From the Sharks to the Earthquakes, it seems there is no hope for these San Jose sports teams based on their track records. The Sharks have a turnaround and dominate for a good chunk of the season? Well, prepare for a loss somewhere down the line that will cost them the championship. Wait, the Earthquakes actually won a championship? Watch the team struggle through the worst three seasons of their career following this. Despite the amount of effort each team puts into winning, there always seems to be some form of misfortune that catches up to them at some point. However, regardless of their performance on the field, one thing remains unfaltering: their loyal fan bases.
Betting: The Skin in the Game
Naturally, with the track record of these teams, it raises the (very valid) question of how fans can remain so loyal despite the constant disappointment. Looking at the Sharks’ long playoff drought since 2019 (or the Quakes’ more than a decade-long struggle since 2012), it is difficult to understand. However, there are a few reasons for this, and one lies in the concept of sports betting as a means of having a stake in the game beyond just cheering. Wagering can offer fans a deeper connection to the game, upping the stakes on a personal level so winning a bet feels like an achievement (even if a team loses).
Although sports betting is yet to be legalized in California, San Jose sports fans can participate in DFS (Daily Fantasy Sports), PrizePicks, or make use of offshore options. In fact, according to Adventure Gamers, some offshore platforms accept players from the Golden State, letting fans wager online. They come in the form of betting apps and sites that offer punters crypto payouts, sharp odds, and simple sign-up processes.
The Deep Roots of the Sharks’ Teal Tide
When looking back at the Sharks’ history, one thing becomes very clear: the team is responsible for establishing San Jose as a genuine hockey market. With such a fierce and singular identity, it only makes sense that there are long-standing, loyal fans spanning almost three decades. The 1993-94 season is when things turned around for the team, acting as a catalyst for their 1999 to 2019 Golden Age era, laying the foundation for their fan base. During the 93-94 season, the team saw a 58-point increase in their record, landing 82 points and finding themselves participating (for the first time ever) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Although they suffered more losses (35) and ties (16) than wins (33), the Sharks still found themselves dominating the Detroit Red Wings (a team expected to win), taking the championship home.
Of course, this led to the team’s rebuilding period after suffering losses in the following seasons, but by then, a fierce fanbase had already formed. This iconic rebuild period saw the drafting of Evgeni Nabokov and the trade-off of Teemu Selanne alongside coach staff changes, showing an upward trend in performance. Between 2004 to 2019, the Sharks only missed the 2014-15 playoffs, and managed to make it to the conference playoffs on two occasions. Ultimately, the team still lost to the Penguins despite making it to the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Finals, showing the beginning of a new trend of “almost-wins” fans had to endure. This period gave light to the teel-bleeding troopers voicing how, if you could not support the team at their worst, you did not deserve them at their best.
Earthquakes: The Seismic Loyalty and Sense of Place
Another unwavering loyal fanbase lies with the San Jose Earthquakes, where the San Jose Ultras have had faith in their team despite a record of despair and turmoil. As part of North America’s MLS (Major League Soccer), the Quakes (initially known as the Clash) dominated with a double championship win in a three-season run. It would seem the team peaked in 2000-2005, and began to lose momentum in 2008 when placed under new ownership. Despite having one of the best scorers in MLS history, Chris Wondolowski, the Quakes were still unable to achieve the level of success the early 2000s brought them. Of course, the fan base was going strong by the end of the decade, and continued to support the Quakes up to their current performances.
It appears as though, despite some wins being few and far between, the team is severely underperforming and has been dubbed as having the worst overall record. For any sports fan, hearing your favorite team referred to in this way can be discouraging, and yet the fan base stands unwavering. It could be argued that the Ultras are still going strong due to the team’s historical significance, vibrant sports culture, and the notable players. Some great examples of these are Landon Donovan, who obtained the most assists (136) in MLS history, and Chris Wondolowski, dubbed the top scorer (171 goals) in MLS history.
San Jose State Spartans: Local Pride and the College Connection
Falling into the trend of having a strong start that helped build such an unfaltering fan base is the San Jose State Spartans. With college sports being deeply embedded in local roots, there is a unique loyalty to these teams that represents San Jose pride. These teams have a presence in multiple sports categories, ranging from boxing and tennis to fencing and track and field. Some of SJSU’s most notable appearances were in the Spartan baseball team’s NCAA tournaments between 1955 and 2023, and their Western Athletic Conference performances.
There is also SJSU’s men’s basketball team, with twelve former players having been drafted into the NBA by 2023; a significant achievement for San Jose sportsmen and fans alike. From this batch, six players were first-round picks, which further explains the psychology behind local ties strengthening fan loyalty. Additionally, these intense, competitive college sports further fuel fans to participate in sports betting to show their support and belief in these teams’ performances.
The Intangibles: Why South Bay Fans Are Different
To better understand the fierce loyalty San Jose sports fans present, it helps to look at the contributing factors. For one, San Jose sports teams are often overshadowed by San Francisco and Oakland teams, which are flashier, more successful, and globally recognized. Naturally, this provides further motivation for the San Jose fan base to showcase their unwavering support for local teams like the Sharks and Quakes. While some might argue that this is hubris, it showcases a defiant pride in their sportsmanship and faith in their teams’ abilities. In doing so, a unique South Bay identity is born that combats the support and loyalty of even top-performing state teams.
Even more, there is an “underdog” mentality that further drives this unwavering support of local teams. Although the Sharks get really close to winning (getting fans’ hopes up in the process), a loss is looked at in a positive light and does not define the team’s unique abilities. As with the Quakes, the Sharks have some of the most notable players in ice hockey history (such as Evgeni Nabokov, Joe Thornton, and Brent Burns). Although these teams don’t have overall wins to show for it, they are still memorable in that one way or another, they will go down in the history books.
