In the end, it was AEG that moved the Quakes, not MLS that many Quake fans want to through the blame on too. But it is San Jose mayor Ron Gon and the SJ city council that finally did my Quakes in. Looking at it now, I don't feel angry at AEG, they never wanted our team in the first place and did the fans a favor by commiting the $$$ to keep the team there (albeit half-assed). Regardless, this IS a black eye for the league, and FVCK those fans that take joy in seeing this happen. While it seems like a lot of Quake fans are throwing in the towel regarding MLS, I still will support MLS always. I love American soccer and MLS is extremely important. MLS and USMNT will survive and succeed with or without those fans. In fact, I'll leave my ass hanging in the breeze and say to those Quake fans that run away...good riddance.
While I understand why people are saying "no"? I ask one question, if Lamar Hunt was the investment/operator of the San Jose Earthquakes, would they be moving to Houston? I really do doubt it.
Sport business is dog eat dog. We as soccer fans should consider our selfs lucky that they didn't fold the team but just moved to another loaction. I feel really bad for the Q fans, but as DG said they will return when the stars are right and have SSS in place.Who knows may be this move will wake the San Jose officals up that they sure lost a major part of the summer sport.
I am really sorry to hear this , especially since this franchise got the " Earthquake " name back from the old NASL team. I remember the days of Steve Zungal , Stan Terlecki , Godfrey Ingram.
While I wouldn't label them angels the primary blame is not AEG's. Running a business is extremely hardcore. The bottom line is still what matters as heartless that it may sound. The city of San Jose with the officials that some of us elected had two years to come up with a plan for a new stadium and new investors. But the politicking and other priorities (wooing MLB) got in the way and this is the result. So in a way, can we, the fans, share a little bit of blame for electing these dunderheads? Also, could MLS have done more to be candid about discussions with potential owners like Club America and others?What was that deal about? It seems like secretiveness and underhandedness was pervasive from all fronts. As an average fan, I found it all very frustrating. And now, I'm extremely disgusted with the whole series of events.
I don't know all the facts but I would first not "blame" anybody. In hindsight, would anybody "blame" the ownership of the Tampa Bay Mutiny or Miami Fusion for moving if they had? I don't know how you can be angry at a company for moving a team that was losing them money. I mean from what I understand AEG took over the club as a service to San Jose. Weren't they losing $20 million/year on the team? Obviously they think Houston has a better chance at getting a stadium built and profiting on the team. San Jose still may be able to do this but they need to stop trying to fit a stadium into spots that aren't big enough. Find an open space of affordable land not too far from San Jose and build a nice place like PHP. Don't half-(butt) a stadium just to get a team back ASAP.
The city of San Jose is keeping all of the Earthquakes stuff (name, colors, etc.) for any future new team, kinda like the Cleveland Browns. I don't know if they'll do records but it would be nice if MLS could do like the NFL and technically contract San Jose and treat the Houston club as an expansion team.
Of course it's AEG's fault. Was it Adams' fault the Oilers moved to Tennessee? Was it Irsay's fault the Colts moved to Indianapolis? Was it Green's fault the Northstars moved to Dallas? Was it O'Malley's fault the Dodgers moved to LA? They all may have had their reasons, but they did it. It's their fault.
Not AEG's fault at all. They didn't want the team, no one did really for its entire existance. SJ was lucky to have the team there this year.
No. An AEG representative said (I believe) they spent twenty million dollars on the Earthquakes, and it was debated immediately afterwards whether he was even referring to that sum as the sum lost.
But overall, AEG lost money (since I don't think the Quakes were ever profitable) on a team they didn't want to operate in the first place. And when AEG did become the Investor/Owner, they said they are only doing it on a temporary basis. I don't think AEG lost $20 million over the 3 years period. They probably lost $2-4 million a year, but that is just my best guest. So at most they lost $10 million and spent $10 million buying the Quakes from the previous owner.
I hate AEG just as much as the next Quakes fan, and am pissed off about the whole situation, but I really don't think it's their fault they may have done some crappy things, but it's not their fault the city couldn't get stuff together.. honestly, how long has this been going on?
This nugget was in the local sports section under some misc. section.... "....The San Jose Earthquakes of MLS are moving to Houston. League commissioner Don Garber said the team's owners were attracted by the chance to play in front of an ethnically diverse population willing to support a soccer team." Kinda reminds me of an old 'Peanuts' comic strip: Linus asks Lucy to read him a book. She takes it and says, "A man was born. He lived. Then he died. The end."
You Guys Will Get A Team Next Year With Sve. Dont Worry And Please Dont Become Alienated...most Of Bay Area Soccer Fans Probably Will Not Notice The Team Left For Year At All.
