Earthquakes strike 10-year stadium name deal with PayPal

The San Jose Earthquakes have struck a naming-rights deal with Silicon Valley brand PayPal in a move that could elevate the Major League Soccer team’s profile in the Bay Area and beyond.

The Quakes announced Monday they have a 10-year agreement with the digital pioneer to rename their stadium PayPal Park that also will increase touchless payment this season.

“It is going to be a total gamechanger as far as how the sport is perceived in this market and how our stadium is perceived on a national level,” said Jared Shawlee, the Earthquakes chief operating officer.

The team had gone three years without a naming-rights deal after original sponsor Avaya withdrew from its $20-million, 10-year agreement because of bankruptcy issues.

The Quakes declined to release the financial terms of the PayPal deal but Shawlee said it falls within the top half of MLS naming-rights agreements. He also said it is an increase from the Avaya terms.

Shawlee said the Quakes wanted to strike a partnership with PayPal once it was on the hunt for a new naming-rights deal for their 18,000seat stadium that opened in 2015. PayPal is located about two miles from the stadium.

The windfall probably does not have an immediate effect on player acquisition, however.

Shawlee said general manager Jesse Fioranelli and coach Matias Almeyda have a budget that operates independently of sponsorship income. Shawlee said their budget was not impacted by the lack of a naming-rights partner the last few years.

— Elliott Almond

LARENTOWICZ RETIRES AFTER 16-YEAR MLS CAREER >> Jeff Larentowicz has retired after a 16-year career in Major League Soccer that included more than 400 appearances and championships in Colorado and Atlanta.

The 37-year-old Larentowicz closed out his career with Atlanta United, helping the team win the MLS Cup title in 2018, its second season in the league.

Larentowicz officially retired Monday in a statement released on social media. He also played for New England, Chicago and LA Galaxy during his MLS career, finishing with 437 regular-season league appearances — including 397 starts — as both a midfielder and a defender.

Olympics

NORTH KOREAN WEBSITE SAYS COUNTRY WON’T PARTICIPATE IN TOKYO

GAMES >> A North Korean website says the country will not participate in the Tokyo Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Sports in DPR Korea website said the decision was made during a national Olympic Committee meeting on March 25 where members prioritized protecting athletes from the “world public health crisis caused by COVID-19.” South Korea’s Olympic Committee said it hasn’t been informed of North Korea’s decision, and the government could not immediately confirm the website’s operator.

Motorsports

FERRUCCI LANDS INDY 500 SEAT WITH

DEFENDING WINNER RAHAL >> Santino Ferrucci will enter the Indianapolis 500 with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, creating a lineup of drivers who took three of the top four spots in last year’s race.

Ferrucci will drive the No. 45 Honda at Indianapolis with sponsorship from Hy-Vee. Takuma Sato won the Indy 500 last year for RLL and Rahal finished third. Ferrucci finished fourth driving for Dale Coyne w/Vasser-Sullivan.

Men’s college basketball

UNC NAMES HUBERT DAVIS AS ROY WILLIAMS’ SUCCESSOR >> North Carolina promoted assistant Hubert Davis to replace Roy Williams as the Tar Heels’ new head coach, the university announced Monday. Davis, 50, will be formally introduced during a news conference today.

Davis has been an assistant to Williams for the past nine years in Chapel Hill. Williams, 70, announced his retirement last Thursday after winning three national championships in 18 years as the Tar Heels’ head coach.

“I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this program,” Davis said.

OREGON STATE GIVES TINKLE FOURYEAR EXTENSION >> Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle went from the hot seat to a four-year contract extension in the aftermath of the Beavers’ thrilling run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Tinkle, 55, received the fourth year, per his contract, for making the tournament, the school announced. With two years remaining on his current deal, Tinkle is now locked in as coach through the 2026-27 season.

LOYOLA PROMOTES ASSISTANT >> Loyola Chicago promoted assistant Drew Valentine to head coach, hoping he can build on the success the Ramblers experienced under Porter Moser. The 29-year-old Valentine helped Loyola make two deep NCAA Tournament runs in four seasons as an assistant.

The Ramblers went 99-36 overall and 56-16 in the Missouri Valley Conference the past four years.

Women’s college basketball

UCONN’S PAIGE BUECKERS CAPTURES WOODEN AWARD >> UConn freshman guard Paige Bueckers made history when she became the first freshman to win the John R. Wooden Award as the top women’s college basketball player in the nation.

The other four finalists for the Wooden Award were Aliyah Boston of South Carolina, Dana Evans of Louisville, Rhyne Howard of Kentucky and NaLyssa Smith of Baylor.

NHL

LEAGUE CONCERNED ABOUT CANUCKS >> The National Hockey League’s deputy commissioner says the Vancouver Canucks’ COVID-19 outbreak is concerning, but he remains confident the team will be able to complete its schedule. In an email to The Canadian Press on Monday, Bill Daly says the Canucks’ numbers are “concerning from a health and safety standpoint, not necessarily from a scheduling standpoint.” Daly says the league believes the Canucks will return and conclude their 56-game schedule.

Sixteen of the 22 players on the Canucks’ active roster were on the NHL’s protocol list as of Sunday.