Sports teams in San Jose include pro soccer, hockey and arena football. Sports fans looking for pro football action have their choice of routing for teams in San Francisco and Oakland. Pro baseball action in the bay area also comes from San Francisco. Santa Clara residents and visitors can easily get to home games for any one of these area teams.
The San Jose Earthquakes is a Major League Soccer team dating to the days of the North American Soccer League. The original San Jose Earthquakes started in 1974 until the team folded in 1993. Major League Soccer was revitalized in the area in 1996 when the team was reborn as the San Jose Clash. The franchise reclaimed its original name in 1999. The team took a brief hiatus and recently rebooted in 2008. The award-winning team took top honors in 2001 and 2003. Santa Clara hosts game at Buck Shaw Stadium. Soccer season takes place from March through November.
The San Jose Sharks are part of the Western Conference of National Hockey League. The team makes regular appearances in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The action never stops on or off the ice. Rob Blake of the Sharks represented Canada in the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics. The team, officially launched in 1991, started out playing at Cow Palace in Daly City. The team was an early success, pleasantly surprising some hockey fans. Since its inception, the team has made it to the playoffs 13 times. Home games take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, referred to by fans as the "Shark Tank." Regular hockey season takes place from October through April.
The San Jose Sabercats started as expansion team that became a professional team in 1995. This Arena Football League team has won several division titles, including two conference titles. The team is set to return in 2012.
