On Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes officially broke ground on their new stadium, and to make it even more special this was done with a world record.
The San Jose Earthquakes are one of the few Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs that have yet to move into a soccer-specific stadium. That is not to say they did not try earlier, but the Earthquakes were just one of those clubs where the process to a new stadium was full of setbacks.
The current project was announced in 2007, and soon after a site was selected near San Jose International Airport not far from their present home, the small Buck Shaw Stadium.
Most of the preparatory work had been completed by 2010, but then local residents started challenging the plans as they feared the noise and light pollution of a nearby stadium.
Finally, these claims were rejected earlier this year, though the Earthquakes had then already conceded the option the hold concerts at the new ground. The new stadium would also have a rather modest capacity of 18,000 seats.
A few months ago, the club then announced the date works would commence, and that they would attempt to break the world record of the largest participation in a groundbreaking.
On Saturday, a total of 6,256 people lined up and starting digging at the sign of a dropping ball. The world record was easily set. This video gives a nice overview of the day.
The Earthquakes hope to have the stadium completed by the start of the 2014 MLS season. DC United and New England Revolution would then be the only MLS clubs left planning for a new soccer-specific stadium.
DC United have their eyes set on a new stadium at Buzzard Point in central Washington D.C., but while the club keeps pushing behind the scenes and reports suggest momentum building, there is little to suggest they might start building soon.
The New England Revolution, in the meantime, are looking for a new stadium that can replace the Gillette Stadium as their home. The Gillette Stadium, home of NFL-side New England Patriots, was initially the logical choice as both teams and stadium are all owned by the Kraft Group, but the club’s management have now realised the impracticalities of the much-too-large out-of-town stadium.
In the past few years, the Revolution have considered various sites in the Boston area, and now seem to be focusing on one in the northern suburb Somerville. Just like DC United though, they still have a long way to go before spades will go into the ground.
This will be of little concern to Earthquakes fans though, whose high of gaining a world record was matched by winning the Supporters’ Shield trophy that goes to the team with the best regular season.