MLS: Ranking all 24 Major League Soccer stadiums

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 08: A wide view of the pitch from the stands of Mercedes Benz Stadium just prior to the start of the 2018 Audi MLS Cup Championship match between Atlanta United and the Portland Timbers at the Mercedes Benz Stadium on December 08, 2018 in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images) /

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SAN JOSE, CA – MARCH 02: A general view of the stadium and pitch before the MLS match between the Montreal Impact and the San Jose Earthquakes at Avaya Stadium on March 2, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

5. San Jose Earthquakes – Avaya Stadium – San Jose, CA

Capacity: 18,000

Opened: 2015

Pros: Sightlines, original design, soccer-specific, natural surface

Cons: Location

Located a few minutes walk from their old stomping ground on the campus of Santa Clara University (and even closer to an international airport), Avaya Stadium finally gave Quakes supporters what they have been longing for: a stadium that they could call their own. Having never played in a ground that didn’t serve another purpose, Avaya has been a boon for the club and its fans. The safe standing supporters area, the unique double-decker design and the party areas at both ends help to enliven the atmosphere. With the club seating at pitch level, the view of the average fan is augmented less than if the clubs were in between the first and second tiers, which is another major plus of this stadium’s unique design. Although the supporters’ section could be bigger and the location next to the airport and a strip mall could be better, Avaya is no doubt in the top tier of MLS grounds.

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