PayPal Park - San Jose Earthquakes Stadium Guide

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By Football Tripper
Last Updated: August 14, 2021

San Jose Avaya Stadium Render

Avaya Stadium is the name of San Jose Earthquakes purpose built soccer stadium. Constructed with an initial capacity of 18,000 it is one of the most technological advance grounds in the world and was completed in time for the start of the 2015 MLS season.

San Jose Earthquakes Stadium Guide

Stadium Facts

Overview
Team:San Jose Earthquakes
Opened:2015
Capacity:18,000
Address: Avaya Stadium, 1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, 95110
Pitch Size:105m × 68m
Stadium Owner:San Jose Earthquakes
Operator:San Jose Earthquakes
Stadium Names
Former Names:Avaya Stadium (2015–2020), Earthquakes Stadium (2020–2021)
Construction Details
Broke Ground:2012
Built:2012-2015
Architect:HOK
Construction Cost:$100 million
Structural Engineer:Magnusson Klemencic Associates

PayPal Park History

Avaya Stadium officially opened on 27th February 2015 after nearly 8 years worth of planning beginning when The Earthquakes first proposed the creation of a new stadium to San Jose City Council in June 2007. The $100 million dollar stadium was largely financed by the club selling options on the land they owned after its commercial value greatly increased after parts of it were rezoned.

Designed by 360 architectures in what has been their first soccer stadium to date, the ‘visionaries’ drew inspiration from compact European grounds, and subsequently features the steepest arrangement of seating in Major League Soccer. This give The Earthquake’s stadium a real sense of intimacy that some of the larger American Stadiums arguably lack.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on the 21st of October 2012 which saw 6,256 fans simultaneously dig spades into the dirt, with the site previously cleared after demolition occurred on March the previous year. Construction took approximately 3 years in total, and overran slightly as President Dave Kaval initial had hopes to open in time for the second half of the 2014 MLS Season.

The new ground features a canopy roof to ensure lots of material light inside the ground, and multi-coloured blue seats to represent The Earthquake’s diversity. It is embedded within a wider area containing a mix of residential and commercial properties. In November 2014 it was announced that the stadium would officially become the Avaya Stadium after the club signed a 10 year deal with the Californian based technology firm.

The inaugural match was held against state rivals Los Angeles Galaxy on February 28th 2015 in a pre-season “friendly”, and was followed by game a month later against Chicago Fire which represented the first competitive fixture within the Major League Soccer to be held at the Avaya.

View of PayPal Park

San Jose Earthquakes Info

Rivals:Los Angeles Galaxy
Team Colours:Blue and Black
Club Mascot:Q
Nicknames:Quakes, The Goonies
Famous Players:Landon Donovan, Dwayne De Rosario, Jeff Agoos, Jeff Agoos, Shea Salinas
Famous Managers:Matías Almeyda, John Doyle, Dominic Kinnear
Team Owner:Earthquakes Soccer, LLC
Team Goalscorer:Chris Wondolowski (173)
Most Appearances:Chris Wondolowski (385)
Official Website:https://www.sjearthquakes.com/
Team Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jose_Earthquakes

PayPal Park Seating Plan

Below is a seating plan of San Jose Earthquakes's PayPal Park:

Stand Photos

Click the thumbnails above to enlarge an image of each stand and to read a more detailed description of each part of the Stadium.

Matchday Experience

Best Pubs near ground

At the north-end of the Stadium there is the largest outdoor bar in North America which apparently covers 3,647 square feet with 45 beer taps in action, and towards the south side there is the smaller World of Beers which does what it says on the tin.

Food - Places to eat

Located next to one of Santa Clara University Campus there are numerous fast-food joints within a 10 minute walk of the ground including the likes of In-N-Out Burger, McDonald’s and Taco Bell. Inside the stadium complex there are also plenty of options from the traditional American Classics to more multi-cultural offerings.

San Jose Earthquakes Club Shop

San Jose Earthquakes operate a club shop at Avaya Stadium known as the Quakes Team Store. Located next to the main entrance gate, this is the best place to purchase merchandise with the exception of the club’s official MLS Store which can be accessed 24/7 online.

 Opening Hours

  • Tuesday to Friday: 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
  • Match days: Open 2 hours before kick-off

Please note that there are also numerous merchandise kiosks located throughout the concourses on game days.

Can you take a stadium Tour?

Due to high demand from fans of San Jose Earthquakes the club have agreed to offer tours of the Avaya Stadium starting from the 2015 season. As the tour programme is very much in its infancy there’s a lack of official information such as prices and times, with The Earthquakes asking fans to complete this form to book a tour.

How to buy San Jose Earthquakes Tickets

Tickets to see San Jose Earthquakes play at their new stadium generally range between $20.00 for the supporters terrace for fans who wish to stand and up to $130.00 for bang in the middle VIP areas. The most common way to buy tickets is from the club’s official partner Ticketmaster.

2015 Ticket Prices

  • Midfield Club Seating: $90.00 – $130.00
  • Premier Midline Seating: $70.00
  • Center Circle Seating: $40.00 – $70.00
  • Sideline seating: $25.00 – $55.00
  • Premier Midfield Seating: $55.00
  • Corner Flag Seating: $27.00 – $40.00
  • End Zone Seating: $20.00 – $25.00
  • Supporters Terrace: $20.00

Please note that prices do not include booking fees which typically add anywhere between $3.00 – $5.00 depending on the value of your ticket.

How to get to PayPal Park

Where is PayPal Park?

The Avaya stadium is located out of town next to Sane Jose International Airport which gives it great accessibility from the rest of America whether that’s by road or by air.


Driving

The address for satnav is:

  • Avaya Stadium 1123 Coleman Ave, San Jose, CA 95110,

Car Parks

For a comprehensive map of all on-site parking please check out this official parking map. Tailgating is allowed in all parking lots with the exception of the VIP area.

Train - Public Transport

Known as the VTA (Valley Transport Authority) there is a metro service which transports fans from downtown San Jose to Avaya Stadium on matchdays. Departing every 15 minutes up to two hours before kick-off, the VTA is one of the easiest ways to watch the soccer.

The closest stop is the Santa Clara University on the purple Ace line or as a back up College Park Caltrain which is slightly further away.

Visit this page for comprehensive timetables and further travel information.

Public Transport of PayPal Park

Hotels Near PayPal Park

Located at the foot of San Jose International Airport rest assured that there are numerous accommodation options with a 2 mile radius or so. The closest is the Candlewood Suites Silicon Valley, and across the other side of the runways there is a Days Inn and Hilton Hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who plays at PayPal Park?

American side San Jose Earthquakes play their home matches at PayPal Park.

What is the capacity of PayPal Park?

As of 2024 PayPal Park has an official seating capacity of 18,000 for Football matches.

When was PayPal Park opened?

PayPal Park officially opened in 2015 and is home to San Jose Earthquakes

What is the postcode for PayPal Park?

The postcode for PayPal Park is 95110.

Are there any Covid restrictions at the stadium?

Covid Restrictions may be in place when you visit PayPal Park in 2024. Please visit the official website of San Jose Earthquakes for full information on changes due to the Coronavirus.