MercuryNews.com | 12/14/2005 | The (city here) Earthquakes

MercuryNews.com | 12/14/2005 | The (city here) Earthquakes

The (city here) Earthquakes
By Mark Purdy
Mercury News Staff Columnist

The Earthquakes are gone.

No, wait! They are staying.

Nope, outta here.

Hold on! Just got word! They're staying!

Oops, maybe not. Don't turn off your cell phone, OK?

Earthquakes followers have always been among the Bay Area's most loyal fans. Now, they are definitely the most confused.

That has been especially true over the past month, with the soccer team's operators threatening a pullout to Houston even as a furious effort to keep the team in San Jose unfolded.

This week the situation took a turn for the even more confusing. Monday night, a soccer-stadium plan concocted by city officials behind closed doors went kaput before the doors even opened on the exact details.

However, my information is that the proprietors of the Sharks, who were interested in buying the team if the stadium plan materialized, simply could not make the finances work. With the city providing significant subsidies, the two parties hoped the stadium could be constructed for between $60 million and $70 million -- but as the proposal underwent further scrutiny, the figure moved up to $90 million. Also, the Sharks would have been responsible for any cost overruns, a risk they were loathe to take.

Thus, the Sharks' plug was pulled. But does this mean the Earthquakes are packing for Texas?

Not necessarily. The team's investor/operator, the Anschutz Entertainment Group, has talked about leaving town since 2003. And the Earthquakes are still here.