Earthquakes, Tottenham establish strategic partnership

Oct 9, 2008 - 11:10 PM By Mike McGrath Special to PA SportsTicker

Tottenham has announced a "football and commercial development" partnership with the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

The Spurs, who are bottom of the Barclays Premier League, view the United States as an important market and will work with their MLS partners to look at areas such as marketing around their stadium.

In turn, the Earthquakes can use the training and coaching models from Tottenham.

"The Earthquakes and Major League Soccer are delighted and excited with the creation of this great professional soccer relationship," Earthquakes owner Lew Wolff said. "We believe our coming together with the historic Tottenham Hotspur Football Club unites the premier soccer league in England with the premier soccer league in the U.S."

MLS contract rules, with players franchised from the league, means Tottenham could not use the Earthquakes as a feeder club, although it could still loan players to them as they would to other teams.

The partnership raises the possibility of a preseason tour to America, which Chelsea have previously done as it looks to expand its brand. Spurs are currently one year into a partnership with South African league champions SuperSport United.

"This agreement with San Jose Earthquakes will provide us with an excellent opportunity to access a key region in a global market," Spurs executive director Paul Barber said.

"As a club we are continually looking for innovative ways to evolve and our partnership with the Earthquakes will enable us to market Tottenham to a wider audience. We already have a fan base within the state of California and the opportunity to grow the brand in the US is very appealing."

Tapping into the American market would inevitably increase the value of the club, although Spurs have consistently denied they are actively looking to sell the club.