9/5/26: Manchester City (Boys) Cup creates even greater traffic on Via de la Valle and surface streets in Rancho Santa Fe on Labor Day weekend. The backup in all directions was so bad by 10:30 a.m. that players late for their matches were being let out of cars well before the entrance and walking or running across the neighboring golf course or through traffic to get to the fields. According to Brian Elliott, deputy chief of staff to Joe LaCava, San Diego City Council president, in the event of any nearby emergency, “evacuation routes are under the purview of the Fire Marshal.” Tony Tosca, the City’s deputy chief and fire marshal, however, maintains that because no permits are required of Surf for such events, they cannot plan and therefore there is no state-mandated evacuation plan in place for the some 3,500-4,000 people on the fields and residents of neighboring communities. Just two miles away an expected 15,000 to 20,000 fans attending the Del Mar Racetrack’s BBQ & Beer Festival raises the stakes considerably in the event of an emergency.
8/30/26: A second day of Manchester City Cup with incompetent ‘traffic control’ once again creating gridlock on Via de la Valle. Scores of drivers hoping to avoid the traffic were seen racing through the Ranch on Linea del Cielo then cutting down to Via de la Valle on feeders like Las Planideras and Puerta del Sol. Once past the toll booths (collecting $20 a car) parking spaces were in short supply.
8/29/26: Inept traffic control working Manchester City (Girls) Cup and only one open westbound lane caused mile-long backups in both directions on Via de la Valle. None of the local agencies (San Diego Police, San Diego County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol) were aware of the event.
7/11/26: Traffic snarled in both directions along Via de la Valle on July 11, 2026 for GIRLAZO, on the first of a two-day, girls-only youth soccer event at Surf Sports Park. Formerly a San Diego WAVE Futbol tournament, the event now has been taken over by Surf so the City of San Diego receives no revenue. Instead, all proceeds – including parking @ $20/car – flows out of state to one of Surf Cup Sport's multiple Florida LLCs.
9/5/25: Out of sight out of mind? Field #5 is not visible from Via de la Valle, but this is typical of weekday “practices” that run from early afternoon until dark with whistles, shouting, and clouds of dust generated by hundreds of cars coming and going.
5/26/25: A fourth straight day of traffic, noise, and dust from the Club America Cup in the San Dieguito River Valley (May 22-26, 2025). The tournament fielded players from South America, Central America, and the US, each paying up to $1,850 to participate. Parking is $20 a car, single entry, each day.
8/16/24: All late afternoon westbound traffic on Via de la Valle was diverted directly into Surf Sports Park where even non-tournament-bound vehicles simply trying to continue toward Del Mar had to pass through the parking kiosks before making a U-turn and exiting.
8/16/24: Late afternoon eastbound traffic on Via de la Valle past Surf Sports Park.
