SAN JOSE, Calif., (Nov. 13, 2026) - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today that Heath Freeman will acquire ownership of the club and its home stadium, PayPal Park, from John Fisher and Partners. Major League Soccer’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the transfer of ownership, and the transaction is expected to close in the coming weeks. Freeman will become the Earthquakes’ new principal owner and will represent the club on the MLS Board of Governors. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The Earthquakes were originally founded in the North American Soccer League and later became a founding member of Major League Soccer in 1996. They just completed one of their best regular seasons in team history and now face Houston Dynamo FC in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The Quakes host Game 1 of the Best-of-3 Series on Nov. 24 at PayPal Park.
“My family and I are honored and humbled to be the next generation owners of the San Jose Earthquakes. I would like to thank John Fisher and the Fisher family for their confidence in me. I know how much they love this team and we expect to continue making them proud in this new era of the Quakes,” said Freeman. “Our vision is simple – winning on and off the field for San Jose and the entire region. The Bay Area is home to some of the world’s great institutions, sports franchises and leaders. The standard has been set. We are eager to partner with and connect our community more closely with the Earthquakes and immerse them in our world. We are committed to investing in the team and building a club that consistently competes for championships. Off the field, we are equally focused on strengthening our connections with fans and communities in San Jose and throughout the Bay Area. We believe the future of the Earthquakes is incredibly bright, and we can’t wait to get started and take the Quakes to unforeseen heights.”
Heath Freeman is a sport, media and real estate executive and one of the founding members of Alden Global Capital LLC, where he has served as President since 2014. He currently serves as Chairman of Tribune Enterprises LLC, a company that owns and manages newspapers, including The Chicago Tribune and South Florida Sun Sentinel, and Vice Chairman of MNG Enterprises, Inc., which manages newspapers such as the Denver Post, San Jose Mercury News and the Boston Herald. Freeman also serves as Chairman of Cumulus Media, the third largest radio business in the country. Within the sports platform, he is the Managing Partner of the Florida Freedom of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) and Executive Chairman of the AVP, the premier beach volleyball league in the world. Within the real estate platform, he also serves as Managing Partner of EHP Hospitality Group, which owns and operates marinas and hotels throughout the east end of Long Island.
Freeman is also an active supporter of amateur and collegiate sports, including his alma mater Duke University, which has named the field at Koskinen Stadium, the home of the men’s and women’s soccer and lacrosse programs, Freeman Field. He has also provided significant support for the University of Miami's volleyball program, which now plays at Freeman Indoor Stadium.
Fisher took ownership of the Earthquakes in 2007 when he and Lew Wolff brought the club back from a two-year hiatus. During his tenure, he privately financed the construction of the team’s state-of-the-art stadium, PayPal Park, which was recognized at the Stadium Business Awards with the Product Innovation of the Year award for being the first cloud-enabled stadium in MLS. Fisher recently made significant upgrades to the team’s training complex, adding a new training field, team meeting space and a first-class dining facility. The club also won the 2012 Supporters’ Shield and made six playoff appearances under Fisher.
"My family and I have loved owning this club for almost 20 years and we are extremely grateful for the support of our amazing fans as well as the hard work of all of our coaches, players and staff," said Mr. Fisher. "We would like to thank Jared Shawlee and the executive staff for their leadership and the entire Quakes front office for their commitment to the club, the fans and the community. We have so many great memories, from our first game back in 2008, the incredible stadium groundbreaking ceremony, winning the Supporters’ Shield and seeing Wondo break the MLS record with four goals in the pouring rain. Heath shares our belief in this club and this community, and he brings the ambition and commitment to take the Quakes forward. Thank you, San Jose.”
“I want to thank John Fisher and his family for their nearly two decades of commitment to the San Jose Earthquakes, Major League Soccer and the Bay Area soccer community,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “John has been a great partner and a good friend, and his leadership and investment helped build a strong foundation for the club. Heath Freeman is an ambitious owner with a strong belief in the Earthquakes and the Bay Area as one of the country's great soccer markets. We are excited to welcome him to MLS and look forward to the energy and vision he will bring to this next chapter of the club.”
About the 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 sjearthquakes.com.
Advisors
Moelis and Company LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to the San Jose Earthquakes. Katten, Munchen and Rosenman, LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, LLP acted as legal counsel to the Earthquakes in connection with the transaction. Sidley Austin, LLP acted as legal counsel to Heath Freeman in connection with the transaction.