Jacobs Enterrtainment is launching a new traveling youth sports initiative, in affiliation with J Resort, to be known as the Downtown Reno Amateur Sports Association (DRASA).
Working with local and regional youth sports teams and clubs, DRASA will develop multi-sport flat fields in downtown Reno to host tournaments for both traveling and local youth teams. Officials plan to construct up to 12 fields over the next six years, with the first four expected to open next summer; as of now Jacobs Entertainment has secured land for three of four fields.
The first three fields will be located at:
- West Second Street south of J Resort Festival Grounds,
- Ralston at West Second Street
- Washington just south of the railroad tracks
The proposal for these initial fields will be presented today to the Reno City Council by J Resort attorney Garrett Gordon and Richard Jacobs, assistant director of sales and special events at J Resort.
DRASA’s long-term goal is to develop four flat fields each for 7-on-7, 9-on-9, and 11-on-11 play, accommodating all youth age groups.
The fields will be compatible for multiple sports, including soccer and lacrosse, aiming to cater to the growing interest in the sport. High school lacrosse was recently approved by Nevada's state legislature as an official Nevada high school sport.
All four fields will be within walking distance of J Resort and adjacent to ReDirect Athletics, a nonprofit organization Jacobs Entertainment assists. ReDirect Athletics provides mentorship and a healthy outlet to kids of all ages via sports and physical activity. DRASA’s establishment reflects Jacobs Entertainment’s ongoing investment in supporting growth-oriented activities for Northern Nevada’s youth.
“As the number of fields and visiting teams grows, we anticipate demand for downtown hotel rooms to exceed 1,000 rooms per tournament night,” Jacobs said. “This will provide opportunities for other downtown hotels to partner with us and help meet the needs of a new segment of Reno visitors. We’re confident that downtown Reno can accommodate 25 to 30 youth sports weekends per year.”
DRASA’s efforts will be ushered by seasoned youth sports leaders, including Randy Ritter, founder and president of Reno Apex Club, president of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League, and vice chair of the Reno Youth Sports Association; and Rob Range, executive director of Reno Apex Soccer Club and administrator of the Great Basin Youth Soccer League. DRASA’s lacrosse programming will be developed with assistance from Justin Cutler, president of High Sierra Lacrosse.
J Resort’s first traveling youth soccer weekend is scheduled for June 5-6, 2026, with tournaments expected to continue throughout the year.
I asked if the fields will have night lighting, and received the answer that "we are designing the fields to accept lighting in the future. The priority is first to have 10-12 flat fields developed."
My only critiques are that I wish the fields could be located closer together or more adjacent to one another, plus flat fields don't bring in the level of property tax like residential or commercial construction do, also these spaces will sit much like the festival grounds and Glow Plaza...unused except when in use, and this is a redevelopment district. But plusses for me are less asphalt in the Reno Neon Line, and bringing families downtown more often. I do like that the fields are along 2nd Street, which with the Winter Street residential (almost completed), the newly completed residential on the corner of Arlington and 2nd, the remodeled Gibson Apartments and the upcoming partnership project with the RHA, west 2nd Street doiwntown is becoming a neighborhood strip as opposed to the more entertainment-oriented 4th Street.