Commentary: San Jose Earthquake's new soccer-only Avaya Stadium worth the wait

SAN JOSE - After more than 40 years of waiting for a permanent home, San Jose Earthquakes fans had to wait just five minutes for rookie Fatai Alashe to christen Avaya Stadium with an early goal en route to a 2-1 win last Sunday against the visiting Chicago Fire. While the result was important to the team and helped create a positive vibe in the stadium, neither the outcome nor the performance were the most important storylines of the game.

The day was all about Avaya Stadium, which proved to be a great destination for Bay Area soccer fans. Welcome home, Earthquakes!

It was important to arrive early to get a feel for the area - and to try to watch the Barca game - so traffic or parking wasn’t an issue, especially compared it to the opening game at Levi’s Stadium this past summer.

Avaya Stadium is a stone’s throw from the airport, and while the proximity to the airport will be convenient for teams and fans visiting from out of the area, during the game arriving planes could be seen through the open side of the stadium, which was both captivating and a bit unsettling. I couldn’t help think of a sponsor opportunity for the Quakes: Imagine the stadium announcer saying, “and we would like to thank our sponsor Southwest Airlines, with 20 flights daily from San Jose to L.A., including flight 464 which is overheard now” as the plane flies by.

An early highlight was when I bumped into Krazy George and his presence immediately reconnected me to the Earthquakes of old. I recently wrote about my family attending Earthquakes games at Spartan Stadium in the late ’70s and early ’80s and Krazy George was a big part of those memories, so it was thrilling to see him back with the Quakes at their new digs. At the end of the pre-game ceremonies, Krazy George pounded his way through a giant drum and led the crowd in his well-known “Earth! Quakes!” cheer, which quickly whipped the crowd into a frenzy for the start of the game. The Earthquakes used the pre-game hype to their advantage, scoring an early goal which helped set the tone for the game and keep the sold-out crowd of 18,000 engaged.

The stadium is unique and modern. Most stadiums are fully enclosed, but Avaya was built with three stands providing a horseshoe effect, while what they are calling “the largest outdoor bar in North America” anchors the north end of the stadium. A grass arrival plaza outside the stadium was very welcoming and is perfect for soccer and sponsor activities, while the food trucks that lined the area provided food options for all tastes. The venue has a very open feeling, which I think will be especially welcoming on sunny summer days later in the season - but as the game wore on, you couldn’t help but sense the wind picking up and howling through the open design.

I scoured the stadium for a spot with a poor view, but if one exists, I couldn’t find it. Optimal sight lines are one of the charms of a smaller and more intimate stadium, especially a modern one. The press box is on the upper level and the views were stunning - probably the best spot to analyze the tactics of the game. However, I felt the space lacked connection to the atmosphere of the stadium - but I suppose it’s necessary for the media to focus on their work covering the game.

Although I appreciate the comforts of a press box as much as anyone, the atmosphere in the stadium helps deliver the game-day experience. I watched the first half with the press photographers (I had serious lens envy) and the field-level view provides a level of engagement not offered anywhere else. During the second half, I joined my brother Andrew and nephews Alexander, Spencer and Oliver in the upper level of seating, which provided sensational views that the field level lacked - while still close enough to feel the pulse of the game.

Speaking of that pulse, the crowd was enthusiastic and lively. In the postgame interview, goalkeeper David Bingham spoke about how the crowd made it difficult for him to communicate with his defenders, which he felt eventually would be a nice home-field advantage.

I watched the first half from directly behind the goal and it was definitely the loudest spot in the stadium, directly in front of the “The Ultras.” It is worth noting both Quakes goals were scored at this goal, and the Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson didn’t do himself any favors with either. As I popped around to other parts of the stadium, the crowd was less engaged than directly behind the goal, something which hopefully will change over time.

It wasn’t for lack of effort on Krazy George’s part, as he circled the stadium in an attempt to spark the fans. Many of the people in the 16 suites and 576 club-level seats appeared to be there more for the spectacle than to cheer for victory. I suppose that is a major problem facing all of professional sports, so I’m not certain it will change at Avaya. Time will tell.

Every fan who entered the stadium found an Earthquakes scarf on their seat, which provided a great photo of 18,000 fans holding their blue scarves in the air. I’ve never been to Liverpool’s Anfield, so I won’t dare make the inevitable comparison to those fans singing “You will never walk alone” as the entire stadium holds their scarves, but it is possible the Quakes’ keepsake giveaway will start a new tradition. It’s also more likely that unlike in Liverpool, where a scarf is a necessary item of clothing, Quakes fans’ new scarves may collect dust as they head to Avaya to sit in 90-degree weather in the comfort of an open-air stadium. Again, only time will tell on that one.

In the end, the new stadium was worth the wait and the Earthquakes delivered a fun and exciting game-day experience, which will only improve as the players, team and fans settle in - not to mention if the Quakes keep winning at home.