SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes and Plug and Play announced today a new partnership that will bring the innovation ecosystem to Silicon Valley’s Major League Soccer club.
This collaboration between Plug and Play and the Earthquakes will drive innovation on and off the pitch, accelerating both sides' dedication to emerging technologies in Sportstech and AI. The Earthquakes will join Plug and Play's Sportstech program, which launched in early 2024 and has coordinated over 24 pilots and held 84 program activities and events.
Additionally, the team will also work closely with Plug and Play’s AI Center of Excellence, which launched earlier this year with the support of San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, San Jose State University, PG&E, U.S. Bank, NTT, DivcoWest, Glean, Turing and now the Earthquakes. Through the AI Center of Excellence, Plug and Play will provide a home for AI startups, knowledge sharing and innovation in San Jose.
“We are very excited to partner with the San Jose Earthquakes, a team with a rich history here in San Jose,” said Nate Hinman, Plug and Play. “By connecting Sportstech and AI, this partnership will support the local San Jose community and reshape how teams, players and fans experience the game.”
Sports organizations worldwide are increasingly turning to technology and AI to enhance player health and performance, stadium experiences and fan engagement. By pairing Plug and Play’s global startup ecosystem with the San Jose Earthquakes’ presence in the professional sports landscape, this partnership shows how innovation can deepen community connections and raise industry standards. Through the relationship, Plug and Play branding will also be prominently featured in PayPal Park and throughout the stadium suites.
“The San Jose Earthquakes have always been proud to represent the Bay Area and Silicon Valley,” said Ian Anderson, Chief Strategy Officer of the Earthquakes. “As a club that has prioritized investments in data and technology, we believe partnering with Plug and Play will allow us to tap into the latest advances in AI that can impact our club both on and off the field.”
As part of the partnership, the Earthquakes will host a Plug and Play Night at PayPal Park next season to celebrate the collaboration. More details to be announced soon. To learn more about Plug and Play’s Sportstech program, visit www.pnptc.com/industries/sportstech.
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we're present in 60+ locations across five continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we've invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal and Rappi. For more information, visit https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.
About San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes, one of Major League Soccer’s original teams, are the epicenter for soccer in Northern California, playing at the highest professional level in the United States. The club won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 and took home Supporters’ Shields in 2005 and 2012. The Earthquakes are based out of PayPal Park, an 18,000-seat soccer-specific stadium that opened in 2015 and is the first cloud-enabled venue in MLS. The organization was originally founded in 1974 in the North American Soccer League, and in 2024, celebrated its 50th anniversary of positively impacting communities around Northern California. The club’s nonprofit arm, the Quakes Foundation, focuses on health and fitness initiatives for local underserved youth and fighting food insecurity. For more information about the Earthquakes, visit www.sjearthquakes.com.
