San Jose Earthquakes Announce "Avaya Stadium" Agreement to Power Fan Engagement

SANTA CLARA, CA--(Marketwired - Nov 19, 2014) -

  • Avaya and Earthquakes aim to deliver one of the most high-tech fan experiences in soccer in what is expected to be the first cloud-enabled MLS venue

  • Cloud-based applications will allow the Earthquakes to easily evolve the fan experience with new features and capabilities

Technology company Avaya and the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer (MLS) announced today that the Earthquakes' new home will officially be known as "Avaya Stadium." They have also agreed to a multi-year deal for the installation of Avaya's state-of-the-art technology throughout the venue with the goal to deliver one of the most high-tech fan experiences in MLS.

Avaya will become the official business engagement, communications solutions and technology partner of the team and the new stadium, which is expected to be the first cloud-enabled venue in the MLS. Using cloud-based technologies will allow the Earthquakes to easily and continually add new features to enhance the fan experience. Avaya Labs will work closely with the Earthquakes to research leading-edge fan engagement and elevate it using next generation technologies. Ultimately, Avaya and the Earthquakes will deliver immersive, interactive experiences with social sharing to enrich the powerful connection between fans and the game.

In addition to making it the first cloud-enabled MLS stadium, Avaya will provide end-to-end technology solutions, such as hardware and software installation, turnkey services and the team's voice, data, video, wireless and contact center.

The agreement between Avaya and the Earthquakes offers the two locally-based organizations the opportunity to build greater community around the rapidly growing interest in soccer and become a showcase for the convergence of sports, technology and sponsorship on a larger stage.

Construction on the 18,000-seat stadium is slated for completion by the time the Earthquakes take the field in March 2015.

Quotes

"Avaya and the San Jose Earthquakes are truly a natural fit, sharing not only a similar vision, but also parallel business objectives. As two leading Silicon Valley-based organizations, Avaya and the Earthquakes are both committed to finding innovative ways to provide the fans with rewarding experiences and engagements through the use of cloud-based solutions."
Pierre-Paul Allard, Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales and President of Global Field Operations for Avaya

"We are very proud to partner with a giant in the technology world for our stadium naming rights. Both Avaya and the Earthquakes share a commitment to innovation that is the hallmark of Silicon Valley. By partnering with a leader in the technology industry, we believe that Avaya Stadium will deliver fans one of the most engaging and technologically-advanced experiences in professional sports."
Dave Kaval, San Jose Earthquakes President

Additional Resources
www.avayasponsorships.com

About Avaya
Avaya is a leading provider of solutions that enable customer and team engagement across multiple channels and devices for better customer experience, increased productivity and enhanced financial performance. Its world-class contact center and unified communications technologies and services are available in a wide variety of flexible on-premises and cloud deployment options that seamlessly integrate with non-Avaya applications. The Avaya Engagement Development Platform enables third parties to create and customize business applications for competitive advantage. Avaya's fabric-based networking solutions help simplify and accelerate the deployment of business critical applications and services. For more information, please visit www.avaya.com.

About San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes are one of 20 teams in Major League Soccer. The club won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003 and took home Supporters' Shields in 2005 and 2012. They are led by 2012 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Chris Wondolowski, one of the most prolific goal scorers in league history. The club will move to Avaya Stadium at the beginning of the 2015 MLS season, a new 18,000-seat venue that is under construction on Coleman Ave. adjacent to the Mineta San Jose International Airport. The organization was originally founded in 1974 and was one of 10 charter members of MLS when the league began in 1996. The club's non-profit arm, the San Jose Earthquakes Community Fund, focuses on health and fitness initiatives for underserved youth in the Bay Area. For more information about the Earthquakes, log on to www.sjearthquakes.com.

About Avaya Stadium
Avaya Stadium (capacity: 18,000) is currently under construction on Coleman Ave. adjacent to the San Jose International Airport. The European-inspired building is expected to be the first cloud-enabled venue in Major League Soccer and will be among the most technologically advanced stadiums in the world. The stadium features a canopy roof and the steepest-raked seating in Major League Soccer to provide the best possible fan experience. Additionally, the north end zone houses the largest outdoor bar in North America, a two-acre fan zone and a double-sided video scoreboard. The suites and club seats are located at field level, giving fans a premium experience unlike any other in professional sports.

Certain statements contained in this press release may be forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "should" or "will" or other similar terminology. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these are reasonable, such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. These and other important factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to Avaya's filings with the SEC that are available at www.sec.gov. Avaya disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

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