photo by Michael Pimentel/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
It may have taken longer than they would have liked, but the San Jose Earthquakes will finally be getting a soccer-specific stadium to call their own.
At a public hearing inside a packed San Jose City Hall's council chamber late on Wednesday night, the San Jose Planning Commission voted 6-0 to deny an appeal against the construction of a soccer-specific stadium. The appeal was filed late last month by neighbors of the area who cited noise and light pollution as part of the reason they wanted to postpone the project's construction.
The unanimous decision, which came after three hours of testimony and resulted in loud cheers from the 300-plus Earthquakes fans in attendance, was the final approval the club needed in order to build the $60 million, 18,000-seat stadium.
"Tonight's decision to uphold the Planned Development Permit that we received in December is a milestone not just for the San Jose Earthquakes but all Bay Area soccer fans," said Earthquakes president Dave Kaval in a statement. "Our club and its stakeholders have worked hard through this process and we feel that we have a great plan for our new stadium."
Earthquakes fans packed the chamber and some had to wait outside as community members and stakeholders spoke in favor of and against the appeal. The majority of the those who spoke were for the idea of having the stadium built.
Some of the more notable representatives to speak on the Earthquakes' behalf were club owner Lew Wolff and MLS president Mark Abbott.
In the end, the commission voted against the appeal in part because of the Earthquakes' willingness to accomodate to some of the neighbors' fears. The club had agreed to not hold any concerts at the stadium, which is to be built next to Mineta San Jose International Airport.
The next step for Earthquakes officials is to determine when they can break ground on the proposed stadium. Construction would have possibly already begun, but the appeal delayed the process.
"Looking ahead, our club will now begin the work of finalizing the stadium design and financing plan," said Kaval. "The goal is to put shovels in the ground this year."
The stadium, which some expect to be completed in time for the 2013 season, will be the 14th soccer-specific one in MLS. It has already generated over $3.5 million in revenue with the sales of 10 of the 12 unique field-level luxury suites it will have, according to the club.
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What do you think of San Jose getting the green light for their soccer-specific stadium? Expecting the stadium to be ready in time for the 2013 season? it Which team are you hoping is next to get a SSS?
Share your thoughts below.
Revs will move to Baltimore before DC.
I don’t get at all why people are criticizing the stadium design. It looks soccer specific with the roof, it’s a size that they should be able to sell out from the get go, and it’s very very easy to see how they can expand it by 4-6k when the time is right. It’s not far from downtown, it’s close to a major airport, and the CalTrain is not far away. What is the problem??
Great win for the Quakes, and I can’t wait to see a game there (I’m a Sounders fan but with NorCal roots)
Unfortunately there are NIMBY’s in every neighborhood now no matter how ridiculous there arguments are.
They will come if the stadium itself is a draw. No one went to see the Giants in Candelstick but people go now because the stadium alone makes the experience worth it. The new earthquakes stadium looks pretty bland and boring I wish the architect would have added a little creativity. Doesn’t have to be a full bowl with a large capacity but some originality should be given for new stadiums.
SJ owners and fans: Well done!!
blaise213: I like the way you congratulate the SJ approval for their stadium…. jeeez. A simple congrats would suffice. There is a time to give criticism…. this was not one of those times. Enjoying the victories of others and soccer as a whole, should be celebrated!
Sorry bro ,no we don’t. In a SSS, seating is lower to the field,what we have is a multi- purpose facility.
DC’s looks horrible, but that is because RFK is a dump.. but Portland actually looks pretty nice, especially when it sells out
YES!!!
Not far
YES!!!
You write as if you’ve been up for 3 days sniffing glue. We’re talking about a new stadium, btw. And of course we’re weird- it’s California.
There has been much gnashing of teeth by some over the smaller size, but as someone pointed out plenty of room to add seats later after demand and revenue goes up. But first things first- have to get back to winning ways and this news combined with the Quakes strong off-season has likely given us just the momentum we needed.
Getting the entitlements is a big hurdle, but I would not expect a construction start this year if they are still working through the finance plan and design issues.
Seattle has a soccer SPECIFIC stadium. It does not have a soccer ONLY stadium.
Oh, you must mean Baltimore, right?
Goff reported some movement in the DC government as a result of a budget surplus, but I don’t think anyone’s holding their breath. They’re in RFK for another two years and still casting around for a permanent – er, new – home.
As a split DC/NE fan, I’m just going to cry silently in the corner.
awesome…congrats earthquakes…great for them and mls!
