Once Upon A Dream

The Portage Soccer Complex owned and operated by the Portage Soccer Club opened in 2002. None of our current players have ever played a home game at another venue. Here’s a brief history lesson on how it came to be. . .

PSC home games were first played at the former Michigan Independent Soccer League (MISLE) Soccer Complex now the PSC practice facility from 1985 to 1996. In 1996, the MISLE lease expired and the property reverted to its owner, Pharmacia & Upjohn, L.L.C. After the closure of the MISLE complex. PSC teams played its home games at River Oaks County Park.

In September 1996, MISLE purchased the land where the Portage Soccer Complex is via a land contract. The player numbers dwindled and were absorbed into AYSO Region 74 in early 1999. Facing a default on its land contract, MISLE sold the property to the PSC in May 1999. The PSC agreed to move forward with the development of a soccer complex receiving site plan approval from the City of Portage in June 1999.

Ground breaking for the Portage Soccer Complex was on May 11, 2000. During 2000 and 2001 construction seasons, the property was mass graded, underground storm drainage installed, irrigation system installed, fencing and gates (over a mile long!) installed and the fields seeded. In September 2001, work began on the concession and storage building and continued throughout the winter. A hardy band of PSC volunteers worked every weekend but one to complete the building by April 2002.

The last step was the paving of the parking lot on April 18, 2002. The steam rollers were still compacting the asphalt as the first cars arrived for AYSO games that evening. A formal dedication of the complex followed on May 10th.

The Portage Soccer Complex was just a dream in 2000 when a small group of volunteers began meeting to plan it. It has now been open 13 years more years than it took to plan and build it. I guess dreams can come true!

David Rice
Former PSC President