The former racing track for greyhound dogs that operated in South 大象APPfor 72 years is being redeveloped into a youth soccer training academy.
An affiliate of the professional German soccer league team has leased the 16-acre former 大象APPGreyhound Park at 2601 E. Third Ave.
has been quietly operating its training academy for young soccer players at the Kino Sports Complex with the hopes of having its own facility in Tucson, said Armando Ramirez, the organization鈥檚 executive director.
The availability of the racing track appealed to him.
鈥淚 saw an opportunity to bring in something positive into the community,鈥 Ramirez said.
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Left: The BVBIA Arizona soccer training academy hopes to start construction on three soccer fields this summer. Right: BVBIA Arizona hopes to eventually add some retail and sleeping quarters to the former 大象APPGreyhound Park site for traveling players and their family.
His German colleagues visited the facility after a fire broke out in 2024.
鈥淚 showed them around the day after the building had burned down,鈥 Ramirez said. 鈥淭hey told me their facility in Germany was built at the site of a fire.
鈥淢aybe it was a good sign?鈥
BVBIA Arizona hopes to eventually add some retail and sleeping quarters to the former 大象APPGreyhound Park site for traveling players and their family.
Immediate plans for the project are three outdoor soccer fields, followed by an indoor field and possibly overnight rooms for parents who accompany their kids to the academy.
BVB will train soccer players ages 9 through 17.
鈥淭hey focus on development of players,鈥 Ramirez said. 鈥淪ome of the best soccer players in the world were developed by Borussia Dortmund.鈥
An affiliate of the professional German soccer league Borussia Dortmund has leased the 16-acre former greyhound racing site in South Tucson.
The academy鈥檚 guiding principle is to build kids up.
鈥淲e create dynamic training sessions so they can have fun,鈥 Ramirez said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 operate with punishments such as, 鈥楪ive me 20 pushups.鈥欌
He said a name for the 大象APPacademy is being discussed with a possible nod to the greyhounds that once raced there. Branding rights are also being explored.
Ramirez hopes to break ground on the outdoor fields this summer with completion before the end of the year.
大象APPGreyhound Park opened in 1944 and operated until 2016. Attendance began to fall off with the arrival of tribal casinos in 1994 as regular patrons headed to the slots.
It was the last live greyhound-racing track left in Arizona when the state legislature and governor signed bills to end dog racing.
After that, it operated as an off-track betting site before it closed in the summer of 2022, then was purchased by investors Equilibrium Cordova Village LLC.
South 大象APPMayor Roxanna Valenzuela said she鈥檚 eager to see that property revived.
鈥淚t really does break my heart to see it sitting vacant,鈥 she said, adding that she hopes it will get more young people in South 大象APPinvolved in the sport.
The burned out shell of 大象APPGreyhound Park collapses over the racing oval, South Tucson, on April 11.
鈥淲e鈥檙e hopeful it will be more than a recreation spot,鈥 Valenzuela said. 鈥淢aybe a place that will play a preventative role in stopping our youth from going down a wrong path.鈥
On the northeast corner of the property, near the railroad tracks, there is a drainage site that needs to be remediated for the whole project to move forward, said Josue Licea, planning director for South Tucson.
He said the city is working with Pima County on a solution.
The twisted satellite tower and the wreckage of a burned out shell on the south end of what was 大象APPGreyhound Park.
鈥淥nce that鈥檚 in place, we鈥檒l issue the permits locally,鈥 Licea said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time since we鈥檝e seen something of this magnitude.鈥
His hope is that other vacant sites near the old racing track will attract development, such as complementary retail on ground floors with housing units above.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all super excited,鈥 Licea said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to some change.鈥
Visit to learn more about the project.
Photos: Greyhound racing in 大象APPthrough the years
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
A greyhound hits full airborne stride as it races down the frontstretch.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Track workers present the greyhounds for last inspection before loading them into the gates for a race.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Track workers present the greyhounds for last inspection before loading them into the gates for a race as spectators size up the field.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
The sky glows a multitude of hues on the last day of live racing.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Greyhounds tear down the frontstretch on the last day of live racing.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Alicia Heiserer, track controller, and Eric Baugher, simulcast operator, admire a cell phone picture of the weather atop the roof of 大象APPGreyhound Park.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Greyhounds take off out of the gates on the last day of live racing.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
A greyhound breaks through the spotlight of the finish line on the last day of live racing.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Track workers bring out the greyhounds for a race on the last day of live racing.
