San Jose Earthquakes to build a soccer complex and training center
The Major League Soccer side announced plans for a 10-field soccer complex and training center in collaboration with the County of Santa Clara.
San Jose Earthquakes is one of the historic franchises in Major League Soccer, having been a part of the competition since its inception in 1996, and they have won the MLS Cup twice. Also the most historic player in the history of the United States, Landon Donovan, played for the California-based side and helped them win the 2001 and 2003 MLS Cups.
The Earthquakes keep on growing
San Jose has struggled to return to their glory days since the last time they won the MLS Cup and this season they are at the bottom of the table in the Western Conference with two draws and three defeats. But as the Earthquakes are looking to improve and make a late push to qualify for the playoffs this campaign, the franchise announced their plans for the near future.
The San Jose Earthquakes are working side-by-side with the County of Santa Clara to build a 10-field soccer complex and training center. Both sides have entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement for 12 months to ‘explore a long-term lease and management’ for the new soccer complex and fairgrounds in the country.
“This is a major step towards our goal of having an elite training center and singular home for all of our teams,” said Earthquakes President Jared Shawlee. “As part of our club ethos, we wanted to pursue an opportunity that not only provided a first-class complex for our professional and youth teams, but also to facilitate the development of the premier public-use youth and adult soccer facility in Northern California. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the County of Santa Clara that has a shared vision for those goals.”
The plan is to use 34 acres of undeveloped land near Umberger Road and Monterey Road and roughly 14.8 acres will be used for the Earthquakes and its affiliate teams. The remaining acres will be used to build six public fields and on the complex the MLS franchise will build a 35,000-40,000 sq. ft. training center for the first team and its affiliates.
“We’re excited about this initial agreement with Earthquakes Soccer to develop a multi-use soccer complex at the Fairgrounds,” said Chief Operating Officer Miguel Márquez, J.D. of the County of Santa Clara. “This is another step to explore high-quality recreational opportunities at the Fairgrounds. The County wants to ensure everyone in our community, especially those in areas with limited outdoor recreational options, have the same opportunities to get outside and learn how to play the world’s most popular sport: soccer.”
“We are so excited about the opportunity to have more places for children and families to play and be outside in such a healthy way. The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds will be open and available to our entire community,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez. “Once again the San Jose Earthquakes are investing in the community and the team with state-of-the-art fields and practice facilities.”