If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... Since it seems the health of the SJSU football program is inextricably linked to our opportunity to have a SSS built, what are you willing to do to ensure the health of the SJSU football program? Discuss.
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... All the land around isn't at SJSU, build an SSS in a location more accessible to more of the area. If they can't build it near where I live, how about some of the open area just south of Hayward?
Sorry, if the Quakes are linked to SJ State Football, we are screwed... College football is going to have a rude awakening the next couple of years. The big time programs are going to continue to push the smaller programs out of existence. That being said, I could see attending one game a year...
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... But the motion on the table is (in the form of the rumoured deal between AEG & SJSU). The only reason we're talking realistically about SSS is the possibility that AEG will build a HDC-type facility on the SJSU campus. If SJSU doesn't have a healthy football program, kiss any possibility of SSS goodbye. Let's open our minds a bit here, people.
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... I'm alumni and I can't even find time to get back for one game, living in Marin. Trouble is, all of us already we feel we've contributed to the "kitty" by holding Earthquakes' season tickets. I don't know about everyone's finances or schedules but I feel that, between driving to SJ numerous weekends (which I gladly do) and investing in season tickets x 3, I have already sunk a great deal of my available time and $$ into supporting the team. Heck, right now I'm pushing our local youth soccer league to promote the Quakes ticket plans to league families--I've volunteered more time to spearhead that! I dearly love our team and would happily pay twice again what I spend now on season tickets but I can't possibly consider asking my family to sacrifice more weekends in the name of SJSU football, nor can I pony up more cash. The Quakes are a tenant at SJSU. I sincerely hope that State will understand "if you build it, they will come." However, I don't think that double-dipping into the pockets of the core faithful of one tenant is acceptable. I'd sooner see the deep pockets of AEG say, "all right...can't do it there, let's see what other parcels of land are available. If that were the course they took they wouldn't have to build a whole complex, nor would they need to concern themselves over the politics of gratifying SJSU. They could just build a SSS on their own terms. It is my feeling that this is only Plan "A" for AEG.
      A plan to build a new SSS on SJSU land is the most feasible plan at this point, although the abandoned yard near the HP Pavilion would be a more ideal location (especially since it's near so many modes of transportation).       However the San Jose Earthquakes must stay in San Jose - or at least in a nearby city such as Santa Clara or Cupertino at the furthest!       Otherwise, we might as well move the home stadiums/arenas of the 49ers, Raiders, Giants, A's, Warriors, Sharks, SaberCats, etc. all to a more "centrally-located" area... especially since there's a heck of a lot more football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc. fans in the Bay Area (and in the United States in general) to accomodate then there are soccer fans, right?       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
No, I wouldn't, but beacuse I can't afford it, not because I don't care about getting a Soccer Specific Stadium. About the stadium, if we got one, I would want it to seat in the 15k-20k range, with the possiblity of expansion in the future.
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... I got a letter the other day about season tickets for 2003 SJSU football. It looked like you got 5 games for about $101 but when you read the whole thing that price only got you four tickets. The Grambling game, band, library, dog and pony show was like an extra $25 or $30. I can't quote the exact prices because it pissed me off so much I just recycled the whole thing.
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... Goodsie- Just what plot of land near the Pavilion are you referring to? Would that be the Del Monte cannery or a plot to the north near Highway 87? Just curious. OQF
How about the City of Cupertino owned land (I think) on Stevens Creek near Valco before Lawrence. Its just a big area of nothing but dirt and some trees and it might be big enough for a SSS.
I'd pay to see the SJSU football team play the Galaxy, as long as it was full-on tackle football and the Galaxy didn't get pads. Hell, I'd fly back in a second for that one.
Soccer - plus - college football? So what does SSS stand for? "Soccer-Sometimes-Stadium"? Don't we have one of those already?
I'd love to see the Quakes do what the Fire did - put out a RFP to Bay Area cities about interest in participating. I've long thought that a central Bay Area location would be the best location choice for the Quakes.
