Communications technology company Avaya has struck a naming rights deal for the San Jose Earthquakes’ Major League Soccer stadium.
Under the multi-year deal, which will allow the venue to be called the Avaya Stadium, the facility will become the first cloud-enabled stadium in the league.
Avaya will become the official business engagement, communications solutions and technology partner of the team and the new 18,000-seat stadium, which is scheduled to open in March 2015. The Avaya Labs division of the company will also work closely with the Earthquakes to research fan engagement opportunities.
“Both Avaya and the Earthquakes share a commitment to innovation that is the hallmark of Silicon Valley,” Earthquakes president Dave Kaval said. “By partnering with a leader in the technology industry, we believe that Avaya Stadium will deliver fans one of the most engaging and technologically-advanced experiences in professional sports.
“It’s a 10-year partnership, and so there’s going to be a lot of new things based on the agreement,” Kaval said. “We’re going to be able to roll out new technologies all the time, and our fans are going to be able to interact with our players in new ways. All of these things are possible because we have a new tech partner and you’re not beholden to an old tech system that you installed on the day you opened.”
Pierre-Paul Allard, senior vice-president of worldwide sales and president of global field operations for Avaya, added: “As two Silicon Valley-based organizations on the rise, Avaya and the Earthquakes are both committed to cutting-edge technology and delivering an innovative fan experience.”