MLS San Jose Earthquakes

Audi, Bleacher Report and MLS Debut Season 3 of the ACADEMY Featuring San Jose Earthquakes Academy

June 22, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes News Release


NEW YORK, N.Y. - Audi, along with Bleacher Report and Major League Soccer, today announced the return of the four-part, all-access documentary series, THE ACADEMY , with an all-new youth development academy of future stars in the spotlight - the San Jose Earthquakes Academy. The series provides in-depth, behind-the-scenes coverage of the next generation of soccer stars on and off the field as they compete to join the ranks of MLS professional athletes. The third season of THE ACADEMY, made possible by Audi, will debut exclusively on the Bleacher Report app and across B/R Football channels on Friday, June 24 at 9 a.m. PT.

THE ACADEMY provides an all-access look at the commitments and raw talent of young athletes as they follow their dreams to become professional soccer players. Highlighting the youth talent development system used by every MLS youth Academy in North America, the series gives fans a first-hand account of top players who join an MLS club, and with hard work and determination, rise through the ranks to play professionally in MLS and abroad. These unique stories demonstrate how Audi and MLS youth Academies are working to ensure this next generation of athletes is ready to compete at an elite level.

The documentary series will provide a detailed look at Quakes Academy training sessions and tactical meetings, as well as their involvement in the 2022 Generation adidas Cup, where they faced powerhouses Manchester United and River Plate. The series will also cover some first team matches and Quakes II games and will provide a behind-the-scenes look at player storylines and their personal battles.

Prominent San Jose Earthquakes personalities are featured in the series, including general manager Chris Leitch, interim head coach Alex Covelo, Major League Soccer's all-time leading goal-scorer and interim assistant coach Chris Wondolowski, and Homegrown forward and United States Men's National Team player Cade Cowell, along with Quakes Academy players and team staff.

"The San Jose Earthquakes Academy is the foundation of our club and an essential part of a player's pathway to the professional stage. With Audi's support, we feel we can strengthen our efforts in that process for players at every level," said Earthquakes general manager Chris Leitch. "We look forward to guiding our Academy players towards success both on and off the field as we continue to enhance and improve our development pathway."

In the first two seasons, which highlighted the academies of Sporting Kansas City (2020) and the New York Red Bulls (2021), THE ACADEMY captured the rise of prospects to their club's first teams, including Ozzie Cisneros and Serge Ngoma. The audience for THE ACADEMY continues to grow with Season 2 registering more than 15.7 million views across five episodes.

In addition to THE ACADEMY, Audi also funds the Audi Goals Drive Progress program to help make MLS Academies more accessible and inclusive to youth players of all backgrounds from anywhere in North America. This program's goal is to help remove barriers that would otherwise impede reach and success, such as limited access to transportation and housing in MLS markets. These funds also support players' educations to ensure their success off the field.

"Audi is thrilled to see the debut of Season 3 of THE ACADEMY, showcasing the impact of our over $3 million commitment to MLS Academy programs through the 'Audi Goals Drive Progress' initiative," said Adam Perez, strategic partnerships specialist, Audi of America. "We are dedicated to supporting young players as they strive for excellence on the pitch and in the classroom, while also advancing the growth of soccer in the U.S."

Audi Goals Drive Progress will contribute $500 for every goal scored during the 2022 MLS regular season, $2,000 for every goal scored during the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, $5,000 for every goal scored in the MLS All-Star Game, and $10,000 for every goal scored in MLS Cup. This season, the winner of the Audi Golden Boot - awarded to the player who leads MLS in goals - will earn a $25,000 contribution from Audi to his MLS team's academy. The Audi Goals Drive Progress initiative will contribute up to $1 million in total funding this season.

Since 2019, Audi has committed more than $3 million dollars to MLS Academies across North America to create a better future through soccer, and the impact of this funding has been immediate - since March 2020, 29 MLS Academy players who benefitted from the program have been signed to First team, Homegrown pro contracts. In addition, more than 130 players have benefitted from increased housing options near MLS Academies, and more than 1,600 players are utilizing expanded education resources including tutoring and improved education infrastructure known as Audi Performance Centers.

B/R Football is the most engaged soccer brand on social in the U.S. reaching more than 33 million cross-platform followers. The brand had its best single month ever in May 2022 generating 182 million engagements.

For more information on THE ACADEMY, visit BleacherReport and MLSsoccer.com. Join the conversation and excitement surrounding each episode by following @MLS, @SJEarthquakes, @Audi and @BleacherReport on social media and using the hashtag #GoalsDriveProgress.

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