a chance to train with the team and possibly earn a roster spot.
While players try to impress the coaches and scouts on the field, a number of events are planned throughout the weekend open to the general public and the media. These include appearances by the popular ChivaGirls, the opening kick-off celebration featuring Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara VIPs, a celebrity guest scout hour and special skills competition where these aspiring amateurs will be tested by real professionals. In addition, Chivas USA players will meet and greet fans and participants throughout the four-day event.
Univision's top-rated weekly sports show "República Deportiva," which airs nationally every Sunday at 11 a.m. ET (12 noon PT), will follow the action in a unique "reality show within a show" format. The show will culminate with the announcement of the Sueño MLS winner on Sunday, March 25. The winner will receive adidas equipment and a special family ticket package to Chivas USA's home games at The Home Depot Center.
Sueño MLS ("MLS Dream") was officially launched on Sunday, Jan. 28 with a nationally-televised announcement on República Deportiva, which airs in the U.S. and across Latin America. Within just eight hours of the announcement, all 2,000 available spots were filled through online registration at the program's official web site, www.SuenoMLS.com. In all, more than 6,000 applicants from across the world registered to participate in the event or to try their luck on the waiting list. In the interest of providing opportunity to all, aspiring players were not charged to participate.
BELL GARDENS SPORTS CENTER
@ John Anson Ford Park
8000 Park Lane
Bell Gardens, CA 90201
SUEÑO MLS OPENING WEEKEND EVENTS (open to fans and media):
Friday, February 16
3-3:30 p.m. - "Opening kick" ceremony with Chivas USA and Chivas Guadalajara VIPs
Noon to 8 p.m. - Continuous open tryouts on three fields
Saturday, February 17
1 p.m. - "Guest Scout Hour" - Current and former soccer stars and other special guests help Chivas USA scout for their next young star
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Continuous open tryouts on three fields
Sunday, February 18
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Continuous open tryouts on three fields
Monday, February 19
3 p.m. - Skills competition - aspiring amateurs will be tested by real pros in a 15-minute battle of wills.
Noon to 8 p.m. - Continuous open tryouts on three fields
Each hour will run under the following format:
SUEÑO MLS PLAYER FACTS AND STORYLINES:
Within eight hours of launch of Sueño MLS, all 2,000 available sports were filled through on-line registration at program's official web site, www.SuenoMLS.com. In all, 6,000 applicants from over 40 states and several countries registered to participate or to join the waiting list. In the interest of providing opportunity to all, aspiring players were not charged to participate.
Average age of registered players is 19 years old. The youngest age is 16 (340 players), and the oldest is 39 (one player). More than two-thirds of participants are 19 years of age or younger.
More than 40 U.S. states are represented in addition to California. More than 200 participants are coming from out-of-country or out-of-state. For breakdown of the 6,000 registered players, see: http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/pdf/cdc/2007/sueno/us_map.pdf
Participants hail from a number of geographical regions, including North America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and more than a dozen different Latin American countries. For breakdown of the 6,000 registered players, see: http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/pdf/cdc/2007/sueno/world_map.pdf
SUEÑO MLS KEY DATES:
February 16 - 19 (President's Weekend) Round 1: Open Tryouts (max 2,000 players)
February 24 Round 2: Tryout for 60 Finalists
March 3 Round 3: Tryout for "The Final 24"
March 12 - 25 Two week trial with Chivas USA
March 25 Announcement of Player Signing