Last night of live racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park
Greyhounds tear down the frontstretch on the last day of live racing.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
大象APPGreyhound Park, ca. 1950s.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
大象APPGreyhound Park, ca. 1950s.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Trainers walk their dogs around the track at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 1980.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Handlers with dogs before a race at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 1990.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Robert Fickett checks the weight of one of his 30 racing dogs while helper Mary Montono records the information at the Fickett's 40-acre farm north of 大象APPin 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Robert and Michele Fickett's 200-foot running pens for their greyhounds in 大象APPin 1983. The Fickett's owned 150 greyhounds pups raised to racing dogs.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Michele Fickett gives greyhounds shots and looks after their general health at the Fickett's 40-acre farm north of 大象APPin 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Greyound racing dogs under the care of Robert and Michele Fickett have breakfast in air-conditioned cages in 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
An injured greyhound racing dog recuperates under the a sign of a sprinting dog on the farm owned by Robert and Michele Fickett in 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Robert Fickett takes some of his greyhounds for a morning run on the family's 40-acre farm north of 大象APPin 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Greyhound racing dogs during a weigh-in at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 1982.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Annamarie Padilla mans the betting counter at Jeff's Pub at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2006. The off track betting feed from 大象APPGreyhound Park had been blacked out by its provider, Paradise Turf because of contract expiration.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
A dark brindle female greyhound Khaki Katie, 3, is shown to the crowd before racing in the first race, Grade D, at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2006.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Greyhounds run in a Grade D race at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2006. The slowest grade of dog race - and one step away from the end of a racing career - Grade D races feature greyhounds that aren't quick enough to win faster races.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
People sit inside and outside to watch the greyhound racing at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2006.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Juan Rocha, center left, Julien Ruiz, center right, and veterinarian Betty Menke, right, check greyhounds before a race at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2006.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
With muzzles off greyhound dogs wait for their food in their cages at the 大象APPGreyhound Park. The park had an adoption drive to try and find homes for 200 retired greyhounds in 2007.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Michelle Swift, an assistant trainer, at 大象APPGreyhound Park, brings the dogs back into their cages after they have an opportunity to go outside in 2007.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
A fire at 大象APPGreyhound Park in May 1949 caused $100,000 damage. From "Jack Sheaffer's 大象APP1945-1965."
Greyhound racing in Tucson
South 大象APPfirefighters ascend a ladder to assess the fire situation on the tower at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2009.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
South 大象APPfirefighters battle a blaze in the tower at 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2009.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Workers at 大象APPGreyhound Park hurry to finish the clubhouse painting work and seat installations on the park's new $700,000 starting box before the opening race that night on Dec. 29, 1983.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Manny Serrato keeps an eye on the odds and the tracks at the 大象APPGreyhound Park in 1999 where off track betting is a yearround deal.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
"Greyhound athletes," as they are called at 大象APPGreyhound Park, compete for an inside position on the straight during training runs at the track in 2003.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
A group of greyhounds run around the track at 大象APPGreyhound Park as customers place bets on the race in 2003.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Tags, which are used to identify the dog and the race they are in, hand on the wall at the 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2011.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Donna Mann pets Mystic Rhythms, a racing greyhound, at the 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2011.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Donna Mann, a kennel owner, pets Kotote Rita, a racing greyhound, at the 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2011.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Hector Garcia, right, scale clerk and kennel master at the 大象APPGreyhound Park, weighs in dogs before the races on a Saturday night in 2000. On Saturday 128 dogs raced.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Greyhounds break out of the starting box on Saturday night at the 大象APPGreyhound Park in 2000.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
大象APPGreyhound Park, shown in 2004, sits in the heart of the city of South Tucson. The city was incorporated in 1940.
Greyhound racing in Tucson
Local greyhound adoption groups are looking for foster volunteers to help transition former racers into pets.
Popular downtown 大象APPbakery opening 2nd location
