When Marco Urena scored in stoppage time to get the Quakes into the MLS Cup Playoffs, Avaya Stadium shook.

A day removed from the bedlam, we can confirm one thing: El Tiburon Tico’s dramatic tally is the most seismic moment in Avaya Stadium history.

Quakes Top Seismic Moments at Avaya Stadium

What do we mean by “the most seismic moment?”

“U.S. Geological Survey geophysicists installed a seismograph at Avaya Stadium prior to the inaugural season, in order to improve the understanding of ground shaking in the Santa Clara Valley from earthquakes in the South Bay,” Dr. Brad Aagaard, research geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey. “Since then, the USGS was able to track moments that caused the most ground shaking due to fan reaction and celebration.”

Not only is it now the most seismic moment that Avaya Castle’s ever experienced, it absolutely shattered the recent top spot.

Urena’s finish recorded a 2.1717 on the seismograph. Sebastian Lletget’s opening World Cup Qualifying goal for the United States in March, the previous top spot, recored a 1.7698. That’s a 20% difference in produced energy.



Below are the most Earthquakes seismic moments and most seismic moments from every event at Avaya Stadium.

Earthquakes Top Seismic Moments

2.1717; Minnesota United FC, October 22, 2017; 92:10

0.9251; Vancouver Whitecaps, Apr 11, 2015; 74:03

0.9147; Toronto FC, Jul 16, 2016; 69:58

0.8773; Seattle Sounders FC, Apr 8, 2017; 89:50

0.6759; Los Angeles Galaxy, July 10, 2017; 61:20

0.6553; FC Dallas, Apr 15, 2017; 93:57

0.6312; Los Angeles Galaxy, May 27, 2017; 9:47

0.6294; Los Angeles Galaxy, July 10, 2017; 50:06

0.6020; Montreal Impact, Mar 4, 2017; 16:53

0.5853; Sporting Kansas City, Oct 16, 2015; 47:17

Earthquakes and other Top Seismic Moments

2.1717; Minnesota United FC, October 22, 2017; 92:10

1.7698; US MNT vs. Honduras, Mar 24, 2017; 4:34

1.0004; US MNT vs. Honduras, Mar 24, 2017; 26:47

0.9251; Vancouver Whitecaps, Apr 11, 2015; 74:03

0.9147; Toronto FC, Jul 16, 2016; 69:58

0.8773; Seattle Sounders FC, Apr 8, 2017; 89:50

0.8745; US MNT vs. Honduras, Mar 24, 2017; 31:45

0.6759; Los Angeles Galaxy, July 10, 2017; 61:20

0.6553; FC Dallas, Apr 15, 2017; 93:57

0.6312; Los Angeles Galaxy, May 27, 2017; 9:47