San Jose will host the 2016 MLS All-Star game

On July 28th, the MLS All-Stars will take on Arsenal FC at Avaya Stadium. Arsenal's draw is huge--people from around the world will be coming to see the team play. The best part is that the event will bring a whole week's worth of events that include parties at San Pedro Square to celebrate soccer and the MLS. It is expected to be a significant economic driver for San Jose.

This will be the Arsenal's first visit to play in the Bay Area. For more information hit the source link below.

Source: MLS

Earthquakes Hosting a FREE Viewing Party at Avaya Stadium Tomorrow

What a great way to increase utilization at what is perhaps the nicest stadium in the MLS. The Earthquakes are going to host a series of admission-free viewing parties for away games. The first one will be tomorrow at 2pm with the Quakes facing off against Toronto FC. The next will be on Saturday, June 20th against the Seattle Sounders FC at 1pm.

The gates to Avaya stadium open one hour prior to kickoff and fans will be able to watch the matches on the massive screen facing Coleman Avenue. Concessions will be available as well as two food trucks. Best of all, the largest outdoor bar in America will be open and serving fans throughout the game.

Lastly, there will be activities located in the two-acre 7UP Epicenter, but the Quakes did not disclose what those activities will be.

Source: Earthquakes

Check Out Avaya Stadium!

The new Quakes stadium is coming along quite nicely. I really like the blue pattern that they chose for the seats and of course that massive bar below the scoreboard. Oh, and the team also signed a new sponsor: BMW. The club at Avaya Stadium will be branded the BMW Club and cars from the Bay Area BMW Centers will be displayed at each MLS game. The sponsorship is worth $2 million over the next 5 years.

Check out the great photos below by Vicki Thompson. There are a bunch more at the Silicon Valley Business Journal article over here.

Watch the World Cup in Downtown San Jose!

The San Jose Earthquakes and San Jose Downtown Association are going all out for the World Cup this year. They are having a series of ten free outdoor viewing parties that will span from June 14th to July 13th at the Plaza de Cesar Chavez and St. James Park. In addition to watching the game, there will be prizes from the Earthquakes, a preview of the the new stadium, soccer shootouts, food trucks, public art, and live music for the final matches. All of the details are below!

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Earthquakes, City of San Jose and San Jose Downtown Association will produce a series of ten free outdoor viewing parties of World Cup soccer matches from Rio de Janeiro June 14-July 13.

“The World Cup celebrates the most popular sport on the planet.  These local events will bring San Jose’s countless soccer fans together to experience the excitement of the matches in a great, community atmosphere,” said Earthquakes President Dave Kaval.

Watch 20 matches live with fellow countrymen and soccer fans at Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Market and San Fernando streets, June 14-17 and St. James Park, Second and St. James streets, June 21-22, July 4-5 and July 12-13.  Top national teams will be featured:

• June 14:  Colombia vs. Greece; Uruguay vs. Costa Rica; England vs. Italy and Ivory Coast vs. Japan, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• June 15:  Switzerland vs. Ecuador; France vs. Honduras; Argentina vs. Bosnia, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• June 16:  USA vs. Ghana, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 2:30 p.m.
• June 17:  Brazil vs. Mexico, Plaza de Cesar Chavez, 11:30 a.m.
• June 21:  Argentina vs. Iran; Germany vs. Ghana; Nigeria vs. Bosnia, St. James Park, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• June 22:  Belgium vs. Russia; Korea vs. Algeria; USA vs. Portugal, St. James Park, 11:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
• July 4 and July 5:  Quarterfinals, St. James Park, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• July 12:  Finals, St. James Park, 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• July 13:  Finals, St. James Park, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

 The Earthquakes and Downtown Association plan plenty of activities, including:

• Earthquakes prize wheel with World Cup-themed "club and country" prizes
• Preview of the Earthquakes’ stadium opening in 2015 – see the virtual field view from every seat in the house
• Soccer target shootout and other skill challenges
• Gourmet food trucks and cold beverages
• Participatory public art
• Free Starlight Cinemas outdoor movies at dusk June 14 with “Bend It Like Beckham” and June 22 with “Back to the Future 2”
• Live music preceding and following the final matches July 12-13.

The public viewing will give local fans the opportunity to cheer players from their home team. The Quakes’ Chris Wondolowski will be representing the United States, while Victor Bernardez is expected to start for Honduras.

For program details, visit: sjearthquakes.com/SummerOfSoccer.

For summer events downtown, go to sjdowntown.com/starlight and sjdowntown.com/summer

San Jose Earthquakes 40th Anniversary Celebration!

