Revolutionary stadium design for Quakes

The Earthquakes new stadium is getting a unique look -- the club announced Tuesday that the teams planned stadium will include luxury suites directly next to the field of play, a feature that Earthquakes president Dave Kaval says will be unique in the world of professional sports. Unveiling our state-of-the-art luxury suites is another landmark moment for our club as we push forward with our new stadium plans, Kaval said. These suites are different from any other experience in professional sports because fans will be intertwined with the action on the field. Fans in these suites will be just as close to the game as our technical staff and players on the bench. The move could also prove a boost in the Earthquakes quest to strength their relationship with the technology industry in the Silicon Valley. While talking to CSN Bay Area earlier this month about building corporate partnerships, Kaval explained, I think in many ways we really need the new stadium to really have additional ways to incorporate more partners. The suites will have 17 seats apiece and amenities such as in-suite catering, a private bar and a lounge area with a High Definition television. They will come at a cost of 70,000 per season, with a minimum five-year commitment, making for a total cost of 350,000. The suites will be available not only for Earthquakes games, but international games and other events as well. Tickets will go on sale to Earthquakes season ticket-holders on Friday, Dec. 2 and to the general public a week later, on Dec. 9. On the design front, Kaval had previously advocated the idea of putting the fans as close to the action as possible, explaining, that much of the inspiration for the idea came from the Earthquakes current home at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of University of Santa Clara. I think the biggest thing people will notice when theyre at our new venue is how close you are to the pitch, Kaval said. And the funny thing is where we sort of learned that from was Buck Shaw. Because Buck Shaw, for all its failings and complications, you are so close to the action. Kaval also pointed out that putting fans so close to the action was not just unique for American sports, but something that visitors from other countries admired. I remember even having people come over from England or Brazil and theyre like, I dont think Ive ever been so close, he said. Kaval went on to liken the concept of putting fans close to the action to courtside seats at NBA games, saying, We wanted to duplicate that, because I think that creates a very unique experience and one that is uniquely soccer in the same way that you go to the NBA and sit on the floor. The current plans for the stadium have six suites located on each side of the field, close to the halfway line, meaning that fans on one side of the stadium will be right next to the players and coaches on the bench and a few yards from the sideline. We want to make sure and were going to be so close to the action that people really feel like theyre on top of it and they feel a connection to the team and to players, Kaval said of the stadiums design. All this has come even as the club awaits a planned development permit for the stadium from the city of San Jose, with a decision expected Dec. 14. The team will then have to get a building permit for the stadium, but Kaval said earlier in November that we still feel that were hitting our objectives with regards towards starting construction next year.For more Earthquakes, MLS and world soccer chatter, you can follow Nick Rosano on Twitter: @nicholasrosano