A proposal to build an 18,000-seat soccer stadium in Concord near the downtown BART station is now in its second stage.
In a 4-1 vote Tuesday, the City Council signed an "initial exclusive negotiating agreement" with Walnut Creek-based Hall Equities Group LLC for the proposed mixed-use site with a stadium, hotels, a convention center apartments, and retail/commercial space.
If approved, the agreement would open the way for formal studies of the project's feasibility and its possible fiscal impacts.
The proposed site includes land owned by the city as well as land owned by BART.
Hall Equities Group is owned by Mark Hall, who has acquired the rights for a United Soccer League team.
He wants to bring a USL soccer team to the tri valley area which is a division below the MLS.
Some residents argued the site would add congestion to downtown and that the city should build more affordable housing at the site instead.
One councilman noted there’s been nothing on the property for 20 years.
Both sides will do feasibility and fiscal studies over the next 18 months to decide if it’s a good idea.
