San Jose Earthquakes Latest News

[Daniel24]

Earthquakes return to San Jose

MLS announces the addition of its 14th team


Oakland A's owner Lew Wolff

The highlight of MLS Commissioner Don Garber's press conference on Wednesday was the official announcement that the San Jose Earthquakes will become the 14th team in the MLS beginning in 2008, under the ownership of Wolff and Fisher. Due to stadium complications, San Jose had lost its team to Houston in 2005. But Wolff and Fisher are committed to reaching a deal that will bring the club a new soccer-specific stadium, preferably on city-owned land next to San Jose International Airport.
Wolff, who was on the podium for Wednesday's announcment at Dick's Sporting Goods Park as part of the MLS All-Star Game festivities, bought the Oakland A's in 2005 and is well on the way toward finalizing a deal that would place the A's in a new stadium in Fremont, Calif. The A's currently play in Oakland's antiquated McAfee Coliseum. Major League Soccer is confident that Wolff will get a deal done for a soccer stadium as well.
"The A's are a fantastic sports group operator," Garber said. "They understand the market. They understand pro sports. They have fallen in love with the sport of soccer."
Wolff and Fisher had obtained a three-year option on an MLS club last year. MLS never wanted to leave the Bay Area market in the first place, but reluctantly had to do so largely because of issues with Spartan Stadium that could not be overcome. It was the first team move in MLS history. But the league went back to the drawing board and developed a relationship with Wolff, who shared in the commitment to make San Jose a viable expansion alternative.
"The day after we left in December 2005, we began working on a plan to return to the market," Garber said.
Garber said the league was approached by Wolff and Fisher about 30 days ago to see if it would be feasible to bring the MLS back to San Jose in 2008.
"We are very convinced that starting now and working over the next two years to have their new stadium will give us the solution that is beneficial to Major League Soccer, great for the fans in the Bay Area, great for the local community and something that will work for the sport of soccer in America," Garber said.
Wolff was focused on breaking into the Major League Baseball industry when the Earthquakes bolted for Houston and became Dynamo. But the more he eventually got involved in the possibility of becoming an MLS owner, the more excited he became about what the next Earthquakes can mean to the Bay Area sports scene.
"I have two signs over my bed at home," Wolff said. "One says 'the Earthquakes are in hibernation.' And the other says, being a real estate person, 'never exercise an option early.' I'm taking off the option one."
Rather than wait until 2010, Wolff thought it would be better to "start to have some fun" with the Earthquakes fielding a team while management works to identify a permanent venue.
If Plan A doesn't work with the building of a stadium next to San Jose International Airport, Wolff said his group has other venue site possibilities to explore.
"We have some options we can look at if something doesn't materialize," Wolff said. "We should know by September or October if the direction toward a new venue where we'd like to have it in San Jose is possible. If not, we're still going to go ahead with the new venue, but it may not be at that location."
Wolff's group has signed an exclusive right to negotiate with the city of San Jose on the proposed site next to the Airport. The land is currently owned by the city. Design studies are already underway and those studies could translate to another property if the airport-area deal doesn't work out.
In the short term, Wolff and his group have identified two high priority sites for the team's home games. Because of negotiating ramifications, Wolff declined to name those two sites on Wednesday.
"We will probably play most of the games at one site and a few of the games at another," Wolff said. "We'll be a little bit nomadic, but not too much. At the same time, we'll be able to judge the market around the Bay Area."

[Frank Cunha]

so it looks like the reason for the Earthquakes to comeback was the promise of a new stadium

[Daniel24]

Originally Posted by Frank Cunha

so it looks like the reason for the Earthquakes to comeback was the promise of a new stadium

I don't care what the promise was im just so happy they are back.Im for sure going to get season tickets soon.

[Daniel24]

Tickets for Sale


Earthquakes Soccer, LLC returns professional soccer to San Jose

Team takes to the pitch in 2008

The San Jose Earthquakes, a professional soccer team whose storied past includes 2001 and 2003 MLS Cup titles and the league's best regular season record in 2005, will return to Silicon Valley with a bright future following today's announcement that Major League Soccer has reactivated the franchise, under new ownership, for the 2008 season. In a media conference held at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Denver, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said that Earthquakes Soccer LLC-a local investor group headed by prominent businessmen and Oakland A's owners Lew Wolff and John Fisher-have been awarded the League's 14th team franchise and will play in the Western Conference, beginning in April 2008.
"It is my distinct pleasure to welcome back the San Jose Earthquakes to Major League Soccer," said Commissioner Garber. "Located in one of the world's most dynamic and innovative markets, owned by proven local business leaders with great integrity and past achievement, and supported by some of the best soccer fans in this country, we believe this new franchise has all the ingredients for success. We welcome Lew Wolff and John Fisher to the MLS family and look forward to many great years ahead."
"While we are thrilled to bring Earthquakes soccer back to the Bay Area, we want to make one thing very clear: this is the dawn of a new era for professional soccer in San Jose," said Wolff. "We join the MLS at a very exciting juncture in the league's-and the sport's-history in the United States. With the development of new soccer-only stadiums, expanded national television exposure and increased fan and corporate sponsor support, coupled with this area's cultural diversity and long-standing interest in soccer, we expect a very bright future for this team."
Wolff, who has invested in and shared the vision for San Jose's downtown renaissance dating back to the 1970's, also announced the Earthquakes, will seek to play their home games at temporary venues for the first two seasons. The temporary venues are currently being negotiated and will be announced in the near future.
Pending approval from the San Jose City Council, Earthquakes Soccer LLC has plans to build a new downtown privately-financed soccer-only stadium near Mineta San Jose International Airport. The stadium, targeted to open in 2010, will feature an intimate seating capacity of 18,000 to 20,000, and state-of-art technology and fan amenities. If city council members and the Wolff investor group reach agreement, the Earthquakes' new playing venue will mark the first outdoor stadium built in nearly 80 years in San Jose, the third most-populated city in California.
The previous San Jose MLS franchise, which defeated D.C. United (1-0) in the inaugural game in league history, played 11 seasons in Major League Soccer from 1995-2005. Following the 2005 campaign, the Earthquakes were placed on hiatus by the League, with their players and coaching staff moving to Houston where they now play as the Houston Dynamo.
The original Earthquakes actually date back to 1974, when San Jose fielded a team in the North American Soccer League (NASL). The team was called the Golden Bay Earthquakes in its final two NASL seasons in 1983-84. Then in 1995, professional soccer returned to San Jose when the city fielded one of the MLS's charter teams, known as the San Jose Clash during their first five seasons in the league.
Season Ticket Deposits for the 2008 season will be open to the public beginning Monday July 23rd at 10am PT. For more information please call 408-282-2808 or log on to the Earthquakes website at www.sjearthquakes.com

