'CHIVAFEST' SET FOR THIS SATURDAY IN CARSON
With the 2008 MLS season less than three weeks away, fans will have a chance to meet Chivas USA players, purchase tickets and check out their seats this Saturday, March 15, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. PT during 'ChivaFest' at The Home Depot Center. Chivas USA's annual preseason fan festival, ChivaFest features live music, entertainment and prize giveaways, as well as the official unveiling of Chivas USA's 2008 ChivaGirls squad. Parking and admission are completely free, and fans who purchase Chivas USA season seats Saturday at ChivaFest will get access to an exclusive meet-and-greet with the entire Chivas USA team following the event. More information can be found at Chivas USA's official website, www.cdchivasusa.com.
FOUR CHIVAS USA GAMES TO KICK OFF 30 MINUTES EARLY
Chivas USA today announced new kickoff times for four of the team's 2008 regular season games. All four games - against the Chicago Fire, New England Revolution and two versus the LA Galaxy (see below) - will kick off a half-hour earlier than scheduled to accommodate expanded television coverage or to avoid broadcast conflicts:
• Chicago Fire @ Chivas USA (June 19): Kickoff at 7:00 p.m. PT
• Chivas USA '@' LA Galaxy (July 10): Kickoff at 8:00 p.m. PT
• LA Galaxy @ Chivas USA (Aug. 14): Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. PT
• Chivas USA @ New England (Sept. 11): Kickoff at 4:00 p.m. PT
CHIVAS USA TO PLAY FRESNO FUEGO MARCH 16 IN FRESNO
With the 2008 season rapidly approaching for Chivas USA, the team now looks to a pair of games on the weekend. After taking on San Diego State University on Saturday, March 15 at 10:00 a.m. at The Home Depot Center, the Red-and-White will head north to face the Fresno Fuego of the Premier Development League (PDL). The Fuego have been one of the PDL's top teams in recent seasons, capturing a Southwest Conference title and a spot in the national semifinals in 2007. Chivas USA and Fresno squared off twice last season, with Chivas USA winning 5-0 in preseason and Fresno scoring a 3-1 upset over the Red-and-White in late November. For more information on the Fresno Fuego, please visit
http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2005/22326.html
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CHIVAS USA 2008 :: SCHEDULE OF PRESEASON GAMES
DAY DATE EVENT TIME/LOCATION
Sat Feb 9 vs. UCLA W, 2-0 (Braun, Razov)
Tue Feb 12 vs. New York Red Bulls W, 1-0 (Razov)
Sat Feb 16 vs. Japanese U-23 National Team L, 4-0
Mon Feb 18 vs. D.C. United W, 1-0 (Salazar)
Sat Feb 23 vs. Columbus @ Santa Clarita, CA L, 2-1 (Harris)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Riverside W, 1-0 (Suárez)
Fri Feb 29 vs. UC Irvine W, 2-1 (Galindo, Chiles)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Schertz, TX L, 2-1 (Nagamura)
Wed Mar 5 vs. D.C. United @ Cibolo, TX L, 2-1 (Flores)
Fri Mar 7 vs. Houston Dynamo @ Cibolo, TX L, 1-0
Sun Mar 9 vs. Toronto FC @ Cibolo, TX L, 3-2 (Own goal; Razov)
Sat Mar 15 vs. San Diego State 10:00 a.m.
Sun Mar 16 vs. Fresno Fuego @ Fresno, Calif. 5:00 p.m.
Wed Mar 19 vs. Cal State Fullerton 10:00 a.m.
SUN MAR 30 @ FC Dallas (OPENING DAY) 12:00 p.m.
SAT APR 5 vs. Real Salt Lake (HOME OPENER) 7:30 p.m.
* Subject to change. Unless otherwise indicated, all times Pacific and all games at The Home Depot Center. For the latest information, please contact Chivas USA Communications.
'KICK-IT' THIS SATURDAY AT BRANFORD PARK IN ARLETA
'Kick-it at the Park L.A. with Chivas USA' continues this Saturday, March 15, with a clinic at Branford Park at 13310 Branford Street in Arleta. Run in conjunction with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, 'Kick-it' is a series of clinics that emphasize physical fitness, sports, and education for as many as 400 children at each of 40 locations throughout the year. A five-dollar fee gets participants 90 minutes of instruction, a voucher for a free ticket to a Chivas USA game, a t-shirt, soccer ball, and Certificate of Completion. Most recently, Chivas USA held a clinic at Cypress Recreation Center at 2630 Pepper Avenue in Los Angeles on March 1. For more information on the program, or to register for a clinic, visit www.kickitatthepark.com.
