Heath Freeman to buy Earthquakes and PayPal Park, club announces

SAN JOSE - The San Jose Earthquakes announced Friday that Heath Freeman will buy the club and its home stadium, PayPal Park, from John Fisher and Partners.  Major League Soccer's Board of Governors, the league's group of team owners, unanimously approved the sale, the club said, and the deal is expected to close in the coming weeks.

Freeman, a sports, media and real estate executive and president of Alden Global Capital since 2014, will become the Earthquakes' principal owner.  The club did not disclose financial terms.  ESPN, citing sources who confirmed a Sportico report, said the sale reflects an enterprise value of $625 million.

Fisher has owned the Earthquakes since 2007 and privately financed PayPal Park.  He also owns the Athletics, who are preparing to move to Las Vegas in 2028, the baseball club's official site says.

"Our vision is simple – winning on and off the field for San Jose and the entire region," Freeman, the incoming principal owner, said.

What it means:  The team and stadium are changing hands, but the sale is not final until it closes.  Game 1 of a best-of-three, Round One playoff series against Houston Dynamo FC is still Nov. 24 at PayPal Park.

Source:  San Jose Earthquakes:  New ownership announced, Nov. 13, 2026; MLS:  Heath Freeman as new owner; Athletics:  Taylor Smith named president of baseball operations, Oct. 19, 2026; ESPN:  Jeff Carlisle, Nov. 13, 2026