SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes announced today the establishment of a strategic partnership with the English Premier League's Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Representatives of the Earthquakes and Tottenham Hotspur announced the partnership at a press conference at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose.
With the objective of creating a long-term bond between the two clubs, the partnership will primarily focus on both soccer and commercial development by exchanging and implementing the best practices from both organizations. The two clubs will also collaborate on community and charitable endeavors.
"The Earthquakes and Major League Soccer are delighted and excited with the creation of this great professional soccer relationship," said Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff. "We believe our coming together with the historic Tottenham Hotspur Football Club unites the premier soccer league in England with the premier soccer league in the U.S."
This partnership will serve to develop the Tottenham Hotspur brand in the United States, while expanding the Earthquakes brand overseas. Tottenham Hotspur fans across the U.S. will now have the opportunity to be more engaged and connected with the Club, as both the senior and youth teams plan on visiting the country in the near future. The Earthquakes also have the option to play a match in England against Spurs.
Paul Barber, Tottenham Hotspur Executive Director, highlighted the commercial benefits for the Tottenham Hotspur, "This agreement with San Jose Earthquakes will provide us with an excellent opportunity to access a key region in a global market. As a Club we are continually looking for innovative ways to evolve and our partnership with the Earthquakes will enable us to market the Tottenham Hotspur to a wider audience. We already have a fan base within the state of California and the opportunity to grow the brand in the U.S is very appealing."
The San Jose Earthquakes have an extensive history competing in international competition and against international opponents dating back to 1996. The team has posted a 6-7-5 record against international opponents in exhibition games, while also competing in the La Manga Cup and the CONCACAF Champions Cup. The first team from the English Premier league the Earthquakes competed against was Aston Villa. The Quakes earned a 1-1 tie in that match in 1997.
