that it also has RV sites for rent ... something SoCal and Norco don't offer (or so I believe).
I probably served as a referee at Galway at least 8 weekends during league last year, with most of my time on Polo 2 (the new fields - SCDSL). While these fields still need some leveling/time to become as pristine as Polo 1 (inner track), Galway is probably the nicest facility/fields around, certainly better than the two fields you identified.
According to this:
http://www.galwaydowns.com/soccer-statecup/
- You can rent a full hookup RV site for $170 a weekend.
- You can rent a "dry" site for $70 a weekend (no utilities).
- The RV sites include a parking pass to the games so you save $20
- If you don't have an RV, you can rent one from a third party, which typically runs about $170 to $200 a night. They have a relationship with an Airstream company, Roam and Board, which will rent you an RV and have it set up at Galway so no tow truck needed.
Since your objection is economic, there is no dispute that staying in Lancaster is going to be much, much cheaper than Temecula or San Diego (Surf Cup). Temecula is a popular place on the weekends because of the wineries, casino (Pechanga) and Old Town.
However, if you can go all-in on an RV that is connected to water, sewer and electricity AND be right smack on property for that 8am game. The RV option probably costs the same or less than staying in a decent hotel room in Temecula, let alone Lake Elsinore. Let's do the math:
Two nights in a deluxe RV with kitchen costs about $500 (all-in, includes tax, fees, site, etc.) Bring $100 in groceries (including booze) for those 2 nights. Likely cost is about $600 for a cool "glamping" on site experience (roasting marsh mellows with the kid the night before the game, waking up and sipping your coffee while looking at the fields). Its not for everyone and clearly not for families that are pinching pennies.
Two nights in a hotel is about $210 (Motel 6) to $800 (South Coast, Ponte, resort). Since economics are at play, let's go with the $210 at Motel 6, but to be honest, I would opt for the Temecula Creek Inn as it has a nice restaurant on site ($412 with taxes and fees). So, we are staying in a hotel without a kitchen, meaning we can expect the following costs:
1) Breakfast on Saturday for a family of 4 - $40
2) Lunch on Saturday - Food trucks, concessions on site - $50.
3) Dinner on Saturday for a family of 4 - $65 (let's assume mom and dad enjoy an adult beverage)
1) Breakfast on Sunday - $40
2) Lunch on Saturday - $50
3) Dinner ... home or at the RV before you leave.
I've got you spending about $250 in food, maybe you get that down to $200 by doing fast food all the time or skipping breakfast. $250 (food) + $210 (Motel 6) +$20 (parking) is about $480.
The cheap hotel is clearly the better option, but if your wife is like mine ... Motel 6 is a big "Ohhh hell no." My wife is going to say ... "Look, you can stay in the Motel 6 if you want, but I'm going to be at the hotel where my feet won't stick to the carpet." So, why would we get two hotel rooms?
When I went to Lancaster a few years back, it still cost me $500 for the hotel room ($250) plus gas ($50) plus food and drink ($200) and that was just the boy and I. If my wife and daughters were there, add another $200.
In any case, to answer you direct question ... I think Cal South was thinking that Galway Downs presents one of the most "flexible" solutions and is centrally located (Temecula is about 1 hour from SD, OC and SB, 1.5 hours from LA and other parts). Like the San Diego Polo Fields, Galway Downs is a polo field and configurable in multiple ways and can easily accommodate all 3 sizes of fields used in State Cup. Most of the other complexes are set up for large fields and don't have the flexibility or equipment to put fields in any format. This advantage is, however, a negative when it comes to parking. While there is plenty of parking (unfortunately dirt fields), be prepared for a small hike to get to your fields. Galway Downs is huge, 242 acres.
The other "unique" problem for facilities is the new goal size 6.5' x 18.5' for the youngers. Its my understanding that Galway Downs is purchasing 20 sets of "premium" goals (4" round) and won't be using the temporary 2" pipes that bend in the middle. At $3k per set, its an expensive proposition. But, its Galway Downs and they don't do things half-assed.
