The opening of the MLS Earthquakes' new stadium "has been delayed until the second half of the 2014 season because of excavation issues at the construction site," according to Elliott Almond of the SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS. Earthquakes President Dave Kaval said that builders "encountered concrete vaults deeper than expected and will need more time to prepare the site before the privately financed, 18,000-seat stadium can be erected." The team as a result will "play eight home games at Buck Shaw Stadium, one at Stanford and nine in the new building." While team officials had planned to open the stadium at the start of the season, Kaval said there "was just no way to do that." The Earthquakes decided to play their first eight home games at Buck Shaw to "avoid a scenario in which they opened the season on the road while waiting for the stadium to be ready." Kaval said that the team will "need to figure out some of the seating arrangements for season-ticket holders at Santa Clara University" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/30). Kaval said that the team plans to "pour foundation and begin building" the stadium's steel structure this fall (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/29).
SHARING IS CARING? In Toronto, Kurtis Larson noted with the CFL Toronto Argonauts "all but certain to move away from the Rogers Centre when their current lease agreement runs out," MLS Toronto FC's BMO Field is "once again being floated as an option." The fact that "at least one Toronto City councillor is floating the idea is of massive concern to MLS fans in this soccer-mad city." The grass pitch at BMO is "close to 40 yards shorter than a CFL field, meaning the north and south stands would need to be cleared out and pushed back to accommodate a field of that size." Sideline seats also would likely "need to be moved back to accommodate the CFL's massive sidelines" (TORONTO SUN, 7/29).
