New Stadium Construction Begins at Capistrano Valley High School

News Summary

Construction has commenced on a new $21.5 million stadium at Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo. Following a recent groundbreaking ceremony, the project aims to replace the outdated stadium with enhanced athletic facilities. The new facility will include expanded seating, upgraded media facilities, and improved amenities for both athletes and spectators, set to open in spring 2026. With funding secured from state reimbursement and redevelopment funds, this upgrade is expected to significantly benefit the school’s athletic programs and the local community.

Mission Viejo – Construction is now underway for a new $21.5 million stadium at Capistrano Valley High School, following a groundbreaking ceremony held on May 28. The new facility aims to replace the old stadium, which has already been demolished to make way for this modern athletic complex. The new stadium is expected to open in spring 2026, with construction beginning in February 2023.

The revamped stadium will offer a range of enhanced athletic facilities, which include:

• New bleachers with a capacity increase to 2,750 seats, up from the old capacity of 1,886.
• A press box equipped with elevator access for improved media coverage.
• Updated concession stands and ticket booths to enhance the visitor experience.
• Dedicated team rooms and a weight room to support athletes’ training needs.
• A newly resurfaced and striped track for various athletic events.
• Improved fencing and a state-of-the-art sound system to enhance safety and atmosphere during events.

The stadium project is set to occupy approximately six acres on the northwestern section of the 42-acre Capistrano Valley High School campus, located at 26301 Via Escolar in Mission Viejo.

As a result of the ongoing construction, the graduation ceremony for this year will take place at Saddleback College stadium on June 5. The new design also includes more seating arrangements for both home and visiting fans, with the home-side bleachers expanding from 1,312 to 2,000 seats, while the visitor bleachers will increase from 574 to 750 seats.

Funding Sources

The funding for the new stadium’s construction has been secured through a combination of state matching funds and remaining redevelopment funds from the city of Mission Viejo. Notably, no new bonds were issued by the school district specifically for this project.

In October 2022, the school board approved the allocation of approximately $7.1 million in anticipated state reimbursement funding dedicated to the stadium. This reimbursement funding is tied to previous construction initiatives at Aliso Niguel High School and Newhart Middle School, funded by old school financing district resources as well as allocations from the now-dissolved Mission Viejo Redevelopment Agency.

A special financing district, CFD 87-1, was created in 1987 to assist with the construction of schools in Aliso Viejo and Mission Viejo. While homeowners in this district stopped making payments in 2016 after bonds were fully paid off, about $11 million remained available for school facilities. A formal agreement was reached in 2017 between district officials and the cities of Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo to utilize leftover funding from past projects and future state reimbursements for the upgrades to Capistrano Valley High.

Community Impact and Expectations

As construction progresses, the project considered will significantly enhance the capacity and functionality of the high school’s athletic program, providing better amenities for students and the community. The installation of underground utilities has already commenced, laying the groundwork for further construction efforts.

The completion of the new stadium is anticipated by May 2026, bringing with it a modern sports environment that will accommodate the growing needs of the school’s athletic programs and foster community events.

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Additional Resources

• OC Register: Capistrano Valley High Breaks Ground on $21.5 Million Stadium Project
• Wikipedia: Capistrano Valley High School
• OC Register: Capistrano Valley Football Tops Foothill
• Encyclopedia Britannica: High School Sports
• Desert Sun: Aztecs Ousted Capistrano Valley Baseball
• Google Search: Capistrano Valley High School Sports
• Lompoc Record: CIF Southern Section Playoffs – Lompoc Suffers Rare First Round Defeat
• Google News: High School Football