The Quakes have been representing San Jose for four decades now, and they hosting a big party to celebrate on January 30th at the San Pedro Square Market. There will be live music, a meet & greet with the players, and they are giving away an autographed 2014 Earthquakes jersey. However, the highlight of the night will probably be the big reveal of their brand new logo and jersey.

The festivities go from 5:30pm to 9pm. The event is free and you can RSVP right over here.

Earthquakes Stadium Construction Photo

Check out the latest progress on the Earthquakes stadium! The cement is starting to be poured and the steel is going up on the locker room and clubhouse building. Hat tip to Joseph Meduri for sending this in.

Die Hard Company Now Featuring Earthquakes Shirts!

Last time I plugged Die Hard Company, people asked where the Quakes gear was. Well, they are finally here! Die Hard Company is releasing their very first shirt design honoring the San Jose Earthquakes and they are on sale for 20% off until July 20th. For more information click here.

San Jose Earthquakes' Stadium is Making Progress

With a $1.4 billion stadium rising in Santa Clara, it is easy to forget about the Earthquakes' new stadium. The total cost of this project is going to be $60 million, which is almost a rounding error compared to what the 49ers are spending (they recently announced an extra $75 million on tech upgrades alone). However, having a soccer-specific stadium for the Earthquakes will energize both the team and fans and help take the world's favorite sport to the next level in the Bay Area. Now that ground has been broken and construction is getting into full swing, I think you'll be seeing the Quakes' stadium a lot more in the news. The final product will seat 18,000 people and be home to the largest outdoor bar in North America. Frankly, I can't wait to see how this one turns out.

Source: The Merc

Earthquakes Stadium Groundbreaking Ceremony is on October 21!

Well, it looks like there is one San Jose stadium that is in the bag. The groundbreaking ceremony for the $60M Earthquakes stadium is taking place Sunday, October 21st at 1125 Coleman Avenue. So far multiple Fortune 100 companies have shown interest in naming rights and 7UP Bottling has already become a founding partner and sponsor.

The team is even shooting for the Guiness World Record for largest groundbreaking ceremony. 4,533 people will have to dig with commemorative shovels for 2 minutes in order to break the current record which was set in India. If you want to participate in the record breaking, sign up right over here!

Source: SJBJ

New Earthquakes Stadium Sketches

It looks like the Earthquakes filed some new sketches for their stadium with the San Jose Planning Department. It's supposed to take a year to build and be ready by 2013, so it should be breaking ground sometime in 2012. Future phases will also include retail, offices, and housing in the area near the stadium.

Thanks to the good folks at the San Jose Development News Forum for the tip. Click the image below to enlarge.

Italian Night Earthquakes Game this Wednesday

From Little Italy San Jose:

Wednesday July 20th will be "Italian Night" hosted by Little Italy San Jose as the San Jose Earthquakes face off with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University. "Italian Festivities" begin at 5:30pm and the games starts at 7:30pm. Pasquale will sing the Italian, American, and Canadian National Anthem. We will have Italian games, Italian food and wine, and special Little Italy Earthquake jerseys signed by the entire team sold as a fundraiser. Tickets are $18 each and $6 of each ticket sold goes to Little Italy 501c3. Please buy your ticket from us to ensure we get credit.

Follow the Link to buy your Ticket:
http://purchase.tickets.com/buy/TicketPurchase?pid=6965267&agency=MXED_TGS17

or send us an email for tickets jcmelander@yahoo.com

Buy "Italian Night" Tickets here

Vote For Your Favorite Earthquakes Players!

The Official Major League Soccer All-Star Ballot is now live and you can vote for all of your favorite Earthquakes players right over here. The All-Star game will be against Manchester United on July 27th, so it's guaranteed to be a great game!

Earthquakes D-day Video

One step closer to getting the Earthquakes stadium built...

Baseball San Jose: Congrats to the Earthquakes!

Congratulations on a Great Season, San Jose Earthquakes

from Baseball San Jose by noreply@blogger.com (DLo)

Unfortunately, the Quakes' thrilling post-season run came to an end in Colorado last night.Though it was a disappointing elimination, the Quakes have every reason to be proud of their work this season. They have firmly reestablished themselves as major players in Major League Soccer, so watch for even bigger seasons ahead.

Speaking of upcoming seasons, Earthquakes (and A's) owner Lew Wolff announced this week that fans should have a new stadium in which to enjoy games by no later 2013. This is exciting news for Bay Area soccer fans, but it also bodes well for our own efforts to build a downtown ballpark. As with the Quakes, bigger seasons lie ahead for the A's—in San Jose.

You're up to bat, San Jose!

Earthquakes Stadium Renders

I don't know about you guys, but I'm drooling over these Quakes stadium renders. My only concern is noise with the proximity of the airport and the U-shaped design. Earthquakes fans will have no choice but to be louder than the planes ;).