Officially on this date five years ago, the San Jose Earthquakes officially opened what is now Earthquakes Stadium with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire. But stadium already had a well-worn feel.
After their initial stadium opening was postponed from the 2014 season, the Quakes played a soft open in a February preseason game against the LA Galaxy.
So perhaps there wasn't the same pomp and circumstance as some other MLS stadium openers. But instead, a sold-out crowd of 18,000 was treated to a back-and-forth affair that had the feel of two teams in midseason form.
Fatai Alashe scored in his pro debut and Ty Harden doubled San Jose's lead eight minutes later with what would prove the game-winner after Harry Shipp answered back for Chicago on a delicious throughball from Joevin Jones.
David Bingham denied Eric Gehrig's ferocious corner kick header before halftime to keep the Quakes in front, and later Gehrig intervened at the last possible moment to deny a seemingly wide-open Chris Wondolowski. If he hadn't, the all-time MLS goal scoring leader would be sitting on an even 160 league goals right now.
