San Jose Earthquakes Score Big with Community: The San Jose Earthquakes, Santa Clara County, and the city of San Jose are planning a state-of-the-art soccer hub at the Fairgrounds.
The groundbreaking project, unveiled at a press conference on December 6, involves building eight soccer fields for the Major League Soccer (MLS) team and the surrounding community. The initiative seeks to foster professional and emerging talent.
Earthquakes 17-year-old midfielder Edwyn Mendoza was excited about the new facility. San Jose native Mendoza thinks this will transform kids’ lives. “For them to have the opportunity to play on fields right next to the professionals they look up to will serve as a visual reminder that they can follow their dreams and make them a reality one day,” said he.
The proposed plan involves the county leasing 30 acres of land at Umbarger and Monterey roads. 16 acres will be used to develop four public fields, and 14 acres will be leased to the Earthquakes. An advanced 35,000-square-foot training complex including locker rooms, weight rooms, a dining hall, a theater, medical facilities, offices, and more is planned by the team.
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Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who led the project, stressed its community focus. She sees the new fields as a way to connect the public to the fairgrounds, serving as a safe and healthy recreational space for children.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the persistent challenge of finding sufficient fields for youth teams in the city. With a shortage of suitable playing surfaces, Mahan hopes that the new facility will become a regional hub for youth soccer, benefitting both young players and residents.
Earthquakes head coach Luchi Gonzalez, engaging in header drills with children at the event, emphasized the team’s commitment to training and signing local players. “Community fields connected to their local professional clubs play a crucial role in soccer’s growth in America,” said Gonzalez.
The project, still in negotiations, has until October 2024 to finalize details under an agreement reached in April. If successful, the soccer hub at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds could become a beacon for soccer development and community engagement in San Jose.