What do you think of our temp homes?

Discussion in 'San Jose Earthquakes' started by athletics68, Aug 29, 2007.

  1. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Oakland Coliseum, Buck Shaw Stadium and ??? Sactown stadium.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/sports/soccer/29soccer.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

    Obviously Oakland will be our big game venue, Buck Shaw our small game venue and I'm assuming Sac will be for exhibitions and possibly non season tourney play since from a season ticket perspective putting season games in Sac would be VERY hard to work. But several questions popup in at least my mind.

    1. Oakland: What configuration do you think Oakland will use for the games? The odd cockeyed config they used earlier this year for that international friendly, or the standard football config? Also what do you think they'll do, if anything, about the baseball infield since we'll be overlapping with the A's season?

    2. Buck Shaw: Do you see them expanding it, either temporary or permanently by putting seats of some kind on the south side of the pitch, or will they stick with it's current 8,400 seat config?

    3. Sac: What stadium(s) could they be looking at up there? And is my assumption about non season play correct in your mind?
     
  2. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'll wait for an actual announcement. What the Times printed was an unsourced statement that matches previous speculation, but doesn't say anything firm.
     
  3. TyffaneeSue

    TyffaneeSue moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 15, 2003
    Upstairs
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    All that article suggests to me is that New Yorkers may not understand the distances around here. Round trip SJ-Sac is about 4 hours, in decent traffic. The distance between New York and Philly is a lot shorter, and no one would ever suggest that a NY team play there.
     
  4. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've never been to McAfee Coliseum for a soccer game, so I don't know which of the two listed configurations is better.

    As for the baseball infield: considering that it'll only be used for the bigger games, the infield will no doubt be covered by grass the same way that the RFK Stadium crew does it between D.C. United and Washington Nationals games.


    Of course the capacity would be expanded. If the front-office does its job, those games will easily sell out (or close to it) a 15k capacity facility.


    I have no idea which stadium, but I'd agree that it'll likely be for non-league games.


    GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! :cool:


    -G
     
  5. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well it sounds like this came from Wolff's mouth not the Times... so I think they understand the difference.
     
  6. krudmonk

    krudmonk Member+

    Mar 7, 2007
    S.J. Sonora
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Assuming these all come true:

    -Standard football config is best. I just like it being more symmetrical.
    -SCU will expand it permanently and then perhaps some temp stands will be thrown in.
    -They recently had Monterrey and Preston North End at Raley Field, which is awkward. I don't know of another decent venue up there.
     
  7. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It was written in a way that is completely ambiguous whether it's information that came from Wolff or just a repeat of speculation that's been out there.
     
  8. CACuzcatlan

    CACuzcatlan Member

    Jun 11, 2007
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    According to Wikipedia, when the CFL tried expansion to the US they had a team in Sacramento that played at Hornet Stadium (Sac State) with a capacity of 21,195
     
  9. DotMPP

    DotMPP 'Quakes fan in Stumptown

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jun 29, 2004
    SE Portland, OR
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't see why they won't come up with partitioned season ticket packages where one or two Sat night games a month end up in Sac.

    These people are not going to be hanging on by threads trying to keep the team afloat for the two years they are building a stadium so spreading the team around a bit and not selling a Full season ticket package seems like a good plan to start with.

    They also probably have the ability to just start another team in Sac if the 'Quakes experiment is a success. I can see them trying to get another team there in 2010 or 2011 if the league will let them and the attendence is good.
     
  10. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    How many home games do you think there will be in a month? Put one or two per month in Sacramento and you're pretty close to having a majority of games in Sacramento.

    Watering down the product and forcing fans to traipse all over is not a great way to build a loyal season ticket base.
     
  11. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I the team ends up playing in Sacto and if they eventually get a home there, then San Jose soccer fans will be back to square 1.
     
  12. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The [Corporate name] Epicenter at San José will be located in San José, California, near the Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport.

    How would the San Jose Earthquakes end up playing in Sacramento for more than a few games in the next two MLS seasons? :confused:

    GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! :cool:


    -G
     
  13. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    First of all why even bother playing any games whether they be temporary venues in Sacto?
    Also, I interpret the NY Times article/thread that Lew could or would try Sacto if the airport didn't work out. If this is the case, then San Jose is history once again. Forget Sacto! San Jose is the place where soccer has been played since 1974!

    it is very likely that the new, new Earthquakes will split their games for the next two seasons among Santa Clara University, Oakland and Sacramento. Wolff is pursuing a parcel of land near the San Jose airport and would like to be in the new building for the 2010 season. It is also very likely that the owners of the Sharks, the N.H.L. franchise, will purchase a part interest in the soccer team.

    https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=592301

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/sports/soccer/29soccer.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
     
  14. markmcf8

    markmcf8 Member+

    Oct 18, 1999
    Vancouver, WA, USA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here's Hornet Stadium. As you can see, there's a track around the pitch. So it would suck.

    This is Raley Field, set up for soccer. If they play in Sacto, then Raley would be the better choice. AND, the folks that run Raley are into it.

    If, and it's a big IF, the Quakes play any games in Sacto, I would expect them to be friendlies or US Open Cup matches. They certainly won't play more than four games up there, probably only two.

