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Spartan Stadium (San Jose)
Encyclopedia
Spartan Stadium, located in San Jose, California
, is the official stadium of the San José State University
Spartans
athletics teams. It is currently the home of the Spartan football and soccer teams.
Spartan Stadium was the home of the San Jose Earthquakes
(originally San José Clash) of Major League Soccer
from the league's inception in 1996 through the 2005 season. Past tenants have included the original San Jose Earthquakes
of the North American Soccer League
from 1974 to 1984, the San Jose CyberRays
of the Women's United Soccer Association
from 2001 to 2003, and the San Francisco Dragons
of Major League Lacrosse
in 2008.
The stadium received significant upgrades to the scoreboard and sound system in 2011. This included a high-definition video board (commonly called a JumboTron
) by Daktronics
at the south end of the stadium. In Spring of 2009, the grass field surface was replaced by FieldTurf
.
Originally built in 1933 as a 4,000-seat facility, Spartan Stadium has been renovated and expanded over the years to its present seating capacity of 30,456. The most recent additions came in the late 1980s when the capacity of the stadium was expanded from 18,000 to approximately 33,000 by adding boxes and an upper deck. In the early 2000s, renovations were carried out for the San Jose Earthquakes
in order to make the field wide enough for a FIFA
regulation size field. As a result of these renovations, parts of the stands closest to the playing field were removed, thus lowering available seating for all sports to the stadium's present capacity of 30,456. The maximum capacity for MLS
games is 26,525.
Spartan Stadium has hosted numerous FIFA events. Most notably the stadium was used as one of the venues for the 1999 Women's World Cup
.
The stadium also hosts the commencement ceremonies of San José State University every spring, as well as musical concerts throughout the year. Spartan Stadium is only one block from San Jose Municipal Stadium
, home of the San Jose Giants
, the High A minor league baseball
affiliate of the San Francisco Giants
.
The now defunct NCAA Silicon Valley Football Classic
bowl game was held at Spartan Stadium from 2000 to 2004.
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, is the official stadium of the San José State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
Spartans
San José State Spartans
The San Jose State Spartans is the name of the athletic teams representing San Jose State University. SJSU sports teams compete in the Western Athletic Conference at the NCAA Division I level...
athletics teams. It is currently the home of the Spartan football and soccer teams.
Spartan Stadium was the home of the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
(originally San José Clash) of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
from the league's inception in 1996 through the 2005 season. Past tenants have included the original San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
from 1974 to 1984, the San Jose CyberRays
San Jose CyberRays
San Jose CyberRays was a professional soccer team that played in the Women's United Soccer Association. The team played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San José State University in San Jose, California. Stars included U.S. National Team star Brandi Chastain, WUSA Goalkeeper of the Year...
of the Women's United Soccer Association
Women's United Soccer Association
The Women's United Soccer Association, often abbreviated to the WUSA, was the world's first women's soccer league in which all the players were paid as professionals. Founded in February 2000, the league began its first season in April 2001 with eight teams in the United States...
from 2001 to 2003, and the San Francisco Dragons
San Francisco Dragons
The San Francisco Dragons were a professional field lacrosse team based in San Francisco and San Jose, California. From 2006–2008, they played in Major League Lacrosse and they ceased operations before the 2009 season due to the economic situation in the United States.-Franchise history:The San...
of Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse
Major League Lacrosse, or MLL, is a professional men's field lacrosse league that is made up of five teams in the United States and one team in Canada.- History :...
in 2008.
The stadium received significant upgrades to the scoreboard and sound system in 2011. This included a high-definition video board (commonly called a JumboTron
Jumbotron
A JumboTron is a large-screen television using technology developed by Sony, typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close-up shots of the event. Although JumboTron is a registered trademark owned by the Sony Corporation, the word jumbotron is often used by the public as a...
) by Daktronics
Daktronics
Daktronics is an American company based in Brookings, South Dakota that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video board, scoreboards, digital billboards and related products. The company is best known for its electronic LED displays...
at the south end of the stadium. In Spring of 2009, the grass field surface was replaced by FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
.
Stadium history
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in order to make the field wide enough for a FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
regulation size field. As a result of these renovations, parts of the stands closest to the playing field were removed, thus lowering available seating for all sports to the stadium's present capacity of 30,456. The maximum capacity for MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
games is 26,525.
Spartan Stadium has hosted numerous FIFA events. Most notably the stadium was used as one of the venues for the 1999 Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup 1999
-Teams:16 teams participated in the final tournament. The teams were:-Squads:For a list of all squads that played in the final tournament, see 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup squads.-Match officials:...
.
The stadium also hosts the commencement ceremonies of San José State University every spring, as well as musical concerts throughout the year. Spartan Stadium is only one block from San Jose Municipal Stadium
San Jose Municipal Stadium
The San Jose Municipal Stadium, or Muni Stadium in common usage, is the home of the minor league baseball San Jose Giants, the Advanced A league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants located in San Jose, California. The Giants play in the northern division of the California League...
, home of the San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
, the High A minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
affiliate of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
The now defunct NCAA Silicon Valley Football Classic
Silicon Valley Football Classic
The Silicon Valley Football Classic , sometimes referred to as the Silicon Valley Bowl or Silicon Valley Classic, was an NCAA-certified Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that was played at Spartan Stadium on the South Campus of San Jose State University in San Jose, California,...
bowl game was held at Spartan Stadium from 2000 to 2004.
External links
- SJSU Spartans.com - official athletics site
- Aerial photo (1998) - Spartan Stadium from USGS The National Map