Why the Bay Area Is the Sports Capital of the World
By Eric He
An Earthquake Out of Nowhere
Ah, soccer, another under-appreciated sport in America. Isn’t it strange how Americans don’t seem to like any sport that involves scoring a goal?
Anyways, the San Jose Earthquakes had a simply unbelievable season in 2012.
May 8, 2013; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski (8) celebrates with fans after the win against Toronto FC at Buck Shaw Stadium. San Jose Earthquakes defeated Toronto FC 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Their season was filled with last-minute comebacks that seemed straight out of a fairytale, as the Earthquakes scored 13 game tying or winning goals in the 82nd minute or later. This included a spectacular comeback at David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy last June, when they scored three times in the final 20 minutes to steal a 3-2 win on the road. As for individual accolades, Chris Wondolowski won the MVP award in a landslide, tying an MLS record with 27 goals during the regular season. Frank Yallop was also named Coach of the Year for his excellent efforts patrolling the sidelines.
The 2013 campaign hasn’t started as well as they would have liked, but as they like to say, “Goonies never die.”
There’s also much more to look forward to for the Quakes, as they will be playing in a new stadium starting next season.
The new stadium, located near the San Jose International Airport, will allow for a better experience for both fans and players. It will seat 18,000 fans, with at least 12 luxury suites. Owner Lew Wolff has offered to pay for the maintenance for a 55-year timespan, which will be a massive boost to the clubs financial capabilities in the long run.
Soccer may not be popular in this country, but in the Bay Area, it will eventually grow enough on fans that they will start paying attention to the Quakes. Regardless, their achievements help build the claim that this region is indeed the sports capital of the world.