PayPal Park is the soccer-specific stadium in San Jose, California, that has served as the home of the San Jose Earthquakes since 2015 and now also hosts the NWSL’s Bay FC. Built for about $100 million with no public funding, the venue opened under the name Avaya Stadium before PayPal acquired naming rights in 2021.
Designed by HOK, the stadium holds roughly 18,000 fans, making it the smallest-capacity stadium in Major League Soccer. Its steeply raked seating bowl and canopy roof were built to keep every seat close to the action, while a lively supporters’ section and oversized bar area give it one of the league’s most distinct game-day atmospheres.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): San Jose Earthquakes (MLS), Bay FC (NWSL)
- Location: San Jose, California
- Opened: March 22, 2015 (as Avaya Stadium)
- Capacity: About 18,000
- Construction Cost: About $100 million
- Architect: HOK
- Notable Fact: Smallest-capacity stadium in Major League Soccer
The Ride Experience
PayPal Park was designed around intimacy, with some of the steepest-raked seating in MLS so fans sit close to the SISGrass hybrid playing surface. Behind one goal sits what the club has billed as the largest outdoor bar in North America, anchoring a two-acre fan zone with a double-sided video scoreboard that draws crowds well before kickoff.
The South Supporters Terrace, home to groups including the San Jose Ultras, fills two full sections and drives the chants and drumming that define Earthquakes match days. Since 2024, the stadium has doubled as home turf for Bay FC, giving the venue a busier year-round schedule than most MLS-only grounds.
History and Naming
The stadium broke ground in October 2012 and opened in 2015 as Avaya Stadium, privately financed by then-Earthquakes owner Lewis Wolff. In April 2021, the club announced a 10-year naming rights deal with PayPal, and the venue has been known as PayPal Park ever since.
Despite its modest size relative to other MLS venues, the stadium’s compact bowl was a deliberate choice meant to maximize noise and sightlines rather than raw seat count.
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PayPal Park FAQs
Who plays at PayPal Park?
PayPal Park is the home stadium of MLS club San Jose Earthquakes and NWSL club Bay FC.
What was PayPal Park called before?
The stadium opened in 2015 as Avaya Stadium before PayPal took over naming rights in 2021.
How many seats does PayPal Park have?
PayPal Park seats about 18,000 fans, making it the smallest-capacity stadium in Major League Soccer.
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Photo: goonerabroad / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.