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Work Begins To Make Way For New San Jose Earthquakes Stadium

SAN JOSE (AP) - Demolition was under way Friday on an old factory that will eventually become the permanent home of the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team.

Team officials, local leaders and soccer fans gathered Thursday as an excavator made the first tear into the former FMC plant near the Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The Earthquakes plan to build a $60 million stadium at the Santa Clara site. The proposed complex also would include office space, retail space and hotel rooms.

The team still needs to get a building permit approved by the city.

The Earthquakes returned to San Jose in 2008 after the original franchise moved to Houston. The team is playing home games in Buck Shaw Stadium at Santa Clara University until their new stadium is ready.

(© 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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