December 16, 2005
SJ offered replacement Quakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are no more, team owners have announced: The two-time MLS champions are moving to Houston after the San Jose city council tabled plans for building a new soccer-only stadium with public funds.
Almost immediately, though, MLS commissioner Don Garber said that San Jose could be granted a new team in 2007 - for a price. "We know there's great history there, we know fans come out when the team is doing well," Garber told reporters. "We need to take a deep breath, rally behind the scenes and find a local owner with a stadium plan." San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales promptly offered $80 million in stadium construction, land, and operating subsidies for an expansion franchise. Now that's service!
—Neil deMause
I guess one could look at this as a sign that MLS is joining the mainstream American sports scene. "You don't build me a stadium, and I'll move my team that I temporaily decked out in your colors." ... Cause if this was Europe, the San Jose Earthquakes would have simply been demoted to a lower league, thus sparing the supporters the cruel fate of losing a dear friend, and in some cases a family member.
Posted by Bertell Ollman on December 16, 2005 05:08 PM