(MURFREESBORO) Murfreesboro has climbed a little further up "the ladder of success", and the TSSA (Tennessee State Soccer Association) has awarded the soccer championship to be located here. Earlier in November, Mayor Shane McFarland noted that the facility would be added to the Siegel Soccer Park if the bid was won.
Murfreesboro's bid called for nine of the outdoor fields to feature synthetic turf. That feature enables games to be played more quickly after heavy rains.
The Tennessee State Soccer Association heard presentations on Saturday from both Murfreesboro and Clarksville. After studying both offers, the TSSA chose Murfreesboro.
Earlier construction estimates had the cost of constructing such a facility around $30-million. However, since official plan on expanding the current Siegel Soccer Park, the development costs are estimated to be about half.
The expanded facility will include 16-soccer fields along with a 2,000-plus seat championship stadium. It will also feature classrooms, offices, and an indoor training area with synthetic turf.
He also indicated that the extension of Cherry Lane, alongside the Siegel Complex, would be the connection with I-840. That could take three to five years to complete the roadway expansion to the interstate. The mayor noted that this interstate exit was a logical place to locate a hotel that would house the thousands attending the games throughout the entire year. The mayor noted that the agreement assures 20,000 hotel room booking annually over an initial 5-year contract.
As you recall from earlier broadcasts with Mayor McFarland on WGNS, the Blackman area was initially considered. In fact, officials were studying including it in the plans for the city park being planned in that part of town. Residents were not happy was that idea, and were pushing for all of the available Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation land in that area to be used for the sole purpose as a neighborhood park.
It was at that point that the idea of expanding the already popular Siegel Soccer Complex as the site of the facility.