Advent Calendar Day 3: M2 Bradley

What does one of the most iconic military vehicles in history have to do with our beloved San Jose Earthquakes? Well, the land that Avaya Stadium sits on used to be home to the Food Machinery Corporation better known as FMC whose roots in the Bay Area go back to the late 1800s. The name of the company makes you think of toasters and electric mixers but they were really known for producing the M2 Bradley and M-113 Personnel Carrier that have seen action all over the globe. The old manufacturing plant actually delayed the opening of Avaya Stadium when several dozed underground concrete vaults were discovered below the foundation. These old vaults were used as bomb shelters and to store old tank parts.

Other than a pile of old concrete nothing is left of the old factory and with the Coleman-Highline development in full swing soon the area will be unrecognizable from the days it built mighty war machines. Hopefully, the Earthquakes find some of that strength next season and turn Avaya into the fortress it should be.