The MLS Earthquakes are "working day in, day out" to make their stadium project in San Jose happen, with its success "crucial to the future" of the organization, according to Nicholas Rosano of CSNBAYAREA.com. Earthquakes President David Kaval said, "I think what I’m seeing is very close to a tipping point with soccer, it's moving really into the mainstream, I think the media's going to pick up on this -- I think our stadium is going to be this inflection point which will take us to the next level." The Earthquakes are "one of the only organizations in the league without a soccer-specific stadium to call home." A notable design feature of the Earthquakes' proposed new stadium -- which has an "estimated cost of $60 million, funded by the team ownership -- was the decision to leave one end of the stadium open, much like Buck Shaw Stadium," the Earthquakes' current home. While it could "potentially diminish the noise level in the stadium," Kaval explained that the decision "was part of the team’s long-term vision for the facility." The environmental impact report on the stadium "allowed it to be built to house up to 18,000 fans." Kaval "believes that the new stadium could help attract the U.S. national team back to the Bay Area, where despite significant interest in international soccer, both the men’s and women’s national teams are going on five years without an appearance" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 11/16).
