By Los Angeles County Politics (LACP)
Move over Real Madrid and Manchester United, because one day the San Fernando Strikers might take the pitch – bringing economic development and families together in Pacoima, along with professional soccer and sorely-needed rebranding to the San Fernando Valley.
That after LACP learned an environmental justice advocate is proposing a bold vision to replace Whiteman Airport with a community soccer stadium surrounded by mixed-use development.
Veronica Padilla-Campos, Executive Director of Pacoima Beautiful, outlined preliminary plans for a 5,000-seat soccer stadium that would anchor redevelopment of the 184-acre site, but emphasized the soccer stadium concept remains preliminary and contingent on robust community engagement. Pacoima Beautiful plans to develop visual renderings to help residents and stakeholders understand the proposal.
“We see our community as our boss,” Padilla-Campos said, echoing an approach that has defined her organization’s work since its founding by a small group of mothers in 1996. “We make sure that we have a voice in whatever is happening and that we have a seat at the table when decisions are made about our community.”
The stadium concept—still in early discussion stages—envisions practice fields, hotel facilities, medical offices, and retail spaces built around the venue. It would aim to serve Pacoima’s soccer-passionate community while creating jobs and attracting investment to a neighborhood that has long struggled with environmental burdens from nearby freeways, industrial sites, and the airport itself.
“We need to present this to the community first, gather their feedback, and then schedule conversations with the county supervisor if the community supports it,” Padilla-Campos explained, referring to Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents the area.
The soccer stadium proposal taps into Pacoima’s demographics and cultural identity. The neighborhood, home to approximately 90,000 residents, is more than 90% Hispanic, and soccer enjoys deep support across generations.
Los Angeles currently supports three professional soccer teams, though none play in the Northeast Valley. The LA Galaxy—who just won their record sixth MLS Cup in 2024—and Los Angeles FC both play their home games far from Pacoima: the Galaxy at the 27,000-seat Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, and LAFC at the 22,000-seat BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. The rivalry between the two teams, dubbed “El Tráfico,” has drawn record crowds, including 82,110 fans at a 2023 Rose Bowl match.
Los Angeles also has Angel City FC, a women’s professional soccer team that plays in the National Women’s Soccer League at BMO Stadium. Angel City averaged more than 18,000 fans per game in 2024, making it one of the NWSL’s attendance leaders and highlighting the region’s appetite for women’s professional soccer.
Despite this soccer fervor, Northeast Valley residents face long commutes to see professional matches. A Pacoima stadium could change that dynamic while potentially hosting women’s professional teams and other sporting events.
Padilla-Campos emphasized that emergency services currently operating from Whiteman—including Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters—would be preserved under any redevelopment plan.
“We have never suggested that the emergency part of the airport be closed,” she said.
When asked, Padilla-Campos also framed the stadium proposal within broader efforts to raise the San Fernando Valley’s profile and attract investment to its eastern portions, which have lagged behind western Valley communities like Woodland Hills and Warner Center in development attention.
While the Los Angeles Rams football team plans a major mixed-use development with entertainment venues in Warner Center, and the Valley prepares to host Olympic events in 2028 at Sepulveda Basin, Pacoima has seen limited large-scale investment.
“This could be a rebranding opportunity for the San Fernando Valley,” said Padilla-Campos.
Comments 1
Nearby Hansen Dam Recreation Center in Lakeview Terrace already HAS some soccer “fields”. A “stadium facility” would likely be more practical to build within the larger Hansen Dam area.
It would even generally be more accessible, being immediately adjacent to a main freeway. Opportunities for development of more facilities around that area would be much easier and more welcome to accommodate.
PLUS + a stadium h facilities of the proportion being proposed is going to require a LOT of parking. The available space at the Whiteman Airport site could not accommodate both a stadium of that size plus the traffic and parking requirements that would be needed.