Each home game, the Earthquakes select a Season Ticket Holder to be this week's Fan of the Match, presented by Avaya. The lucky fan is presented with the amazing opportunity to experience warmups from field level, sit on the team bench, get a bag of free Earthquakes merchandise, and last but not least, meet a player for a photograph right after warmups! This week's fan of the match is Jim Lord (pictured right above).
Jim resides in Las Vegas and flies to nearly every Quakes home match and a handful of away matches. He has been a Season Ticket Holder since the opening of Avaya Stadium.
SJEarthqukes.com:Your devotion to the club is incredible, how did you first get into the Quakes and what kept you interested once you moved?
Jim Lord: The first Quakes match I attended was in May of 1977 when the team came to visit Las Vegas as part of the original NASL. It was an exciting game as the Quakes lost that day 2-0 but their playing style caught my attention. And, for history’s sake, one of the goal scorers for Las Vegas that evening was Chris Dangerfield!
SJEQ:What went into the decision to become Season Ticket Holders? A huge commitment.
JL: My family and I have been coming to at least one home Quakes match every season of MLS since 2001. We love the energy of the area and how the community is emotionally intertwined with the team. So before the stadium broke ground, my wife and I looked at the opportunity to be original season ticket holders as a way to further join the Quakes community. The flights to and from Las Vegas are a simple part of our match day routine and we start getting excited each time the plane touches down.
SJEQ:What have been some of your favorite moments since the new stadium opened?
JL: Obviously Opening Day was tremendous. Finally being able to host the team from the south at a home built just for the Quakes has been special. And getting to see the Gunners play on the Avaya turf was a very special treat.
SJEQ:We hear you travel to away games that are close enough, tell us about those experiences.
JL: We will have attended six away matches this year and none of the venues feel like Avaya, although KC’s atmosphere was outstanding for the Open Cup semifinal.
SJEQ:To many fans it feels like the team is really making a resurgence this year. What have been your favorite moments & players from the 2017 season so far?
JL: This year’s team has a fighting spirit that is different from years past. It appears to be built on a more exciting and diverse set of player skills than in some previous years. And the crowd seems to always have a feeling that magic could occur at any moment. Several of this season’s late-game heroics have proven that point.
SJEQ:Describe the community “away from home” back here in San Jose that you’ve developed from coming to so many games.
JL: Being Las Vegas based Quakes fans means we follow many games on our KNBR app, which only makes our match day experiences in the stadium more exciting. Seeing everyone dressed in blue and black and preparing for battle on the pitch reminds us we are with the right fans and supporting the right team.
SJEQ:If you were coach for a day, what would you say to the team?
JL: Two simple ideas come to mind. If the opposition doesn’t respect the shot, then they will lay-off to defend the cross. And if a teammate makes a secondary run, then reward him with an early pass.
