September 20, 2007

Opportunity knocks

By Pat Dando
Special to the Times

The problem with “opportunity” is that sometimes we don’t recognize it knocking on our door until the moment passes us by. City leaders can avoid such a fate by seizing the opportunity right now to bring Major League Soccer back to San Jose. In October, the city council will consider taking an important first step toward building a modern outdoor stadium that will house the returning San Jose Earthquakes and, with it, a host of added community benefits.

The San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce proudly supports these efforts. As the 10th largest city in the country, we should always strive to bring our region the best in cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities. The return of the Earthquakes represents exciting news for Silicon Valley soccer fans and families, who stand to reap many potential benefits, including:

- A modern outdoor stadium

- Identification with a national and international sport

- A venue for a diverse form of affordable family entertainment

In order to support the creation of a stadium and return soccer to San Jose, the city council will decide whether to allow investors to build a small, well-planned neighborhood in Edenvale. These developers have a unique proposition: instead of pocketing the profits from a successful housing development, they are offering to invest virtually all of the proceeds, along with plenty of their own equity, into a permanent home for the San Jose Earthquakes. This innovative approach deserves support from our city council because of the project’s long-term benefits as a significant public amenity for the greater San Jose region.

As president of the Chamber of Commerce, it may come as no surprise that I support the efforts to bring the Earth-quakes back where they belong. But part of my support also comes from my experience as a mom having raised three soccer-playing children in San Jose. We are a community that has long embraced soccer. Did you know that northern California ranks first in the number of youth and adult soccer participants in the country? Imagine the new clinics, sports camps and community activities that every family in this great city could enjoy as the result of the involvement of Earthquake players.

In the past, the International Olympic Committee hasn't been willing to consider the San Francisco Bay Area as a host-site for its prestigious games—largely due to a shortage of appropriate outdoor venues. Think of the potential. With a single decision by the city council, we greatly improve our chances in the future.

It’s also worth noting that the Earthquakes have a formal commitment from Major League Soccer to host its MLS All-Star game within the first few years of opening the new stadium. This event alone will produce increased hotel and restaurant demand. It will also show that from an international business and sporting perspective that San Jose is a force to be reckoned with. 

Major League Soccer today is identified with our country’s most vital cities and population centers, including Chicago, Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Denver and Dallas. These cities continue to reap numerous benefits from their soccer affiliations, including job creation, increased visitor spending and significant quality of life improvements for their residents. The Earthquakes will be a great asset to this community.

We’ve traveled this road successfully before. There’s no doubt that the San Jose Sharks and the HP Pavilion have done wonders for our city through international visibility and economic benefits. It is my belief that a stadium and the Earthquakes would follow that same road and provide good things for our community.

This is our opportunity to acknowledge San Jose’s potential in becoming a major league city—and to give our working families a much-deserved community asset. If you agree, join me in encouraging the city council to seize this moment for San Jose. Your voice is vital to this effort. Carpe Diem!

Pat Dando is president and CEO of the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce. She served 10 years on the San Jose City Council, her final four years as vice mayor, and as a top aide to California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.