SJ Earthquakes Midseason Review: The Avaya Effect

By on June 25, 2015

Halfway through the MLS regular season, we highlight comments compiled from Football Every Day’s extensive post-match interviews, with the first part of our San Jose Earthquakes midseason review focused on the impact of the club’s new stadium on the team atmosphere and their home performances.

When Frank Yallop walked onto the pitch at Avaya Stadium’s opener, he confessed afterwards to having goosebumps. And he was the opposition coach. Indeed, opposition players almost uniformly admit to enjoying the new stadium’s facilities. But for the Earthquakes, the new stadium has been the highlight of the season and as more than just a piece of beauty.

“It’s [the difference between Buck Shaw and Avaya] night and day,” Quakes goalkeeper David Bingham said. “I played in Buck Shaw when I was in college, so when you are coming back and stepping into this facility, that is arguably one of the best in the league, we know that — and the fans definitely understand that now. I think it’s going to be really hard for teams to come here and take points from us.”

“[The Quakes] built (the stadium) smart, they were very efficient in how they spent their money. Some of the design elements are best-in-class, so it was a happy day for everybody in Major League Soccer.” — MLS Commissioner Don Garber

The stadium has been a confidence booster, a symbol of permanence and most importantly, a new fort to defend on the pitch: “We want to protect this house because we take pride in it, because we believe that it is ours — the community’s and the fans,” Chris Wondolowski said after opening the stadium against the Chicago Fire.

“It was incredible to me how loud it was in there,” Quakes defender Clarence Goodson told Football Every Day. “It just seemed like the supporters section swept over the entire stadium. Everyone was very alive and that’s an atmosphere you want at home. It’s something that I think we certainly had (only) half of at Buck Shaw.”

A “soft opener” was held in a preseason match against the LA Galaxy and even the opposition admitted the stadium’s qualities, despite getting the wrong end of the stick: a bare-bones away dressing area compared to the Quakes’ luxurious, spacious home locker room. Plus, the Quakes had beat the reigning MLS champions 1-0.

But still, Omar Gonzalez said he was “happy to not go to Santa Clara (and Buck Shaw stadium) anymore.”

Omar incidentally scored the stadium’s first ever goal. “Kinnear and [Bruce] Arena came up to me and were like, ‘you know, you should really try and score the first goal in this stadium’s history.’  Except it was for the other team.  You can’t take it away from me,” Gonzalez said.

“The stadium was beautiful, the only thing that kind of dampened it was the hail at the end. That was a bit unexpected” Quakes coach Dominic Kinnear said after the match. “But overall, I think it was a good day for everyone involved here.”

Then came the regular season opener. With a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire, Wondolowski said it was “all a blur.”

So far, Wondo has made good on his promise to protect Avaya. The Quakes are 5-1-1 at home and Dominic Kenner’s men haven’t allowed a goal in their last three league matches at Avaya. Only three of MLS’ nineteen other clubs have dropped more points at home than the Quakes’ so far this season. “I think it’s a different mentality anytime you’re home versus on the road.” Wondolowski said after the Quakes’ 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew in mid-May.

That was returning from an exhausting road-trip of three away games in eight days. To be back at Avaya, Wondo said was “almost rejuvenating.  It’s been almost a month since we played here and it’s almost like a fresh start again.”

Kinnear echoed similar thoughts: “It’s good to be back and I think the guys charged up for being home.  We love playing here.  It’s a great stadium, the fans were good; Troy Dayak leading the way behind the goal.  It’s great to see familiar faces.”

Only once have the Quakes lost at Avaya, now halfway through the MLS season, a factor that just may be decisive in the club’s run for the playoffs.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.