Bay Area has plenty of pools….
It depends on what you mean by plenty. I recall a few years ago, some girls in a a championship division had games in Novato on Day 1, then in Santa Cruz and then in East Bay on later days. And that was without invitational divisions. I would think that OC and adjacent areas have more, no?
I’ve also experienced trips to Santa Cruz and the East Bay. Driving to those places in rush hour is terrible (90+ minutes) and impossible to plan for. At least Southern California is all in Orange County and you can get to most pools from South Coast Plaza within 30 minutes.
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They have not used all the pools available and can definitely organize it better….but they absolutely have plenty of pools to add invitational div.
Any data to support your assertion? I have been always under an impression that OC has the highest concentration of pools in California.
From data I had readily available:
2021 JO’s in OC: 23 pool facilities used. This number does not count multiple pools at a single facility or where multiple courses are set up in a single pool (i.e., Woollett).
2024 JO’s in NorCal: 24 pool facilities used. Same as above except Stanford’s separate pools were counted individually.
Being more familiar with OC and SOPAC, OC hasn’t historically used any of the pools available in the two other counties (Riverside and San Bernardino) that make up SOPAC. Logistically, not ideal except for some pools in Corona, Chino if you really needed them.
In looking at the 2021 list of pools, there are 10 pools in the heart of OC that are used throughout the tear for polo that for some reason are not used in JO’s.
The biggest pool omission is Orange Coast College. Beautiful, big, newer facility that can accommodate two full courses and a separate warm up pool with great, covered stadium seating. Unfortunately, another example of a taxpayer funded facility that is underutilized because the rental fees are prohibitive for community organizations to use.
Of course, all the pools in the world don’t mater if we don’t have enough officials.
Unfortunately, teams in the classic division have been forced to drive all over the Bay Area when JOs are in NorCal. If there are enough pools, they clearly aren’t available.
But add in the crazy Silicon Valley business travel hotel prices and the rampant smash n grabs, I don’t see how it makes sense to keep hosting JOs in the Bay Area.
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Last year, 16u boys bronze could have been at Las Lomas HS in Walnut Creek or Harbor HS in Santa Cruz. 76 miles apart. That’s unacceptable.
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The reality is, JOs is a big money maker for USA Water Polo so in order to generate revenue, I do think they try to secure pools for cheap.
In 2022 Burlingame HS opened a brand new pool that did not host a single Junior Olympic game. Knowing the water polo coach at the time he said they would charge money for the use of the facility. So if Stanford charges a pretty penny, they gotta make it up with getting pools at Antioch high school (which is not in the Bay Area) cause it’s cheaper
I do think if they secure pools they should be in a more centralized area by division, and injury that down to not so great tournament management.
It’s shocking how nice the pool facility is at Orange Coast College, and yet I’ve never been there for a water pool game. It makes zero sense. I’ve heard the rental fees are expensive but how much are they?
According to this section of the district’s administrative procedures the rental fee per hour for the full pool is $202.50 to a nonprofit and $270 for other entities.
That rental fee does not include supplemental services or other event support costs that may be added to the contract.
Colleges are another option that are underutilized.
I don’t have the data readily available but some schools that I think don’t get used during JO’s:
Santa Clara University
San Jose State
West Valley College (maybe they get some action since they have a club team)
De Anza College
Ohlone College
CSU East Bay
College of San Mateo
I think Miwok center is great but to other’s points, if I have to drive on day 1 to Miwok, then day 2 to Soda Center in the East Bay, then Santa Cruz on Day 3? think about the ref’s and their motivation to officiate these tournaments as well
Availability with swim teams would be an issue, but Greater Sacramento Area (and if you include a few in Stockton), is starting to build some pool inventory 
| Dimensions | Pool | Address |
|---|---|---|
| 50M | Schaal Aquatics Center | 426 Health Sciences Dr, Davis, CA 95616 |
| 50M | North Natomas Aquatics Center | 2601 New Market Dr, Sacramento, CA 95835 |
| 50M | Elk Grove Aquatics Center | 9701 Big Horn Dr, Elk Grove, CA 95757 |
| 50M | Roseville Aquatics Complex | 3051 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd, Roseville, CA 95747 |
| 50M | Steve Miklos Aquatic Center | 1200 Riley St, Folsom, CA 95630 |
| 50M | Charles Brooks Community Swim Pool | 155 N West St, Woodland, CA 95695 |
| 50M | Davis Senior High School (Fall 2025) | 315 W 14th St, Davis, CA 95616 |
| 35M | American River College | 4700 College Oak Dr, Sacramento, CA 95841 |
| 35M | Granite Bay High School | 1 Grizzly Way, Granite Bay, CA 95746 |
