SAN JOSE - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today their preseason plans as they prepare for the 2005 Major League Soccer season. The Quakes open training camp on Monday, Jan. 31 with physical examinations in San Jose, before beginning training on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at West Valley College in Saratoga. The Quakes will spend time in San Jose, Florida, Los Angeles and South Carolina in February and March, leading up to the season-opening game on Saturday, April 2 at Spartan Stadium.
Dominic Kinnear's squad will spend almost two weeks in San Jose from Feb. 1 - 10 training at West Valley College, before departing Friday, Feb. 11 for Bradenton, Fla., where the team will conduct preseason at the IMG Academy from Feb. 12 - 24. During their time in Bradenton, the Quakes have five matches scheduled, Feb. 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, Feb. 14 vs. the U.S. Under-20 National Team, Feb. 16 vs. the Chicago Fire, Feb. 17 vs. the MetroStars and Feb. 20 vs. the Kansas City Wizards. All five matches will take place at the IMG Academy.
The team returns to the Bay Area on Feb. 24 for several more days of training, before heading down to Southern California from March 2 - 9 for training and exhibition games at The Home Depot Center.
The Quakes will make their final trek of the preseason to Charleston, South Carolina to play in the Carolina Challenge Cup against the Charleston Battery (USL First Division), D.C. United and the Columbus Crew. The games for the tournament will be played at Blackbaud Stadium, home of the Battery. The team will be in Charleston from March 17 - 26 and kicks off the tournament with a match against D.C. United March 19 at 8:15 p.m. The Quakes next play Columbus March 22 at 6:00 p.m. and finish up preseason training with a game against the Battery on March 25 at 6:00 p.m.
After training in the Bay Area for one final week, the Earthquakes kick off the 2005 MLS season at home on Saturday, April 2 against the New England Revolution at 7:00 p.m. PT at Spartan Stadium.
San Jose Earthquakes season ticket packages for the 2005 season at Spartan Stadium are now on sale. The Earthquakes 2005 season ticket package features 18 games, including all MLS regular season games and special bonus games. The Quakes season ticket pricing once again consists of a Youth (14 and younger) and a Senior (60 and over) discount in three price levels. Prices for the 2005 season ticket packages are $198 adult ($162 youth/senior) for Endzone, $252 adult ($198 youth/senior) for East Sideline, $450 ($396 youth/senior) for West Sideline and $720 for VIP seats. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at 100 North Almaden Ave., by logging onto www.sjearthquakes.com or by contacting the Earthquakes Ticket Office at (408) 985-GOAL.
Earthquakes Preseason Schedule
Tuesday, Feb. 1 - Thursday, Feb. 10:
Daily training at West Valley College in Saratoga.
Friday, Feb. 11 - Thursday, Feb. 24:
Team training at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Feb. 13 - Earthquakes vs. Real Salt Lake
Feb. 14 - Earthquakes vs. U.S. Under-20s
Feb. 16 - Earthquakes vs. Chicago Fire
Feb. 17 - Earthquakes vs. MetroStars
Feb. 20 - Earthquakes vs. Kansas City Wizards
Saturday, Feb. 26 - Tuesday, March 1:
Daily training at West Valley College in Saratoga.
Wednesday, March 2 - Wednesday, March 9:
Daily training and exhibition games at The Home Depot Center in Carson.
Friday, March 11 - Wednesday, March 16:
Daily training at West Valley College in Saratoga.
Thursday, March 17 - Saturday, March 26:
Carolina Challenge Cup in Charleston, SC at Blackbaud Stadium
March 19 - Earthquakes vs. D.C. United, 8:15 p.m.
March 22 - Earthquakes vs. Columbus Crew, 6:00 p.m.
March 25 - Earthquakes vs. Charleston Battery, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2:
MLS regular season - Earthquakes vs. New England Revolution at 7:00 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.
