BOOK
A tee
tiMe
MAKinG heAdlines
T
he vision is bold and the
numbers are staggering: A
$300 million, 12,000-seat
mixed-use sporting facility
across 125 acres, with the complex in-
cluding a hotel, retail outlets, medical
facilities and senior living.
If proposed plans move forward,
The Shield at 1 Coyote Way will be
the desert's Next Big Thing.
And fans will have Classic Club's
benefactors, The H.N. and Frances C.
Berger Foundation, to thank.
In mid-July of 2018, it was publicly
announced that the Foundation had
agreed to sell the acreage between
Classic Club and the I-10 freeway to
pave way for The Shield.
"I think The Shield could ab-
solutely be a game-changer for our
facility, but also for the entire area,"
says Greg Rubino, General Manager
at Classic Club. "We don't have any-
thing like this in this desert,
and yes, it would be amazing for the
Classic Club. But I also think it would
bring a lot to the entire Valley."
Should the proposal move forward
and The Shield come to full fruition
by its announced timeline of 2021, the
facility would also serve as host to
local high school teams, along with
being the home of semi-pro SoCal
Coyotes football. With The Shield's
vast potential to bring a stream of
sporting tourism to the area, the
course would likely see an increase
in both spike and foot traffic.
"With the stadium, the proposed
hotel and senior living – it will all
make Classic Club not just a destina-
tion, but also more of a place where
people can just pop in," Rubino adds.
Akin to its vast philanthropic
reach, the Foundation's sale of the
land adjacent comes with a pared-
down price tag to developers in an
accelerated effort to see blueprints
move toward a realized vision. In ad-
dition – and as further embodiment
of Classic Club's history of hosting
charitable tournaments at reduced
rates for event hosts – the sale stipu-
lated that The Shield would serve to
better the Coachella Valley.
Such betterment would serve as ex-
tension of the Foundation's charitable
mission, as The Shield would provide
access to local prep teams and high
school activities at no charge to the
schools.
"The Foundation is looking at it
as a boon for the entire Valley, not
just the club," Rubino said. "Every-
thing the Foundation does revolves
around charity and community-
building in some way. And the Foun-
dation is also really big on helping
people help themselves."
neW GAMe in tOWn
Classic Club owners pave way for The Shield sporting facility
The land behind the clubhouse
will be the site of the complex.
> L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H E S H I E L D, A M U LT I U S E S P O R T I N G FAC I L I T Y I N T H E P L A N N I N G S TAG E S N O W