KLJESTAN NAMED TO FINAL U.S. U-23 ROSTER FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS
Chivas USA midfielder Sacha Kljestan was one of the final 20 players selected for the United States Under-23 National Team's upcoming CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying matches in Tampa, Fla. Kljestan and the team first take on Cuba on March 11, followed by Panama on March 13, and Honduras on March 15, with all games the U.S. plays, including the ensuing semifinals and finals, to be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel and ESPN Deportes. Kljestan recently spoke to MLSnet.com about playing against the home country of Chivas USA teammate Maykel Galindo: "He says 3-1 Cuba. I told him if Cuba scores on us, that's a win for him," Kljestan said. "He's always talking in my ear. We've got a little banter going on. He's all about Cuba right now." If Kljestan scores, he said, there might be more for Galindo. "Maybe I'll do his little dance that he does, his little samba-salsa dance for him. Then I'll point at the camera and say 'This one's for Galindo.'" Kljestan, who has four appearances with the full U.S. National Team, captained the U-23 squad in a tour of China in December.
2008 OLYMPIC QUALIFYING GAME PACK
Chivas USA invites fans to experience international soccer with a special ticket deal that includes CONCACAF qualifying games. Fans can choose one from three Olympic qualifier doubleheaders and receive a ticket to the Red-and-White's home opener, on April 5 against Real Salt Lake. Ticket deals start as low as $33, and more information may be found by calling 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or by visiting www.cdchivasusa.com.
SUEÑO MLS 'FINAL 18' FACE TRIAL MATCH THURSDAY AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER
The Final 18 players in 'Sueño MLS 2008: The Dream Continues' will take on the Chivas USA Under-16 Team this Thursday, March 13, at 6:30 p.m. PT, in The Home Depot Center's Main Stadium. After this match, the top players will be invited to train with Chivas USA in hopes of earning a roster spot. Sueño MLS, a nationally-televised search to discover America's best undiscovered young soccer players, started with over 2,000 players from around the United States and several foreign countries over Presidents' Day Weekend in February. The Round of 60 took place on Saturday, March 1, after which the 'Final 18' were selected. A concurrent competition is running in Dallas, and the winner from each city will be announced live on Sunday, March 30, hours before Chivas USA and FC Dallas open the season at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. For more information on Sueño MLS please visit www.SuenoMLS.com.
2008 CHIVAGIRLS SQUAD TO BE INTRODUCED SATURDAY AT CHIVAFEST
The ChivaGirls, Major League Soccer's hottest dance squad, held auditions this past Saturday, March 8, for their 2008 team at The Home Depot Center. After a series of interviews and a final dance casting, the 2008 ChivaGirls squad will be officially presented this Saturday, March 15 at ChivaFest, set to take place from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center.
PREKI RECEIVES HIGHEST VOTE TOTAL ON 2008 HALL OF FAME PLAYERS BALLOT
Chivas USA Head Coach Preki received more votes than any other player on the 2008 Players Ballot for admission to the National Soccer Hall of Fame, but fell just short of the 75 percent required for admission, the NSHF announced Monday. With two MLS MVP awards, 79 goals and 112 assists in a stellar 10-year MLS career, and 28 games with the United States National Team, Preki was named on 87 of 128 ballots for 68 percent of the vote, more than any other of the former stars from Major League Soccer and the United States national teams.
JUST $50 GETS YOU CHIVAS USA'S TOP FIVE GAMES OF 2008!
Fans looking to see Chivas USA in 2008 have an opportunity to watch the five biggest games of the season with the Chivas USA Five-Game Plan, Southern California's best sports entertainment value, with packages starting at just $50. The five matches included in the set are the opening match of the season on April 5 against Real Salt Lake, June 19 against the Chicago Fire, July 5 versus the San Jose Earthquakes, August 14 against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the closing game of the season, which doubles as Fan Appreciation night, October 25 against the Houston Dynamo. For more information please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.cdchivasusa.com.
CHIVAS USA PRESEASON SCHEDULE: MARCH 10-18*
Following is Chivas USA's latest preseason schedule of travel, events, matches and practice sessions:
Monday, March 10: Travel from San Antonio to Los Angeles
Tuesday, March 11: [Day off]
Wednesday, March 12: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT
Thursday, March 13: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT
Friday, March 14: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT
Saturday, March 15: Scrimmage vs. San Diego State, 10:00 a.m. PT
Sunday, March 16: Chivas USA @ Fresno Fuego, 5:00 p.m. PT, Chukchansi Park, Fresno, Calif.
Monday, March 17: [Day off]
Tuesday, March 18: Training, 10:00 a.m. PT
*Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific, all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center, with media access provided after games and training sessions. For latest information, please contact Chivas USA's Communications Department.