Lew Wolff must be happy, but annoyed because he can’t get a stadium approved for the A’s.
I think you should recheck your list? But I would agree that Columbus, and Toronto don’t look like stadiums, more like bleachers at a High School. Portland, and DC just look like minor league teams playing in baseball parks.
It can work for baseball, as you are close to the action and can follow the action a bit easier. But for chaotic sports like football or soccer, where you want to be able to see formations and who is running where, it doens’t work.
The funny part is I have been to that airport before and it bright as F&$@ they just finished renovating it and the have a lot blue fluorescent spot lights on the buildings and terminals. People there are f-ing weird.
I’m happy for the Quakes! After fighting thru the stadium issues in Salt Lake, I know that feeling of finally getting it! It’s a good day for the Quakes and the MLS! Way to go! Congrad’s!
And now I know why — I just caught a glimpse of the renderings.
How do people complain about noise and light pollution in a stadium built next to an airport?
Might as well play at stanford stadium instead of wasteing money on a stadium thats gonna hurt you in the long run.
It is awesome that MLS is adding another quality soccer-specific stadium and I’m also glad that San Jose is doing it for a decent price.
However, I seriously question the “luxury boxes on field level” idea. In Alabama, Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile tried to do the same thing for a minor league baseball franchise and the results were less than desired. Basically, it results in worse sightlines both for the folks in ground level luxury suites as well as the rest of the fans. Ground level seats are awesome in basketball because the field of play is tiny and the goal is ten feet in the air, therefore always visible. Soccer, like baseball or football, doesn’t work that way.
Then again, they’ve already made a mint selling the seats so someone clearly likes the idea.
will this be near a mass transit station?
Call it the Failodrome.
Gee, why didn’t San Jose think of that within the last 15 years? It sounds so simple!
Seems cheap to me — $120MM for Philly’s.
“Brett” = euphemism for moron
People that live near an airport are worried about noise?
Congrats to Earthquakes fans!
Odd that the neighbors would complain about noise pollution when it’s being built next to an airport.
Soccer Specific Stadium = euphemism for “small, minor-league stadium”
lots of money for only 18k stadium!
That was his point.
You missed a few yourself. DCU and NE don’t have SSS or one on the way either.
I think you may be confused. Columbus has the original SSS, Colorado’s just opened a few years ago, and Dallas has had one for quite some time. The only teams that do not have a SSS or one on the way (SJ & Houston) are Chivas, Vancouver, and Seattle. Of course, it does not look like Seattle want to leave Century-Link Fld even though they are on plastic.
almost none of them, unless you actually put the stadium at their company headquarters. The San Jose Googlers would probably sell out, or the East Palo Alto Facebookers, but you wouldn’t have much cross appeal.
and by the way, with a few exceptions, people don’t go to stadiums, they go to watch teams. build a team that will fill the stadium and go from there.
How cute. You make it sound so easy to build a world class stadium. You make it sound like the quakes FO had no clue what companies resided in their own area. Commenter fail.
Who says any of them want to partner with the Earthquakes? Luxury boxes is one thing, buying a percentage of team and helping bankroll their stadium is a whole ‘nother thing.
Ryan, as a Union season ticket holder and SOB at that, I would rather start small. When we have PPL at 19000+ at 18500 official capacity and it is officially pandemonium with room for expansion.
The stadium is not even a complete bowl. They could easily increase capacity to 25k once demand is adequate. Makes no sense to build it, if they will not come.
A smarter move would be to partner with yahoo, google, apple, facebook. oracle, ebay, salesforce, etc…….. and build a 25,000 seat stadium, Do you have any idea how many employees work for those companies and would attend the games ?????
It would be nice to have a top class facility; but the proposed designs are infinitely better than renting out SCU’s stadium.
Stanford’s stadium is much nicer, but again, you want a SSS that can be a true home for your team. To this end, the proposed stadium is fine.
Too bad the stadium design sucks badly. With all the fortune 500 companies in that area, it would be wise to sell a % of the team and partner up to bring in a world class stadium
another MLS fail
MLS teams that need stadiums:
ASAP:
DC
New England
Someday:
20th team (in New York City will be tough)
Columbus
Colorado
Dallas
Eventually:
Vancouver
Chivas
Congrats Earthquake fans!
Nope. Chuck Testa
No longer an MLS baker’s dozen. Only one team with a long-term negative lease left.
DC has got to be next.