Digital payment services company PayPal has acquired naming rights to the home stadium of the San Jose Earthquakes Major League Soccer team as part of a wide-ranging 10-year deal.
The agreement officially rebrands the 18,000-seat stadium as PayPal Park. The Earthquakes have been without a stadium sponsor since 2018, when telecommunications company Avaya ended its agreement with the club.
PayPal also becomes the official sleeve sponsor of the Earthquakes as part of the deal, which will look to incorporate the company’s technology to enhance the fan experience on match days.
The newly branded PayPal Park will feature a 250-seat reserved section that will host underserved members of the community, providing them with access to complimentary tickets and transportation to and from home matches. Local youth and non-profit organisations will also be invited to team training sessions and have opportunities to play games on the stadium pitch.
PayPal Park will be fitted with PayPal’s digital payments technology, including the ability to pay touch-free with QR codes at point-of-sale systems around the stadium. Other benefits will include fast lanes that provide fans paying with PayPal or Venmo a quicker checkout experience, while the Earthquakes will further embed PayPal’s payment solutions throughout its digital properties.
Additionally, PayPal and the team will spotlight a local small business at each home game, providing exposure through signage, social media promotion and other marketing activities. The team will also explore how the stadium can be used to facilitate other events that bring together the community and small businesses, while fans will benefit from special offers and discounts from PayPal and Venmo.
Dan Schulman, president and chief executive of PayPal, said: “PayPal is deeply committed to San Jose, and we are excited to partner with the San Jose Earthquakes to introduce PayPal Park to our passionate Quakes community and local small businesses.
“This is a unique opportunity to partner with a valued sporting brand and strong community of fans, as we draw on our digital payments technology and work together to redefine the future of live event experiences.”
Jared Shawlee, chief operating officer at the Earthquakes, added: “We couldn’t be more thrilled to find a stadium naming rights partner that aligns with our vision of uplifting the local community. PayPal is a highly respected global brand with its headquarters less than two miles from our front office.
“We’re excited to partner on a number of initiatives that aim to support local small businesses and underserved youth, while also making the stadium a more touchless experience for our guests.”
The Earthquakes worked with Elevate Sports Ventures to secure a naming-rights sponsor for the stadium.
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