Local ownership, 1852 Visalia, breaks ground on footy and brews facility to connect people and unify the community through soccer

VISALIA – Soccer City 1852 Visalia, a new and innovative community soccer facility serving youth and adults is breaking ground on their Tulare County project.

A unique “footy and brews” concept developed by founders Bill Cummings and Jeremy Schultz is taking shape in downtown Visalia. The facility will be a destination for the South Valley community to meet and socialize, watch games and hang out together.

The public can get a glimpse of the project this Saturday, Dec. 4 at the site of the future facility, 707 W Murray Ave. in Visalia. 1852 leadership will be hosting an official groundbreaking at 10 a.m. to share the vision of the project and answer questions for those in attendance.

“From the beginning, our vision has been to create a community destination that would provide a space to bring people together,” Schultz, who is 1852 founder and CEO, said. “The transformation of the property goes beyond the renovation of a building. It’s really a statement of how much we believe in Visalia, Tulare County, and its people.

Soccer City will feature three soccer courts with an artificial grass surface. The fields will be fully enclosed with dasher boards and netting. Street style soccer is a fast-paced fun game to play and watch. This facility will be the first and only location of its kind in Central California. The playing format is 5 versus 5 soccer, or, “footy”, as it will be called at 1852 Visalia.

With five “footy” league seasons per calendar year and up to 55 divisions per season, 1852 will also host pickup games, tournaments, camps, clinics and group and personal training. 1852 league participants must purchase a seasonal or annual membership to access the soccer fields. Players can participate with their own preselected teams or register as free agents to participate in league competition. Registration through the 1852 Visalia web site will begin starting in January 2022.

Along with footy, 1852 Visalia will be home to a new local brewery, tap room and beer garden. 1852 BrewCo will highlight local history and the sport of soccer. The beer will feature the diversity of Tulare County through delicious, fresh South Valley brews. The 1852 tap room and beer garden will be open to the public for family and friends to gather and build memories. The microbrewery is led by local brew master Will Peltzer, a local farmer trained at Karl Strauss in San Diego.

“Playing sports together is a platform to change lives, we believe soccer can inspire kids to live with purpose. The framework of a team is an incredible opportunity for community and fun,” Schultz said. “1852 Visalia hopes to create a foundation where young footballers will build character, determination, discipline and be proud of the place we call home.”

Soccer City 1852 Visalia is a community-oriented facility located in downtown Visalia, CA. In the benchmark year 1852, seeking local autonomy, settlers petitioned the state legislature for county status. On July 10, 1852, Tulare County became a reality. Across the United States, soccer specific businesses have seen an explosion of growth. The Central California region is a truly unique area with a highly diverse population that participate and enjoy soccer across all ages. With an emphasis on civic pride, 1852 Visalia was founded in 2020 to provide a platform to inspire, create and emerge using footy and brews as an avenue to bring community together for the good of all. Visit www.1852visalia.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @1852visalia for more information.

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