[WPS] After a dismal season on and off the field at Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium, FC Gold Pride is abandoning its stadium-sharing arrangement with MLS's Earthquakes and heading to Pioneer Stadium at California State University East Bay in Hayward. Until work is completed, however, the Pride will play early-season games at a high school stadium, Castro Valley High School Athletic Stadium.

Along with the team, the Pride's business operations will leave its current headquarters in Sunnyvale and will be relocated to the East Bay.  

"This is a great opportunity for our team and organization to give ourselves a clear-cut advantage both on and off the field." said Pride General Manager Ilisa Kessler.  "Making our home in the 'Heart of the Bay' gives us many more ways to deliver a positive, memorable experience to more fans."

Prior to the Pride's first match at Pioneer Stadium, the field will undergo a extensive renovation that will update the playing surface to turf and install a five-lane all-weather track surrounding the field. Once renovations are complete, the stadium will be configured for a capacity crowd of 5,000 fans.

The renovations to Pioneer Stadium are already underway and are scheduled to be completed by May 15, 2010. A second phase of renovations that will take place at a later date, will update the entrance plaza that will welcome fans to the state of the art facility.

The two-year-old stadium at CVHS offers a comparable playing surface and fan experience to what will be offered at CSU East Bay.