Indoor soccer field coming to Paso Robles
Both Emiliano Lopez, first in green from left, and his bother, Andres Lopez, in the far right in green, are soccer referees who are set to open their Wall 2 Wall Indoor Soccer Complex in November. This photo was taken at the Major League Soccer game, San Jose Earth Quakes vs Colorado Rapids.
Lopez brothers fulfill life-long dream
Emiliano Lopez and his brother, Andres, have been searching for the last eight years for the right location in the North County for an indoor soccer field. It hasn’t been an easy venture, Lopez said, because there are particular specifications needed for a building that houses an indoor soccer field, such as the height of the ceiling — all of the buildings they found had ceilings that were too low.
“This is a dream my brother and I have always had — to have an indoor soccer arena,” Lopez said. “Finally, our hard work is paying off.”
Emiliano Lopez is in the middle in blue between two players, Andres Lopez is the first on the left.
All that searching paid off at the end of June when they found the building at 2127 Vanderlip Court in Paso Robles, behind the GMC dealership on Highway 46. Right now, Lopez said, they are waiting for the go-ahead from the city of Paso Robles to get going on the field. The business will be called Wall 2 Wall Indoor Soccer Complex
“When we presented to the city, they found it very exciting,” Lopez said, adding that the city has been very helpful and honest through the whole process. “We’re thinking if everything goes right, we’ll be having the grand opening on the eighth of November.”
Lopez said Wall 2 Wall Indoor Soccer will fill a “much-needed niche in sports and recreation in the North County. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and the most played amateur sport for all age levels and all genders.The opening of the facility will allow soccer lovers all over the county to play soccer year-round in a clean, safe facility, regardless of the weather outside.”
Emiliano and Andres grew up in the county and graduated from Coast Union High School in Cambria. Their family moved to Paso Robles in 1999 and their sisters graduated from Paso Robles High School. Currently, Andres and his parents live in Paso Robles while Emiliano lives in Los Angeles as his wife finishes up her post-graduate work at the University of California Los Angeles. He said they plan to move back to Paso Robles in the next year.
The brothers have both been playing soccer since they were kids; playing in high school and college and then refereeing professional games. They are both currently actively United States Soccer Federation members and spend most of their weekend time officiating games from youth to professional level Major League Soccer leagues.
When Wall 2 Wall Indoor Soccer opens, Lopez said that there will be soccer seven days a week for leagues — both practices and games — for youth through adults. The field will also be available for rental.
“The big picture here is we’re doing something fun for the community and fun for us because it’s something we’ve always wanted to do,” Lopez said.
The complex will start with one field because of the size of the building they were able to find, with the possibility of adding a second if the building next door becomes available and the need is there.
The new Wall 2 Wall Indoor Soccer Complex will be located at 2127 Vanderlip Court Paso Robles, units A and B. Photo by Meagan Friberg
