SANTA CLARA – The San Jose Earthquakes colors are black and blue, but the parking lot at their home game at Levi’s Stadium was awash in Mexican red, green and white.
Not even a steady rain and harsh winds on Saturday afternoon could stop thousands from celebrating Cinco De Mayo weekend with grilling and music before the Earthquakes took on LAFC.
It’s pretty great to see everybody spread the culture,” said Christian Trujillo, whose family proudly had a Mexican flag mounted on a truck.
A mariachi band, one of several around Levi’s Stadium, played on one stage near the stadium, while Lucha Libre wrestlers thrilled onlookers by another gate.
As one got closer to the parking lot, recorded hits from Peso Pluma’s discography mixed with the smells of chorizo and burgers in a festive atmosphere, mirroring last year’s game at the 49ers stadium.
A mariachi band plays before a Quakes game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Jonathan Esparza, who was enjoying food and drinks with his kin before going into the stadium, went to that 2-1 victory over LAFC last spring.
“The atmosphere was electric,” Esparza said.
Esparza was one of several who had mixed feelings about San Jose’s new high-profile signing Hernan Lopez. The great-nephew of Diego Maradona moved from River Plate in Argentina to the South Bay for the hefty price of $6 million.
“I hope he’s good, and that we do more signings like that and bring in even more of a fanbase,” Esparza said. “There was a rumor that we were going to bring in Carlos Vela, and that would’ve been nice.”
Juan Valdovinos was much more pessimistic, beaten down by years of the disappointment of rooting for a team owned by John Fisher.
“Every player that comes to San Jose, we think they’re good,” Valdovinos said. “But then they suck.”
SANTA CLARA – Earthquakes player Hernan Lopez smiles as he holds a soccer ball. The San Jose Earthquakes introduced Lopez, the great-nephew of Diego Maradona, to the media at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara Calif. on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
Trujillo had a wait-and-see mentality when it came to the gifted midfielder.
“I’m not really excited in terms of the big names, because they may be big names, but it all comes down to how they perform,” the Hollister resident said. “People have high hopes because he’s related to so-and-so.”
Leonel Madrigal, one of Valdovinos’ friends and a fellow Mexican-American, wasn’t keen on rooting for a man from Mexico’s biggest rivals. But instead of caring about whether or not the team’s signing would pan out, he instead chose to enjoy music from local band Propia Lena in the company of friends.
“We’ve got the groupo, we’ve everything,” Madrigal said. “That band is my boys.”
Even if Lopez can live up to expectations set by having a famous relative, his offensive brilliance won’t address the team’s biggest weakness.
Jonathan Esparza’s younger brother Alan, who is in fifth grade, is a big Quakes fan and shook his head when talking about this year’s team, which is 1-1-8 has given up a league-worst 25 goals.
“The defense has to be better,” the kid said. “Last year, we did good, and I don’t know what’s happened this year.”
Fans watch wrestling before a Quakes game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, May 4, 2024. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Lorena Pantoja was more cheerful walking into the game with her family. Hailing from Guanajuato, she grew up around the sport, and has passed on that love of the game to her two sons.
Decked out in Mexico’s national team uniform, hoped the Quakes would put on a good performance in what would be her children’s first soccer game.
“We want to see the vibes and the crowd and want to have a good time with the boys,” said Pantoja.