Rain didn’t dampen the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th celebration with hundreds showing up to welcome the upcoming season. Most of the events occurred on a closed West St. John Street in front of San Pedro Square Market.
Former Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas, the popular midfielder who played 13 seasons for San Jose and retired after the 2022 season, hosted the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge.” Current Earthquake Tommy Thompson stood by to help out and offer encouragement. Kids aged 5-14 had to hit a series of light-up targets over a small field of artificial grass placed just outside of the main entrance to San Pedro Square Market. Boys and girls ran through the course for hours with Salinas offering guidance and often autographs and pictures after their session.
In addition to live music, former MLS player Jimmy Conrad introduced and interviewed multiple players including Christian Espinoza, Alfredo Morales, Cruz Medina, Niko Tsakiris and Preston Judd to an excited crowd as intermittent light rain fell. Audience members were given the opportunity to ask the players questions at the end of the interview, with the band Suenatron playing music to close out the afternoon.
The Earthquakes start their season in Dallas against FC Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 24. Their first home game is against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 2, at PayPal Park.
San Jose Earthquakes fans reach for a jersey thrown in the air at the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Lucas Perez, 14, from Fremont, participates in the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” as former San Jose Earthquake Shea Salinas watches during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Former San Jose Earthquake Shea Salinas guides Sebastian Robles, 5, from San Jose, as he participates in the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Jimmy Conrad, right, interviews San Jose Earthquakes’ Niko Tsakiris during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Former San Jose Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas guides Morgan Lowry, 7, from Santa Clara, as she participates in the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. At right is Earthquakes Tommy Thompson. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) A fan wears a San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th anniversary jacket during the Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Former San Jose Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas gives an autograph to Emilio Hernandez, 11, from San Jose, after he participated in the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. At center is the Earthquakes’ Tommy Thompson. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Former San Jose Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas guides Emilio Hernandez, 11, from San Jose, as he participates in the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) San Jose Earthquakes fans listen to player interviews during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Former San Jose Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas juggles a ball in front of Earthquakes’ Tommy Thompson as they wait for a participant for the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge” with San Jose Earthquakes Shea Salinas during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Fans listen to player interviews during the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) A San Jose Earthquakes’ “50 Kit,” the club’s new alternative jersey for the 2024 season, is on display at the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th-anniversary block party at San Pedro Square Market in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