    Also, I think it more likely that the owners of the RiverCats (Minor League BaseBall) will buy the Victory from Piterman than that they will get an MLS club. Not that I want to see the Vickies get moved or their fans screwed, but Piterman is in deep financial doo doo. He may have to sell the team.

    I've never been to McAfee Stadium, at least, not since long before it was McAfee. I think I last went to a Raiders game there in ... 1981? I don't remember right now. Might have been '80. In any case, when I was still young and didn't have a beer gut. :eek:

    GOOOOO QUAKES!!!!!!!! :D :D

    - Mark
     
  15. FAS

    FAS Member

    Jun 5, 1999
    Los Gatos
    I think the only mention of playing in Sac was when they originally announced the return of the Quakes. I doubt they'll play any league games there, maybe and Open Cup game or two, or 3 etc. if we advance.
     
  16. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Where in the NY Times article is Sacto even implied as the second choice location after the former FMC site near the SJ airport? :confused:


    First of all, it's been stated several times by Lew Wolff and/or Earthquakes Soccer, LLC that if the former FMC site doesn't work out (however unlikely), that they have several other sites in mind in and around San José. If Sacto is on the list at all, it's way near the end of the line.

    Second of all, there's no way that the San Jose Sharks would become part-owner of the San Jose Earthquakes if the Quakes was moved to Sacramento.

    Sacramento may get an MLS expansion team some day, but it won't get the San Jose Earthquakes for more than a few games the next two season... and that's if the NY Times article is more than just speculation.


    GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! :cool:


    -G
     
  17. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Sacramento should not even be even mentioned or considered to host any San Jose Earthquakes friendly, league or Open Cup home matches.

    We are and have always been called the San Jose not Sacramento Earthquakes!

    Forget about it!
     
  18. Ipecac

    Ipecac Member

    Jul 19, 2007
    They cant even get the Kings a new Arena in Sac.
     
  19. DotMPP

    DotMPP 'Quakes fan in Stumptown

    San Jose Earthquakes
    United States
    Jun 29, 2004
    SE Portland, OR
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK, if you need to get exact about it say 5 or 6 out of 15.

    They already have you and I and the rest of us on San Jose BS forum. You think we'd fill one section of the old Spartan?

    The loyal fan base finally reached a decent quorum in the season the teams days were already numbered. That number is gone now. We can blame the Murk all we want but all those people who showed up in 2005 are not going to just pick right up were the 'Quakes left off just because MLS decided to let us have an "Expansion" team. Plenty don't trust MLS anymore and there will be some work to do to get that trust back. Having games in Sac may or may not be a good idea but we won't know unless they have a game and no one shows up.

    I don't know what the season ticket deposit number is like now, but I'd take that number with a grain of salt, with the number getting shakier depending on how many deposits they got online. The web site was coughing up "errors" even when it was working and maybe I'm the only fool who put in two deposits for what will amount to one, maybe two season tickets but I'll bet I wasn't the only one who had this happen (hopefully they aren't really counting those two as 12 tickets :eek:)

    And if they sell all the seats in the Sac-Pack why would you traipse over there anyway?

    They need more than us, and maybe they'll get a few from the central valley to come this way when there is a concrete-steel-plastic-grass structure right next to SJC.

    When they break ground on that stadium, the Murk will be on it and that'll put more interest in the team. Once that starts "traipsing fans" will be the least of their worries.
     
  20. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And our team will continue to be called the San Jose Earthquakes during the next two years and beyond, not the Sacramento Earthquakes nor the Oakland Earthquakes nor the Santa Clara Earthquakes.

    Don't worry about it. :)

    GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! :cool:


    -G
     
  21. fguzman84

    fguzman84 New Member

    Dec 12, 2006
    Davis, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    wasnt the rumor before was that they considered playing at the new UC Davis football stadium, which was designed to host international soccer matches. But Raley would be a good choice, Sac State stadium...not so much.
     
  22. athletics68

    athletics68 Member+

    Dec 12, 2006
    San Diego & San Jose
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Falvo, you're forgetting the actual reason for playing in Sacto. They're trying to add to our fanbase. If we can attract Sacto fans to San Jose it's a great thing.
     
  23. Zungazan

    Zungazan New Member

    Feb 3, 2001
    CA
    UC Davis when they say Sacramento... It's a good choice because it seems half the people that live here are originally from San Jose anyways.

    -- Earthquakes Soccer Club of Northern California --
     
  24. Goodsport

    Goodsport Moderator
    Staff Member

    May 18, 1999
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    :eek:

    GO SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES!!! :cool:


    -G
     
  25. ThreeApples

    ThreeApples Member+

    Jul 28, 1999
    Smurf Village
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK, that would be terrible.

    BS posters? No. Returning fans in general? Yes. But maybe not if the games are played nowhere near San Jose.

    How does playing home games 2 hours away bring that trust back?

    So the solution is to make season tickets even less attractive by moving some of the games two hours away?

    I want to go to all of the home games of the San Jose Earthquakes. I want to buy season tickets. Those season tickets are less attractive if they don't include all games, or if they include games that aren't anywhere near the supposed home of the club.
     

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