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Community Corner

One Man's Field of Dreams is Another's Rink of Devotion

Local resident Michael Swartz and financial partner David Bezeau are devoted to bring roller hockey, lacrosse box and arena soccer to San Juan Capistrano.

He looks beyond the flat playing surface but he doesn't see giant cornfields, only tall weeds swaying in the breeze.

He envisions the day when crowds fill the stands, cheering the players as they glide majestically back and forth, stick in hand.

He hopes to one day reflect on how he gave something special not only to the boys and girls in the community but the two sons he mentored.

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In the movie “Field of Dreams,” Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) builds a baseball diamond out of a cornfield in Iowa after a voice tells him: “If you build it, he will come.”

In this real-life drama, Michael Schwartz rebuilds a roller hockey rink in the open field behind and schools in San Juan Capistrano. And there probably is a voice telling him: “If you rebuild it, they will come.”

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“That’s pretty much what it is,” admits Schwartz, as he looks around at the two dilapidated rinks that probably haven’t seen a paint brush since they were built in 1999.

“To me, it looks like what it could be potential-wise. It’s got room. It’s got rinks. It’s got parking. But it’s just a dump now. It’s going to take time, and there is so much to do. But living here and working here, I have the time to devote to this. This is not a moneymaker for me. This is my hobby. I’m at a hockey rink seven days a week anyway, so I might as well get one next door to my house.”

Schwartz moved to San Juan 18 months ago with his wife and two sons, age 7 and 5. As a real estate agent who buys and sells property in Aliso Viejo and Laguna Hills, he has had plenty of experience turning around “dumps,” he said. But when he discovered the roller rink across Del Obispo Street from his home and applied with the city to lease the facility in October 2011, he had no idea how difficult it would be to start a new business in San Juan Capistrano.

“We couldn’t do anything because of the way the city was and how long it took from beginning to end on something they thought would be like that,” Schwartz said. “I think they wanted someone who would spend the time and energy it would take to get in going. That’s why they gave it to me, because they know what my goals are.”

Schwartz had to wait until the former lease holder had his contract expire on March 31 before he could apply officially, and then June 1 before he could start cleaning up the place. The nets and chain-linked fencing above the boards were torn or coming apart, the Plexiglas was broken, the scoreboard didn’t work, the cement surface was cracking and the trailer had trash and old desks dating back 13 years ago.

“I don’t know how the guy who was here let it get like this. I think he was just in it for the money,” said Schwartz, who eagerly signed a five-year lease agreement with a two-year option for $250 a month plus revenue sharing once the business becomes profitable. Schwartz says he plans to pass the savings on to his customers.

Schwartz and his financial partner, David Bezeau, initially put $50,000 into the project, but by the time they are ready for an official grand opening sometime in July, that figure probably will be closer to $100,000, Schwartz admits. The biggest cost will be the Sport Court interlock plastic flooring for the two rinks. The 100 x 50 floor costs $22,000 while the 170 x 80 floor runs about $57,000.

The focus will be on flooring the smaller rink first, because Schwartz says he needs to test the surface to make sure it’s what he wants. That will take eight weeks for delivery. Also on order is a new duel-sided scoreboard and new boards.

“I have a few people who have donated quite a few things to me to help me out, and a couple people gave me a discount because their kids will be playing here,” Schwartz said.

Once he has finished cleaning up, replacing broken parts and completing the upgrades, Schwartz and Bezeau—a native of Ontario, Canada, who played AAA and Junior Hockey, attended Cal State Fullerton and played one season as the starting goaltender in 2008-09 before coaching the Titan goalies in the 2010-11 season—believe they will have the finest outdoor rink facility in Orange County.

The closest rink south is Escondido, 42 miles away. San Clemente has a tiny indoor facility, 30 feet of ice. To the north Aliso Viejo has an indoor ice rink and Laguna Hills has a small outdoor rink next to the skate park, but the floor is like sandpaper with a nice paint job, Schwartz said. “It costs $150 a month just for new wheels and sticks to play there, which is costing people money.”

Schwartz says he plans to start with arena soccer (he received 150 calls from soccer parents in the first week his sign-up banner was hung), then move the kids to roller hockey or lacrosse box. He plans to start with two divisions, one for beginners and one for advanced players 10 and up. Eventually teams will play in under 8, under 10, under 12, under 14 and above divisions. Girls will play with/against boys two years younger.

The cost will be $119 per person for a six-week season, three hours a week; Wednesdays and Fridays beginning at 3:45 p.m. and Saturday mornings. Adults will begin at 6:45 on weekdays. From now until July 4, however, play is free for anyone who comes out.

By then, Schwartz hopes to begin wooing potential sponsors.

“I can’t sell sponsorship the way it looks now,” he said. “Once I get the improvements done we’ll go out to the community and see. If you sell the people on this now it wouldn’t make any sense. If they come and see a brand new rink they will keep coming back.”

Coming back to Schwartz’ own “Rink of Dreams.”

 

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