Two competing ideas for the Santa Maria Fairpark arena were heard at the fairpark board’s Tuesday meeting: a multi-sport arena and an indoor soccer facility.

The Santa Maria Fairpark skating rink had housed the Central Coast Sports Arena for 29 years, until the board proposed a large rent increase. The arena closed in October, and the fairpark plans to lease the space to another operator.

The fairpark heard ideas from Cameron Walker and Ricardo Gallardo, two Santa Maria natives. Walker suggested a multi-sport indoor athletic facility, while Gallardo suggested a facility dedicated to indoor soccer. 

Although the board members did not make a formal decision on either proposal, they said they would follow up with both groups after reviewing their submission packets. With the rink currently vacant, board leadership emphasized the need to move on quickly to find a new operator.

“I think we need to make up our mind what the hell we’re going to do with this pretty fast,” Fairpark President Kevin Merrill said.

Walker’s proposal was called the Sammy Mac Center, named in tribute to the late local athlete Marcus “Sammy Mac” McMorris. Walker explained that the facility aims to address a shortage of indoor sports on the Central Coast, serving youths and adults. 

The project vision includes having basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer, as well as using roll-out courts for pickleball. The revenue model relies on membership fees and court rentals, as well as weekend tournaments expecting to draw 40 teams per event.

Additionally, Walker’s team is planning free open-gym nights and mentorship programs for at-risk youths. He said the project is fully funded through his own finances, meaning he is ready to move in immediately.

“Our moniker is going to be a sports destination for the Central Coast,” Walker said. “This is something that I think is really lacking in this area — a place for the youths, adults and everybody in between to go to for recreation, competitive leagues and tournaments. That’s what it’s for.”

Gallardo presented his idea to transform the rink into a dedicated indoor soccer facility with two turf fields. The fields would measure 70 feet by 110 feet each, leaving room for spectator stands and entrances.

He highlighted local demand, saying that 80% to 90% of local youths play soccer, and that existing community facilities aren’t meeting those needs.

“I just see there’s a ton of soccer around, and there’s a ton of demand for it, and there’s nothing quite like this anywhere around here,” Gallardo said.

He focused his business model on hourly rentals of the fields, targeting 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays at $120 per hour, with youth and adult tournaments during the weekend. Gallardo proposed a lease starting at $7,000 per month, which is about double what the skating arena was paying. It is below the board’s $11,000 to $16,000 target. He planned a half-rent build-out starting in 2027 followed by full rent in March. 

Gallardo’s project requires a $250,000 initial investment, which would be fully self-funded through his savings, he said.