Shea Family Fields
Overview
Shea Family Fields is a state-of-the-art turf soccer facility located at 5050 N Hwy 17, Awendaw, SC 29429, approximately 20 miles north of downtown Charleston. The facility opened in October 2024 and serves as the home of SC Surf.
Ownership & Operations
Developed by the Shea family (local family foundation) in partnership with SC Surf and the Charleston Battery professional club. The 12-acre soccer facility sits on a 104-acre property, suggesting significant expansion potential.
Specifications
- 3 artificial turf fields:
- 2 full-sized 11v11 fields (also marked for 7v7 and 9v9)
- 1 9v9 field
- Scoreboards on all fields
- Stadium lighting
- Parking
- Restrooms (dedicated building under construction as of Oct 2024)
- Pavilion and concession area in final design phase (Phase 1 not yet complete as of Oct 2024)
Tenant Clubs
- SC Surf — Anchor tenant (55 teams, 1,000+ players)
Economics
Construction/development cost not publicly disclosed. “Multi-million-dollar” project per Post and Courier reporting. The Shea family foundation funded development. The facility is relatively modest (3 fields) compared to MeSA (19 fields) but the 104-acre property enables future expansion.
Condition & Lifecycle
Brand new (opened Oct 2024). All turf fields are fresh. Phase 1 construction continuing with restroom building, pavilion, and concession area.
Investment Thesis
High-value asset in an SC Surf acquisition. The 104-acre property with only 12 acres developed represents significant expansion potential. A well-capitalized acquirer could build out additional fields, indoor facilities, or tournament infrastructure on the remaining 92 acres. The private ownership (vs. county-owned MeSA) potentially enables more creative facility deals.
Key questions: lease terms, expansion rights, Shea family’s ongoing role and intentions.