| 35M | Grant Union High School | 1400 Grand Ave, Sacramento, CA 95838 |
| 35M | Whitney High School | 701 Wildcat Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95765 |
| 35M | Del Oro High School | 3301 Taylor Rd, Loomis, CA 95650 |
| 35M | West Park High School | 2401 Panther Pl, Roseville, CA 95747 |
| 35M | Vista Del Lago High School | 1970 Broadstone Pkwy, Folsom, CA 95630 |
| 35M | River City High School | 1 Raider Ln, West Sacramento, CA 95691 |
| 35M | Foothill High School | 5000 McCloud Dr, Sacramento, CA 95842 |
| 35M | Roseville High School (2027) | 1 Tiger Way, Roseville, CA 95678 |
| 35M | Oakmont High School (2028) | 1710 Cirby Way, Roseville, CA 95661 |
| 10 Lane | Union Mine High School | 4620 Snoopy Rd, El Dorado, CA 95623 |
| 10 Lane | Cordova Community Pool | 2197 Chase Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 |
| 10 Lane | Sierra College | 5100 Sierra College Blvd, Rocklin, CA 95677 |
| 10 Lane | Rio Linda High School | 6309 Dry Creek Rd, Rio Linda, CA 95673 |
| 10 Lane | Wackford Aquatic Complex | 9014 Bruceville Rd, Elk Grove, CA 95758 |
| 10 Lane | El Dorado Hills Community Services District Pool | 1021 Harvard Way, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 |
| 10 Lane | Rio Americano High School | 4540 American River Dr, Sacramento, CA 95864 |
| 10 Lane | Natomas High School | 3301 Fong Ranch Rd, Sacramento, CA 95834 |
| 10 Lane | Antelope High School | 7801 Titan Dr, Antelope, CA 95843 |
| 10 Lane | Rosemont High School | 9594 Kiefer Rd, Sacramento, CA 95827 |
| 10 Lane | Cameron Park Community Services District Pool | 2502 Country Club Dr, Cameron Park, CA 95682 |
| 10 Lane | Pat O’Brien Community Center Pool | 8025 Waterman Rd, Sacramento, CA 95829 |
| 50M | Tokay High School | 1111 W Century Blvd, Lodi, CA 95240 |
| 50M | Delta College | 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95207 |
| 50M | University of the Pacific | 3601 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA 95211 |
| 35M | Lodi High School | 3 S Pacific Ave, Lodi, CA 95242 |
| 35M | St. Mary’s High School | 5638 N El Dorado St, Stockton, CA 95207 |
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De Anza used to be used and was the Championship site in 2007 but the last I can confirm games as being played there was in 2017 (from my memory, did not consult any schedules). I wonder why games stopped being played there? It’s a good site.
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That is alot of pools.
However, if you really look at the USA Water Polo schedule when it comes out, look at the amount of pools it has in actual use and then how many are on reserve for emergencies. I believe (and someone correct me if I am wrong), it takes about 55 pools to run JO’s without a hiccup and on reserve. Yes, Stockton, Sacramento Roseville and surrounding areas has the pools, but does it have enough pools to have on hand in case of breakdowns and other issues that may arise?
Second, what is there to do in those areas after the tournament (besides dodging the drive-by’s on Miracle Mile while shopping at Macy’s?) Heading to Vallejo for Great America? Jumping into the Delta? That is the reason why Bay Area and Orange County win…and please no one came at me with “We had it in Florida with less pools!!”, yeah, 10:30 at night, the second to last game being played for the day while dodging lighting is not a solution
The story of Fresno people telling Sacramento people (and vice versa) that there is nothing to do there never gets old 
Personally, I do not think that it is a big issue, even when it is true, since athletes are very busy at the JOs. 100 degree weather during summer at Clovis/Merced, and at a slightly smaller degree at Sacramento region is a much bigger minus, in my eyes.
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I felt that stab all the way to the heart…I am wounded…At least in Fresno we are only three hours from everything. Heat? What heat?
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Two years ago in Orange County, 14U girls championship division…our hotel was in Irvine. Day 1 at Aliso Niguel HS. Day 2 (Platinum) at Rancho Cucamonga HS (obviously not in Orange County) with day time temperatures well over 100 degrees. Distance between the two high schools…approximately 60 miles.
So, USA WP has challenges in getting pools in Orange County and in the Bay Area…both areas have plenty of quality pools that are not getting used. And, I’m sure that there are various, valid reasons why they are not booked for JOs.
And, while the Bay Area has horrendous week-day traffic, I’m not sure Orange County is much better.
I’ve had the pleasure of criss-crossing both Orange County and the Bay Area to watch my two sons play on the same day…
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While I very much prefer Orange County over Bay Area tournaments, in the end much respect to organizations working to secure the amount of pools they do on the same weekend. That alone is a huge accomplishment and we are fortunate to be able to have it.
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In my view the more pools the better in order to minimize the elitist nature of the sport and have more pools hosting games.
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