[Daniel24]

Pro soccer to return to San Jose

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said Wednesday that professional soccer will return to Silicon Valley for the 2008 season with the approval of the San Jose Earthquakes as an expansion team.
The ownership group is led by Lew Wolff and John Fisher, who also own the Oakland Athletics.

The Earthquakes will join the Western Conference, Garber said during his state of the league address in Colorado ahead of Thursday's All-Star game.

The Earthquakes still need approval from the San Jose City Council for plans to build a privately financed soccer stadium near Mineta San Jose International Airport. The stadium is scheduled to seat as many as 20,000 and open in 2010.

The Earthquakes won two MLS Cup titles before relocating to Houston in 2005 after plans for financing a new stadium in San Jose fell through. The Houston team, now known as the Houston Dynamo, won the MLS Cup title last year.

The San Jose Earthquakes will be MLS's 14th team and the third in California alongside Chivas USA and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"This is a momentous day in the maturation of Major League Soccer," Garber said in a statement. "One, because we are able to reward the soccer fans in the Bay Area for their patience and complete our commitment to return a team to them. Two, because it shows how much the sport's credibility has grown in just two years time."

Wolff said the Earthquakes will play home games in temporary stadiums for the first two seasons. Negotiations with the venues are ongoing and the locations will be announced soon, Wolff said in a statement.

ESPNsoccernet - MLS - Pro soccer to return to San Jose

[Daniel24]

Soccer Silicon Valley salutes return of Earthquakes for 2008

Soccer Silicon Valley (SSV), a grassroots group dedicated to bringing Major League Soccer back to the Bay Area, applauds the return of the two-time MLS Cup champion San Jose Earthquakes for the 2008 season.

"We're elated that we have succeeded in getting our team back," says Don Gagliardi, SSV's president. "Lew Wolff deserves a parade for purchasing the team and proposing to build a state-of-the-art soccer stadium in San Jose with no public funding."

For the past 16 months, SSV has been assisting David Alioto and Ann Rodriguez of Earthquakes Soccer, as well as other members of Wolff's group, in laying the groundwork for the return of the Earthquakes as an expansion franchise with its records, colors, and trophies intact.

To commemorate this milestone, SSV's 10-member board-Gagliardi, vice president Jay Hipps, and directors Freddy Adames, David Chamberlain, Lori Hibbett, John Jussen, Carol Vartuli Marin, Colin McCarthy, Mike Turco, and Ned Zuparko-has made deposits on the initial 100 season tickets for the coming season, the team's first following a two-year hiatus. "We are privileged to have the opportunity to fill the first hundred seats with our families and friends," says Hipps. "This is a great day for the Bay Area soccer community, and we hope everyone joins us in welcoming back the Quakes."

About Soccer Silicon Valley: Soccer Silicon Valley is a grassroots organization consisting of soccer fans, soccer players, business leaders, and political leaders that aims to create a permanent home for professional and recreational soccer in the Bay Area. A business trade association, SSV advocates the development and construction of a soccer facility which will permanently house the San Jose Earthquakes and provide playing fields for the use of the entire soccer playing community in the Bay Area and Northern California.
The Official Site of Earthquakes Soccer, LLC - News

[Daniel24]

Quakes are back after much waiting time.


The Official Site of Earthquakes Soccer, LLC - News

[Marcelo]

When do they make the Jerseys?

[Daniel24]

Originally Posted by Marcelo

When do they make the Jerseys?

I imagine not for a while.

[Ricochet]

Originally Posted by Marcelo

When do they make the Jerseys?

Who know's but there already selling tickets so I can see them rebranding Earthquakes Kits soon to get some money in there pockets.

[Frank Cunha]

I wonder who they pick in the draft

if they go back to some of the ex San Jose Earthquake players

something to see

[jec1]

Congrats, MLS keeps growing. I hope them come to canada like in the west coast.

[Frank Cunha]

they say 16 team by 2010

Vancouver if they can get a stadium could be a possibility, to go along with a team in Seattle or Portland

Philadelphia could be the other, I think Beckham will bring attention for other possible investors

[Daniel24]

Originally Posted by Frank Cunha

I wonder who they pick in the draft

if they go back to some of the ex San Jose Earthquake players

something to see

When exactly is the draft.
I hope to see some of my players from my school in there.. I remember one player who went to my school got picked by the Earthquakes but I cant really remmber the name.I remember reading an article about it in the Gym.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Great news for MLS reactivating old teams or creating new ones...just as good...this is another giant step in the right direction for MLS...maybe they will pick up a high talent european player for this team as well? haha