Soccer Magic Magazine Night
This poster was produced for a San Jose Clash poster giveaway night during the inaugural Major League Soccer era. The night itself was promoted as Soccer Magic Night — more specifically, Soccer Magic Magazine Night.
The deal was simple and practical. The Clash received slick-paper team-photo posters to give away to fans at the game. Soccer Magic produced the poster and sold advertising space along the bottom, which allowed the magazine to make money from the promotion.
Peter Bridgwater approved the arrangement because he wanted posters for the fans. Soccer Magic handled the advertising side. It was the kind of local soccer business deal that made sense in that era and would probably be much harder to make today.
This artifact connects Soccer Magic Magazine to the 1996 San Jose Clash, the launch of MLS, local soccer promotion, advertising, and the hands-on work of building soccer culture in Northern California.
Soccer Magic Night poster from the 1996 San Jose Clash era. Click for full size.