Crew release preseason schedule

The Columbus Crew will report for preseason training camp this Monday, January 31, to begin two months of preparations for the 2005 season that begins on Saturday, April 2.

  The Crew will kick off year No. 10 of Major League Soccer on April 2 at Columbus Crew Stadium, when the Black &amp; Gold face the Los Angeles Galaxy at 7:30 p.m.</p>

  The Crew's preseason camp will consist of training in Columbus, as well as trips to Florida, Spain and South Carolina.  A one-day trip to Virginia Beach is also planned.</p>

  After arriving Monday, the team will train just one day in Columbus (Tuesday, Feb. 1), before departing for Bradenton, Fla., and the IMG Academies on Feb. 2.  The Crew will train in Bradenton and Land O' Lakes, Fla. from Feb. 2-14 before returning to Columbus.  </p>

  The Crew will then be in Columbus from Feb. 16-24, before heading to Spain.   The Black &amp; Gold will be based in La Manga, Spain, from Feb. 25-March 7.  After Spain, the team will be in Columbus from March 8-16, before heading to Charleston, S.C., for the Carolina Challenge Cup from March 16-26.</p>

  Some of the highlights of the preseason schedule are games vs. Real Salt Lake at the Tom Fitzgerald Memorial Soccer Festival on Feb. 13 at the University of Tampa, vs. the Virginia Beach Mariners (USL First Division) on March 12 in Virginia Beach, the Carolina Challenge Cup (March 19-25) vs. the Charleston Battery (USL First Division), San Jose and D.C. United at Blackbaud Stadium, and vs. the Cincinnati Kings (USL Second Division) in the Annual Keith Evans Memorial Match on March 15 at The Crew's training facility at Obetz.</p>

  The Keith Evans Memorial Match is played in memory of the former Columbus police officer killed in the line of duty.  All proceeds from donations taken at the gate ($2 per person is requested) will go toward the Keith Evans Memorial Fund.</p>

  The team will return to Columbus on March 26 and get ready for Crew Week X (March 28-April 2), with the season opener on April 2 vs. L.A.</p>

  The complete preseason training and game schedule is listed below.  Please note that the practice and game schedule is tentative and subject to change.</p>

January
31: Report to Columbus -- 3 pm Team Meeting

February
1: 9 am train at Capital -- 2 p.m. train at Soccer Barn at Easton/Capital
2: Depart for Bradenton, Fla. (IMG Academies)
3: 9:30 am train -- 4 pm train
4: 9:30 am train -- 4 pm vs. U.S. U-17 National Team (IMG)
5: 10 am vs. DC United (IMG) -- 4:00 pm train
6: 9:30 am train -- 4:00 pm train
7: 9:30 am train -- 4:00 pm vs. Central Florida (IMG)
8: 9:30 am train -- 4:00 pm vs. South Florida (IMG)
9: 9:30 am train -- Depart for Tampa (Land O' Lakes, Fla.)
10: 9:30 am train -- 4:00 pm train
11: 11:00 am vs. MetroStars (IMG) -- 4:00 pm train
12: 9:30 am train -- Off
13: 9:30 am train -- 6:00 pm vs. Real Salt Lake (Tom Fitzgerald Festival at UT)
14: Return to Columbus
15: Off
16: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
17: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
18: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital 19: 9:00 am train at Capital -- Off
20: Off
21: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
22: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
23: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
24: 9:00 am train at Capital -- 2:00 pm train at Soccer Barn/Capital
25: Depart for Spain (La Manga)
26: Arrive in Spain
27: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train 28: Noon vs. Viking (Norway)

March
1: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
2: Noon vs. FC Dallas -- Off
3: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
4: 10:00 am train -- 6:30 pm vs. Bodo/Glimt (Norway)
5: 10:00 am -- 4:00 pm train
6: 10:00 am train -- 6:30 pm vs. Start (Norway)
7: Depart for Columbus
8: Off
9: Off
10: 10:00 am train at Obetz -- 3:00 pm train at Obetz
11: Depart for Virginia Beach
12: 7:30 pm vs. Va. Beach (at Va. Beach)
13: Depart for Columbus
14: Off
15: 7:00 pm vs. Cincinnati Kings (Keith Evans at Obetz)
16: Depart for Charleston, S.C. (Carolina Challenge Cup)
17: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
18: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
19: 6:00 pm vs. Charleston Battery
20: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
21: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
22: 6:00 pm vs. San Jose
23: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
24: 10:00 am train -- 4:00 pm train
25: 8:15 pm vs. DC United
26: Depart for Columbus
27-April 1 (TBA)