BA Soccer Club encourages residents to vote

More than 2,000 kids from Broken Arrow and the surrounding communities play soccer annually at the Indian Springs Soccer Complex through the Broken Arrow Soccer Club.

They've been training Broken Arrow athletes since 1974.

"We have three generations playing out here right now," said Broken Arrow Soccer Club Executive Director Barbara Wilson. "It's exciting to see players move from two-year-olds to 18- and 19-year-old players. You meet so many people; they're like a second family."

Soccer Club Executive Board President Austin Burgess agrees, saying the sport has a lifelong impact on its players.

"Tons of life skills, effort, attitude, community, friendship," Burgess said. "Some are going to maybe play in high school, college, or even professionally, but all will grow up to be adults. It's more important for them to learn those skills, even more so than soccer skills."

In 2003, the City of Broken Arrow celebrated the grand opening of the west side of the Indian Springs Soccer Complex.

"All these fields enabled us to expand our league games and our tournaments," Wilson said. "Fast forward to 2018, when the bond initiative for the four new turf fields on the west side was approved by City of Broken Arrow residents who voted on that. We're so thankful and grateful."

Now, once again, Broken Arrow voters can play a significant role in ensuring the community's athletic success.

The Build Our Future BA GO Bond, Proposition 8-Sports Facilities, focuses on improvements to the city's public sports facilities. If approved, millions will be invested in improving the Indian Springs Sports Complex Soccer facilities, including:

• $5 million for turf conversion for four fields.
• $3.3 million for an LED field lighting system retrofit
• $50,000 sidewalk connections to various fields
• $4 million for parking improvements
• $1 million common area upgrades-picnic tables, shade, trees, signage, and equipment

Unlike Propositions 1 through 7, Proposition 8 would use a temporary, five-year 0.5% sales tax increase dedicated to sports facility projects, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031. To learn more about the projects and estimated costs of each of the eight propositions, go to BuildOurFutureBAGOBond.org.

Annually, Broken Arrow Soccer Club hosts two events that generate between $2 million and $3 million in sales tax revenue. More than 7,000 people travel from as far north as Kansas City and as far south as Houston to play at Indian Springs Soccer Complex every year. Consequently, Burgess and Wilson encourage residents to participate in the April 7, 2026, General Obligation Bond election.

"This helps the city when we have all these folks traveling for these games, staying in hotels, spending money in restaurants, local businesses," Burgess said. "And not only that, but all these kids are also going to grow up in this community and be active parts. So, you're investing in the future."

Burgess said their organization needs the additional turf fields.

"Turf fields help keep games on schedule after heavy rain," he said. "We also need parking upgrades and better traffic flow."

Wilson recalled last spring, when the games scheduled on the natural grass fields were cancelled or nearly cancelled due to rain.

"At one tournament, heavy rain made some fields unplayable, even after better weather," she said. "We had to call a company from Oklahoma City at night to hydro-vac the field and remove the water. It was costly, and we weren't sure it would save the field."

Unlike natural grass, turf fields are always ready for play.

"Visitors from different states staying in hotels no longer worry if games are on-they know they'll play," Burgess said.

Wilson is grateful for the relationship that the Broken Arrow Soccer Club has with the City of Broken Arrow.

"If not for them, we couldn't do what we're doing. It means a lot. There's such a good legacy here," Wilson said. "Members appreciate and are so proud that this is their home field. Knowing that a bond issue that they would help vote for will provide another way to do something to be proud of out here and give us the ability to turf more fields and improve their home location for their favorite sport."

For more information about the Broken Arrow Soccer Club, go to basoccer.club.