from The San Jose Mercury News

Is Earthquakes’ new stadium best soccer venue in America?

By Elliott Almond

SAN JOSE — It started almost 2 1/2 years ago when 6,256 soccer fans grabbed blue-bladed shovels to break ground at a long forgotten lot just west of Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The resulting European-style soccer stadium that lurches 75 feet skyward in sight of Interstate 880 and Highway 87 could become the envy of teams around the country — and a mecca for the region’s growing base of futbol aficionados.

On Saturday, the San Jose Earthquakes will christen Avaya Stadium, a privately funded, 18,000-seat venue that club officials hope transforms a once-niche sport into something that rivals baseball, basketball and football.

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