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San Jose Earthquakes

Earthquakes to Commemorate Avaya Stadium Opening with 'The Great Soccer Ball Relay'

December 16, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose Earthquakes and local celebrities will commemorate the opening of Avaya Stadium next year with an Olympic torch-style soccer ball relay that ends in the club's new venue.

The Great Soccer Ball Relay, presented by The Bay Area BMW centers, will travel through 16 different cities across Northern California before delivering the game ball to the home opener at Avaya Stadium next March. The Relay will kickoff in the state's capital in Sacramento on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Local celebrities, community members, and Earthquakes representatives will each dribble the length of a soccer field along the route in each city.

Each dribbler that participates in the relay will receive a commemorative Great Soccer Ball Relay ball and shirt, courtesy of adidas.

In addition to the relay, the club will host free soccer clinics for 100 youth at 10 of the locations along the way led by Earthquakes coaches and staff. Each clinic participant will receive a free soccer ball and the opportunity to meet the celebrity dribblers in their hometowns.

Among the list of confirmed local celebrities are:

Marc Acton - KEZR midday host

Brodie Brazil - Comcast SportsNet reporter

Chris Dangerfield - Former Earthquakes player and Comcast SportsNet California soccer analyst

Marquette King - Oakland Raiders punter

Leslie Osborne - Former United States Women's National Team midfielder

Jeff Pope - KEZR morning host

Juan Francisco Ramirez - Telemundo morning show anchor

Gabriel Sotelo - Telemundo sports anchor

Kate Scott - KNBR morning show co-host and Earthquakes sideline reporter

Julie Stevens - KRTY morning show co-host

Rod Streater - Oakland Raiders wide receiver

Gary Scott Thomas - KRTY morning show co-host

The JV Show - WiLD 94.9 morning show crew

The club has also confirmed a number of former Earthquakes players for the relay, including: Ismael "Easy" Perez (1979-82), Mani Hernandez (1974-76), Davie Kemp (1975-78), Kelly Gray (2005, 2008-09) and Ramiro Corrales (1996-97, 2001-04, 2008-13).

More information, including times, dates and a final list of locations will be available at a later date.

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