Maybe it's just my perspective because I am from the South Bay, but the SJ area is central; it's the confluence of the East Bay and the Peninsula. The only thing more "central" would be to build an island in the bay, somewhere around the San Mateo Bridge. (I also understand how some people who live farther away, ie Oakland or SF or points beyond, don't view it the way I do, and instead view SJ as the far point in an obtuse triangle consisting of Oak-SF-SJ. But too bad, we're the San Jose Earthquakes... )
Re: If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS...       I think I was recalling the Del Monte cannery, but now that you mention it, the plot to the north near Highway 87 could be about right.       Are either/both of those locations ideal and/or available?       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
      I'd go for this idea as well.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
      Apparently, SJSU would then be less willing to lease its land to the Earthquakes for construction of a new SSS.       I'm just guessing about this one, though.       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... I don't know about the cannery site (it was mentioned by Mark Purdy in the Merc that it should be the primary site proposed to the A's for their new stadium), but the site closest to the arena next to 87 is being built on. There are now two new buildings on it. Further north, there are some clear sites near where 87 crosses Market St., but they might not last long. Even farther north there is lots of open land, but it is right under the landing path for SJC. OQF
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... From what my moles tell me there are so many loopholes in the NCAA's requirements that there won't be any programs shut down. That's why this program is on the table. By co-operating on this plan: a) AEG/Earthquakes get an upgraded soccer facility for value (because AEG won't bear the cost alone). b) SJSU gets an upgrade on all its South Campus facilities (that it can't afford to do alone) and an upgraded facility that it can lease 5 times a year for football (because it will be controlled/bankrolled by AEG). But you people are so narrow-minded you aren't willing to co-operate. You don't see the value to both sides in this proposal. So keep dreaming of your immaculate "SSS" because unless there's more to it than the San Jose by-God Earthquakes it's not going to happen.
Although I don't see it exactly the same way as Spartacus (I really don't see why going to SJSU feetsball games will help), I do agree with what he is saying about there definitely being an "I'll scratch your back, you scratch mine" mode going on in these negotiations (Johnny Moore seemed to be saying this at our chalk talk several months ago). As Spartacus says, SJSU wants to get something out of the deal, as does AEG and the Quakes (both have something the other wants). Negotiations with SJSU for the use of land that the university owns seems to be a better way of going at it than trying to get a whole new parcel of land owned by some not-really-interested party. I find it interesting that the Home Depot Center is built on land owned by a school that is in the same Cal State University system that SJSU.
Just wondering... would there be any room for around the very southern edge of the San Jose city limits (i.e. near Coyote Creek GC, on the way to Morgan Hill) for an SSS? I know it would be a b**ch for people to get to, but might there be sufficient land for a stadium & infrastructure (i.e. offices, parking)?
The only Pointy Ball team I'll pay to see is your 2003 KANSAS....CITY.... CHIEFS !!! Oh, ant I will be at Arrowhead on opening day! Birthday present from the wife. I wonder if she'll get my beer at Arrowhead like at Spartan.....hmmmm.
If It Meant A Better Chance for a SSS... Thank you. Finally some sage wisdom appears. To clarify...if SJSU does not have D1-A football, there's less of a pressing need for SJSU to have a first-class stadium facility. The more people that purchase tickets and attend SJSU football, the healthier their program becomes. Ensuring the future of SJSU football makes it necessary for an upgraded stadium facility. Here comes AEG to the rescue. Look, people, SJSU has been a fine host and a friend to soccer for some 30 years or more. The least we can do is support the effort if, in the end, it gets us what we all want as well. And don't delude yourselves so about the purity of an SSS. There's high school football played at Crew Stadium. The San Diego Chargers will hold their training camp at HDC. If SJSU is comfortable in leasing a soccer stadium for 5 football games a year, and it's not unprecedented for them to lease the on-campus facilities that they play in (they pay rent for the Events Center), why not go this route?