Earthquakes for Sale: John Fisher Seeks New Owner for MLS Club

John Fisher is putting the San Jose Earthquakes up for sale

San Jose Earthquakes owner John Fisher confirmed this Wednesday that the MLS club is on the market and has hired the investment bank Moelis & Co. to facilitate the sale.

On behalf of Major League Soccer, I want to thank the Fisher family for their long-standing commitment to the Earthquakes and the San Jose community. Under their leadership, the club invested in world-class facilities like PayPal Park, built a highly respected youth academy, and helped grow the game in one of the most dynamic markets in the country.

Don Garber, MLS Commissioner

Almost four years ago, Fisher, with a fortune of $3 billion according to Forbes, hired Moelis to explore the sale of minority shares of the Earthquakes.

Fisher, who also owns the MLB’s Athletics, paid a $20 million expansion fee in 2007 for the Earthquakes. In January, Sportico ranked the franchise 20th in its MLS team valuations, at $600 million. The Earthquakes play in a specific soccer stadium, PayPal Park, which also hosts the Bay FC of the NWSL. Last year’s attendance was the third lowest in the league; and, despite one of the lowest revenue streams in the league, the team’s value increased due to the demographics of the Bay Area and its collection of billionaires.

The San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal Park have been an important part of our lives for almost two decades. We are proud of the role the Quakes have played in the growth of soccer throughout Silicon Valley. The Bay Area is a special place, and we are deeply grateful to the fans, players, and staff who have joined us on this journey.

John Fisher

The Earthquakes, currently eighth in the Western Conference out of 15 teams after finishing last in 2024, are not the only MLS franchise on the market. The majority owner of the Vancouver Whitecaps hired Goldman Sachs last December to assist with the sale. Fisher also owns more than 95 percent of the MLB’s Athletics, who are playing the first of three expected seasons at Sutter Health Park, the home of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, before their new $1.75 billion stadium opens in Las Vegas. In an effort to raise more than $500 million for the construction of the stadium, Fisher hired Galatioto Sports Partners to sell LP shares, while Clark County in Las Vegas is contributing $350 million.