I hope that all our fans had a great holiday season and a happy New Year. It was a busy December for the Quakes with several exciting player acquisitions, including Honduran internationals Victor Bernardez and Marvin Chavez. Please join me in welcoming them both to San Jose. Having another strong force in the center of the defense will be critical for a successful 2012 season and Chavez adds some great speed and playmaking ability to our midfield.
On Tuesday we learned that the Planned Development (PD) Permit issued by the City of San Jose on Dec. 14 was officially appealed to the San Jose Planning Commission. As part of the appeal process, there will now be a meeting to discuss and decide the fate of our current PD Permit. That meeting will occur in late January or early February. A copy of the appeal is located on the City of San Jose website. We have a great plan to develop a privately financed 18,000 seat soccer stadium off Coleman Avenue at the old FMC Factory and we look forward to sharing that vision and plan with the commission at this upcoming meeting.
Many fans, partners, and stakeholders have contacted me to ask what they can do to support the process. It is critical that everyone who is in favor of the stadium project to make their opinion known to city leaders. This can include sending letters, emails, and other correspondences to community and civic leaders about the beneficial aspects of the stadium development as well as the Quakes’ positive standing in the community. It is also imperative that supporters attend and speak at the planning commission meeting where the appeal will be held. We will let everyone know as soon as possible once a date is finalized. It will likely be on a Wednesday evening in late January or early February.
The development of a new stadium is an exciting and transformational project for a community, one that typically occurs only once in a generation and one that the Quakes as an organization are proud to be a part of. This is truly a way to create a lasting legacy in the community and to further the great sport of soccer here in the United States.
We remain steadfast in our belief that our privately financed plan for the soccer stadium in San Jose off Coleman Avenue represents a fantastic way to gentrify a blighted location and improve the quality of life in the Santa Clara Valley by creating a gathering place for residents across socio-economic lines. It will also elevate the San Jose Earthquakes into one of the premier professional sports clubs in North America. I want to thank everyone who has supported the Quakes through this process in the past and ask once again for their support as we navigate the PD Permit appeal and move forward with a groundbreaking in 2012.
