Montreal Impact - March 4
Fact: There's nothing like an opening day match at Avaya Stadium.
In 2015, the Quakes defeated the Chicago Fire 2-1 in the club's inaugural game at Avaya Stadium. Goals by Fatai Alashe and Ty Harden helped lift San Jose over the Eastern Conference side. Last season, San Jose topped the Colorado Rapids 1-0 in their home opener, thanks to a goal by Chris Wondolowski. What will 2017 have in store for the men in Black and Blue?
The Quakes will open their 2017 MLS campaign against the Montreal Impact at Avaya Stadium. The Impact, who finished the 2016 season as the runner-up in the Eastern Conference, will play their first game in San Jose since September 16, 2015. Montreal will welcome back MLS All-Stars Laurent Ciman and Ignacio Piatti, as well as starting goalkeeper Evan Bush, who had a stellar 2016 MLS Playoff performance.
Seattle Sounders FC - April 8
It's safe to say that there's no love lost between the Quakes and Western Conference rivals Seattle Sounders FC.
Both clubs will add a new chapter to their rivalry on April 8 when Seattle comes to San Jose for the first time as defending MLS Cup champions. In their first matchup of the 2017 campaign, Seattle will likely feature 2016 MLS Newcomer of the Year Nicolás Lodeiro, 2016 MLS Rookie of the Year Jordan Morris and Panamanian international Roman Torres, all of whom played integral roles in the club's championship run.
In their last meeting at Avaya Stadium, Chris Wondolowski scored an early first-half goal in a thrilling 1-1 draw on Sept. 10, 2016.
LA Galaxy - May 27
It's the Quakes vs. the Galaxy. Do I really need to say any more?
For the first time since 2015, the LA Galaxy will face off against the Quakes at Avaya Stadium. These two usually make headlines in their unforgettable Cali Clasico bouts at Stanford Stadium, but both clubs will look to add to their famous rivalry with the second-ever regular season match at San Jose's new home. The Galaxy, who always possess a high-profile roster, make their first appearance in the Bay Area under newly appointed head coach Curt Onalfo. In their last regular season match at Avaya Stadium, Shea Salinas scored the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory on Aug. 28.
LA Galaxy - July 1
With crowds north of 50,000 and fireworks on and off the field, the California Clasico at Avaya Stadium is always circled on Quakes fans' calendars. This massive soccer celebration at Stanford has proven to be a treat for the Quakes faithful, consistently providing exhilarating entertainment until the final whistle. Last season, the Quakes earned a nail-bitting point off of Chad Barrett's stoppage time header. In 2015, San Jose dominated the Galaxy in a 3-1 win on June 27 thanks to goals from Chris Wondolowski, Clarence Goodson and Cordell Cato.
Below are the nine largest attendances in club history, provided by Earthquakes' Media Relations:
Nine Largest Attendances in Club History
1. 73,123 – Earthquakes vs. D.C. United at Stanford Stadium, July 4, 1999
2. *61,572 – Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew at Candlestick Park, August 8, 2009
3. 50,422 – Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, June 27, 2015
4. 50,391 – Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, June 30, 2012
5. 50,028 – Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, June 29, 2013
6. 50,006 – Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium, June 28, 2014
7. 48,756 – Earthquakes vs. Seattle Sounders FC at Levi’s® Stadium, August 2, 2014
8. 41,028 – Earthquakes vs. New York Red Bulls at Stanford Stadium, July 2, 2011
9. 39,872 – Earthquakes vs. LA Galaxy at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, July 14, 2008
Portland Timbers - Sept. 30
Remember the last time the Earthquakes hosted the Portland Timbers at Avaya Stadium?
On March 13 of last season, Quincy Amarikwa converted ‘The Chip,’ an unforgettable half-field finish that helped lift San Jose to a thrilling 2-1 win. The Timbers, who missed the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs after winning their first-ever MLS Cup in 2015, will be hungry to get back to the postseason in 2017. Portland still has their midfield core of Diego Valeri and Darlington Nagbe intact. With the game falling at the end of September, both clubs could be vying for a playoff spot in the competitive Western Conference.
