SAN JOSE — The Earthquakes soccer club is proposing a plan that would enable PayPal Park to host more than a dozen concerts a year in a push to broaden the events at the San Jose venue.
The San Jose Earthquakes club seeks to amend the permits for PayPal Park to allow the addition of concerts at the sports venue.
PayPal Park in San Jose, as seen on opening night for a match between the San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake, Feb. 22, 2025. (San Jose Earthquakes)
The Earthquakes club wants permission for PayPal Park to host 15 concerts a year at the site, which is at 1123 Coleman Avenue in San Jose, a short distance from the city’s international airport.
“We’re excited to bring new opportunities for outdoor entertainment to the people of San Jose,” said Jared Shawlee, president of the San Jose Earthquakes.
This proposal has emerged at a time when San Jose officials are attempting to prepare the city for an array of famous sporting events in 2026, including the Super Bowl, several matches of the FIFA World Cup and a key round of games for the NCAA Men’s College Basketball Tournament.
“The San Jose Earthquakes are taking an exciting step forward on the march to 2026,” San Jose Mahor Matt Mahan said.
The concerts could occur on any day of the week from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to Erik Schoennauer, a land-use expert who is a consultant for the Earthquakes regarding the proposal.
“PayPal Park has become a community destination for many major events for the past decade,” Shawlee said.
Mahan believes that adding concerts at PayPal Park could be a way for the venue to demonstrate its ability to handle a widened array of events.
The change also could be a way to display San Jose’s greater capabilities ahead of the high-profile sporting events on tap for 2026, in the mayor’s view.
“All of our incredible facilities, including PayPal Park, are going to be ready to host fan experiences for residents and visitors from around the world next year as we redefine entertainment in the Capital of Silicon Valley,” Mahan said.
Adding as many as 15 concerts at PayPal Park could produce several benefits, according to the proposal:
— New outdoor entertainment for the community.
— Increased direct spending at the stadium.
— Heightened economic benefits for San Jose, including people traveling through town to visit businesses, hotels, and restaurants.
— More jobs and work at the stadium due to the added events.
— A higher profile for San Jose ahead of the World Cup events in 2026.
“PayPal Park is a world-class facility that is perfectly suited to world-class concerts,” the proposal states.
The stadium’s capacity is 18,000 seats. It features a canopy roof. The stadium is also the first cloud-enabled venue in Major League Soccer.
The north end zone contains the largest outdoor bar in North America. The venue also has a two-acre fan zone with a double-sided video scoreboard.
The stadium also features suites and club seats at the field level, providing an experience close to the event.
“PayPal Park has become a community destination for many major events for the past decade,” said Shawlee, the Earthquakes executive. “We’re thrilled at the prospect of adding world-class concerts as we continue to enhance the City of San Jose’s profile.”
