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San Jose Earthquakes

SVS&E TO PARTNER WITH AEG TO ACQUIRE SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES

March 19, 2002 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


NEW YORK (Tuesday, March 19, 2002) - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced today that Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment (SVS&E) has partnered with Anschutz Entertainment Group to acquire the defending MLS champion San Jose Earthquakes.

"We are pleased to have finalized many months of discussions with SVS&E, and are enormously excited about formally welcoming them to the MLS family," said Garber. "The Earthquakes' worst-to-first run last season is now bolstered by the long-term vision and commitment to soccer by SVS&E and its new partner in Bay Area soccer, AEG."

Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment (SVS&E), operators of the MLS Cup 2001 Champion San Jose Earthquakes last season, will own and operate the defending champions for the 2002 season in partnership with AEG. SVS&E will serve as the managing partner in the relationship, with SVS&E president Greg Jamison joining the MLS Board of Governors representing the Earthquakes.

The team's front-office has been bolstered by the hiring of former NASL Earthquake star and local business executive, Johnny Moore, who has assumed the role of General Manager. Moore will work closely with SVSE&E as the day-to-day manager of team operations. Head Coach Frank Yallop, the coach of last year's MLS champion Earthquake squad, will continue to manage all competitive soccer duties.

In the summer of 2000, Jamison established a new business division of the Sharks known as Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment. This division of the company manages all business operations, including the marketing, sponsorship sales, broadcast, and other endeavors of the San Jose Earthquakes, Compaq Center at San Jose and select Compaq Center events, Logitech Ice at San Jose, the San Jose Sharks, the Siebel Open tennis tournament and the Siebel Classic Senior PGA Tour tournament.

The largest owner of sports teams in the world, AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) holds ownership in ten North American sports teams. Including five MLS squads (Colorado Rapids - 1996 - present; Chicago Fire - 1998 - present; Los Angeles Galaxy - 1999 - present; D.C. United - 2000 - present; and the MetroStars - 2001 - present), and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. AEG also owns and operates seven professional soccer and hockey teams in Europe.

AEG recently broke ground on an 85-acre sports complex that will include a 27,000-seat soccer-specific stadium for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The stadium, on the campus of Cal State University - Dominguez Hills in Carson, will also serve as the National Training Center for the U.S. Soccer's men's and women's national team programs. Current plans call for the Galaxy to begin play in the $75 million stadium in the June of the League's 2003 schedule. The stadium will also host MLS Cup 2003, Major League Soccer's eighth Championship game. The Carson, Calif., complex also includes major facilities for tennis, track & field, and cycling, while AEG is also developing soccer stadium initiatives in metropolitan New York and Washington, D.C.

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