SALT LAKE CITY
Real Salt Lake
will open its Major League Soccer schedule at home for the second straight year in 2008, as Utah's MLS side today announced that it will kick off its 2008 season against the
Chicago Fire
- and its star midfielder, Mexican legend
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
- on
Saturday, March 29
, with kick-off at
Rice-Eccles Stadium
set for 4:00 p.m. MT. Broadcast information for RSL's 2008 season opener will be released once the MLS national television schedule is finalized in the upcoming months.
As of now, the only two ways fans can guarantee their seats for RSL's 2008 season opener against the Fire is to become a 2008 Royal Club season-ticket holder or purchase a limited-edition RSL Royal Gift Pack during the holidays. In addition to a pair of seats to the RSL-Chicago showdown, the RSL Royal Gift Pack also includes two tickets to another pair of RSL's most-anticipated games in 2008 - the return of Real Madrid to Salt Lake City and the annual July 4th contest, four tickets to any other RSL regular season contest and two RSL scarves to help keep your favorite RSL fans warm until the '08 season kicks off in March. The Royal Gift Pack is available in two prices ranges - $199 for Corner Kick seats ($260 value) and $399 for VIP section seats ($540 value). For more information on becoming a 2008 Royal Club member and the Royal Gift Pack, including how to order yours in time for the holidays, please call 801-924-8585 or visit the "TICKETS" section of www.RealSaltLake.com.
Real Salt Lake also learned that it will help open up two other venues for the 2008 season next April, beginning when RSL will take to the road during week two to face off against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday, April 5 (8:30 p.m. MT). Two weeks later on Saturday, April 19, RSL will make its second-ever trip north of the border to take on Toronto FC at what will surely be a fired-up atmosphere at BMO Field (time TBA).
After settling for a 2-2 draw against FC Dallas at Rice-Eccles Stadium in its 2007 League debut, Real Salt Lake is now 1-1-1 in season openers and an undefeated 1-0-2 in home openers. Real Salt Lake has defeated Chicago only once during its first three seasons in MLS play (1-4-1), collecting its lone tie against the Fire via a scoreless draw over the Memorial Day weekend last spring before suffering a 2-0 defeat at Rice-Eccles in August, which featured Blanco's stunning half-volley that was voted the 2007 Sierra Mist Goal of the Year.
