SJEarthquakes.com sat down with long-time season ticket holder Rober Blackburnto hear his insight on all things Quakes. The Bay Area resident spoke about his time as an Quakes fan, the benefits of being a season ticket holder, and the success of the Goonies in the seasons ahead.
When did you become a fan of the Earthquakes?
I moved to the Bay Area in 2001. I went to the Western Conference Finals in 2003 against the Kansas City Wizards. The Quakes beat the Wizards 3-2 in overtime and I had a great time. I had a friend take me to a few games in 2005 as he was a season ticket holder. The World Cup came out in high definition in 2006 but the Quakes had moved to Houston by that time. Once they came back in 2008, I became a season ticket holder and have been one ever since.
What was your favorite Quakes’ moment?
My favorite Earthquakes moment was Steven Lenhart's winning header against Seattle this past August, 2012. We had played well and led 1-0, but they [Seattle] put in 3 difference makers for the equalizer in stoppage. For us [San Jose] to come back immediately and win with just seconds left was a big statement, and something very special and very rare in soccer.
What was your favorite Earthquakes’ game?
My favorite Earthquakes game was Aug. 3, 2008 when [David] Beckham and the Galaxy played the Quakes at the Oakland Coliseum. The Quakes went up 2-0, and the Galaxy came back to tie it. Ryan Cochrane scored the go-ahead goal with a couple minutes left to give the Quakes the 3-2 victory. Long-story short, Beckham hated to lose. He walked over to the sideline after the game and handed his jersey to my daughter. We have framed it along with the tickets. It was a great experience.
What have been some of the benefits of being a Season Ticket Holder?
During my first couple years as a season ticket holder, we got nice blue portraits and could get everyone’s autograph. I really liked that a lot. I am a VIP season ticket holder and the game day experience with the food and parking is great. I love the game experience as a whole and the VIP package.
