The San Jose Earthquakes are a professional soccer team in San Jose, California. The “Quakes” play at their home stadium, PayPal Park.
Founded in 1996 as the San Jose Clash, and part of the inaugural set of teams, the Clash played at Spartan Stadium (CEFCU Stadium). In 1999 the team changed its name to the Earthquakes.
After failing to get rights to build a stadium in San Jose, the ownership group moved the team to Houston and renamed the team the Dynamos.
In 2006, John Fisher, known for his disastrous and embarrassing handling of the Oakland Athletics baseball team relocation fiasco, was granted rights to a soccer stadium in San Jose and an expansion team to use the existing Earthquakes branding. Since Fisher assumed control of the Earthquakes they have been mediocre with only a handful of playoff appearances in the 15+ years of his ownership.