The big corporations moved away from California because they got tired of paying the ridiculously high state corporate taxes, dramatically reducing a source of state revenue. When they left, was it their fault? Hollywood has been shooting movies everywhere but in California in the past few years because it's cheaper in nearly every way, reducing job opportunities for local workers. When the studios left California to shoot movies elsewhere, was it their fault? In your view, 20 million dollars might be lunch money to a multi-billion dollar corporation like AEG, but it's still 20 million to an investor group (SUM) who has yet to see a figure in the black for all 10-12 teams. It's business, and it's a lost concept for most sports fans who's only idea of economics is the price tag on an admission ticket to a match. The other entities involved, such as Spartan Shops, the big money bigwigs in NoCal, and the San Jose city government didn't think MLS would let AEG leave, or that AEG would have the guts to leave, but business is bigger than a rivalry between teams. Business is blunt, but so is life. Earthquake fans got dicked, but not by AEG. I am sad to see the 'Quakes go, but the silver lining exists in the form of team history. The fans are there and will support the sport. As a bonus, the Earthquakes names and history are intact for the new team when MLS returns. The NoCal market can now work fresh, with no pressing deadlines like Toronto faced, to assemble investors and get a stadium project going. If Santa Clara ever wanted an opportunity to step up in status and place itself on the national map, it's now. For San Jose, it's adieu, not good-bye.
I don't blame AEG. They reluctantly stepped into a bad situation. But at least they stepped up to the plate. Nobody else in the Bay Area aside from Soccer Silicon Valley seems to have stepped up. Not the politicians. Not San Jose State University. Not Spartan Shops. NOBODY! And the reality is that the current situation at Spartan Stadium will not work. I've said it in other threads. In my opinion no club in MLS would benefit more from a soccer stadium then the Earthquakes. Because the Bay Area has the most sophisticated fan base of any market in MLS. And the Earthquakes probably have the best name recognition within their market of any club in the league. But fans are just begging for someone to make that investment in brick and mortar. And it will be very difficult for Bay Area supporters to fully commit to ANY club until that investment is made. Because a stadium will tell the supporters that the club is in it for the long haul. I'm sure AEG would have loved to have made that happen in San Jose. But it will never get done without political support. And in this case the politicians offered up too little, too late! Maybe now MLS has their attention. Along with a number of other cities. One other message to those current Earthquake supporters that are ready to give up on MLS. I hope you will continue to support the league. And if the league is successful in getting a stadium deal and new ownership, I hope you will support the third reincarnation of the San Jose Earthquakes. Because the legacy of soccer in the Bay Area does not rest with one club or one league. It rests within all of YOU! And just like you were able to find a connection between the current Quakes and the legacy of the original NASL Earthquakes, you will find a connection with some future club. And I for one hope that is sooner rather than later.
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to WHOLMAN2 again." Somebody cover me, please.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over the Quakes' move. I remember watching many Quakes matches where the stadium looked empty. Granted, that's not exclusive to SJ, but still... if more fans came to the stadium, they wouldn't have lost as much money... you know the rest. Plus, the stadium was horrible. I couldn't stand watching the ball disappear out of sight because the wall was five feet from the touchline. Don't get me wrong... I don't have anything against them, or the fans. From what I've seen, the fans that do go there kick all kinds of ass. That's a loud place when the fans do show up. But if AEG is losing way too much money, and there's another city willing to have the franchise, it's better for them, and the league as a whole to have them elsewhere. And I'm not saying it's all the fans' fault. Truth be told, if you had a soccer specific stadium where the club got all the revenue and the attendance was exactly the same as it was, you'd probably be alright, financially speaking. For me, it comes down to this: I have nothing against San Jose, but I like soccer more, and I like MLS more. And I want it to do well. And if the league thinks they'll be better off elsewhere, then that's the way the cookie crumbles. I feel just wretched for their hardcore fans though. Here's to hoping you get another team in the future, with a much better scenario -- one that gives you a chance to prosper.
This isn't one person/entity's fault, it's a team effort. AEG could have spent more money and effort. The local politicians spent all their efforts distancing themselves from blame rather than solving the problem. The University was so determined to keep their stadium rents and fees high that now they'll get zero. And the local marginal fans did a great impression of empty seats week after week. From where I sit, the only blameless folks are the players and coaches, and *maybe* the hard core fan base.
I agree with most of the posts. It seems like the horrible solution to the horrible situation. I figure another season of possible relocation and uncertain ownership would only breed another dip in ticket sales, making the club less interesting to possible investors. It started to look like a death spiral. Ultimatly AEG is responsible and they have been pretty up front about wanting to unload the team from day one. Too bad SJ fans have to take it on the chin.
Death Spiral Most teams would love to have had our 2005 season "death spiral." Record season ticket sales, attendances climbing through the season, fourth best real attendance in the league, hosting the highlight games of the year, record breaking team wins the Supporter's Shield playing entertaining soccer, Coach of the Year, Goalie of the Year, the real Most Valuable Defender and Most Valuable Players. All with perhaps the cheapest payroll from operations to staring line-up. Don't forget, we hit the tipping point in fan support. Yeah I'll take that Death Spiral anyday. San Jose, like NY, was clearly worth finding a solution for. Too bad AEG runs the show.
No. AEG didn't put the team in San Jose in the first place, and AEG didn't block anyone from stepping up and buying the team.