Photos: Earthquakes celebrate 50th season with block party

Rain didn’t dampen the San Jose Earthquakes’ 50th celebration with hundreds showing up to welcome the upcoming season. Most of the events occurred on a closed West St. John Street in front of San Pedro Square Market.

Former Earthquakes’ Shea Salinas, the popular midfielder who played 13 seasons for San Jose and retired after the 2022 season, hosted the “Shea Salinas Skills Challenge.” Current Earthquake Tommy Thompson stood by to help out and offer encouragement. Kids aged 5-14 had to hit a series of light-up targets over a small field of artificial grass placed just outside of the main entrance to San Pedro Square Market. Boys and girls ran through the course for hours with Salinas offering guidance and often autographs and pictures after their session.

In addition to live music, former MLS player Jimmy Conrad introduced and interviewed multiple players including Christian Espinoza, Alfredo Morales, Cruz Medina, Niko Tsakiris and Preston Judd to an excited crowd as intermittent light rain fell. Audience members were given the opportunity to ask the players questions at the end of the interview, with the band Suenatron playing music to close out the afternoon.

The Earthquakes start their season in Dallas against FC Dallas on Saturday, Feb. 24. Their first home game is against the LA Galaxy on Saturday, March 2, at PayPal Park.