COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Crew will travel to Utah this weekend to take on Real Salt Lake on Saturday, May 6, at 9 p.m. (ET) at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Crew is 1-3-1 (4 pts) on the year after losing, 1-0, to Kansas City on Saturday, April 29, at Crew Stadium despite out-shooting the Wizards 13-10. Columbus is tied for fourth-place in the Eastern Conference with New England and New York. Real Salt Lake is 0-4-1 (1 pt) on the year after dropping a 3-2 decision at home to Los Angeles on Saturday, April 29.</p>
Saturday's match will be televised locally on ONN. The game can also be heard in English on The Brew @ 105.7 and on-line on TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com. Buffalo Wild Wings on Bethel Road, the official away game headquarters for The Crew, will host a viewing party for Saturday night's game.</p>
After Real Salt Lake, The Crew will return home to face the Colorado Rapids on Saturday, May 13, at 7:30 p.m. at Crew Stadium. The May 13 home game will be televised nationally on HDNet.</p>
Single-game tickets for the 2006 home season are currently on sale at the Crew Stadium Box Office, all Central Ohio Ticketmaster retail locations, via Ticketmaster phone at 614-431-3600 and on-line at TheCrew.com.</p>
Fans can become Crew Soccer Nation members by purchasing pro-rated, full-season ticket packages or partial plans, starting as low as $30 for the new Crew 3-Packs. Group tickets are also available. All ticket packages or plans are available through TheCrew.com and 614-447-CREW. </p>
COLUMBUS CREW at Real Salt Lake
Saturday, May 6 - 9 p.m. (ET) at Rice-Eccles Stadium
Crew Television: ONN; Crew Radio: The Brew @ 105.7 (English)
Crew Webcasts: TheCrew.com and MLSNet.com (English)
FRANKIE HEJDUK HOPEFUL AS U.S. MANAGER BRUCE ARENA TO ANNOUNCE 23-MAN U.S. WORLD CUP ROSTER ON TUESDAY, MAY 2, LIVE ON THE 6 P.M. SPORTSCENTER
U.S. Manager Bruce Arena will name his 23-man U.S. roster for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Germany on Tuesday, May 2, live during the 6 p.m. SportsCenter. Crew defender and two-time World Cup participant Frankie Hejduk is hoping to be named to his third World Cup squad. </p>
JON BUSCH AND SWACO ATTEND BURROUGHS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TODAY TO ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF SWACO POSTER CONTEST ABOUT RECYCLING
Columbus Crew Goalkeeper Jon Busch will join students of Burroughs Elementary School this afternoon (Monday, May 1, at 2:45 p.m.) to announce the winners of a SWACO poster contest about recycling. The winning students from Burroughs will join student winners from Devonshire Elementary at The Crew game on Saturday, May 13, courtesy of The Crew and SWACO. The contest among the students from Burroughs and Devonshire is designed to promote the in-school recycling program in the Columbus School District sponsored by SWACO. Winning students will receive their game ticket, admission to a Crew Party Suite, food, and transportation. </p>
SWACO Executive Director Mike Long hopes the contest will help deliver the message of recycling to the classroom as well as at home. "We have always found a receptive audience with Columbus area students," said Long. "We know they understand the need to recycle and hope they will be the grassroots on their home front to encourage Mom and Dad to join us. SWACO is proud to include Burroughs and Devonshire schools in our education program. We believe this new learning experience for the students will boost recycling in their schools and throughout the district." </p>
Recycling at Crew Stadium began with the 2005 season. The team, Crew fans and SWACO recycled six tons of bottles, cans and cardboard during last year. The Crew recently received a Central Ohio Emerald Award for Partnership in recognition of those efforts. </p>
OVER 1,800 STUDENTS ATTENDED SATURDAY'S GAME AS PART OF THE PENNIES FOR PATIENTS PROGRAM
Over 1,800 central Ohio students attended The Crew game on Saturday, April 29, courtesy of Grange Insurance, as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) Pennies For Patients Program. These students represented over 250 Central Ohio schools and raised over $277,000 to help find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Genoa Middle School led all schools with a grand total of over $9,000 raised. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Grange Insurance, Huntington Banks and the Columbus Crew partnered to raise money for the LLS and the Pennies for Patients Program. This is the fifth year that The Crew has been a part of the Pennies For Patients Program.</p>
CREW RESERVES FACE REAL SALT LAKE RESERVES ON SUNDAY IN SALT LAKE
The Crew Reserves (0-2-0) will play the Real Salt Lake Reserves (1-0-1) on Sunday, May 7, at Noon (ET) in Salt Lake in its third of 12 reserve matches this season.</p>
CREW NIGHT AT WOSU GO AUCTION SET FOR THURSDAY, MAY 4
The Crew will once again be involved with the WOSU Go Auction! on Thursday, May 4, from 9-11 p.m. Players Duncan Oughton and Jason Garey, Crew Cat, the Crewzers dance team and Crew Ambassadors will participate at the WOSU Studios on Olentangy River Rd., next to OSU's Fawcett Center. All proceeds of the annual fundraising event benefit the WOSU public TV and radio stations, so tune in to bid on great Crew items.</p>
CREW SOCCER FOUNDATION APPOINTS JUAN JOSE (JOHN) PEREZ TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mark McCullers, President of the Crew Soccer Foundation's Board of Directors, has announced the appointment of Juan Jose (John) Perez to the Board of Directors. The CSF is the charitable arm [501(c)(3)] of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew.</p>
A prominent local attorney, Perez is the founder of Perez & Morris LLC, the only Hispanic-owned law firm in Central Ohio. Prior to opening his own office, Perez was associated with a major Columbus law firm, first as an associate and later as a partner. He also served as General Counsel and Vice President of Administration for a publicly traded company. </p>
Perez is a member of the Ohio Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; Greater Columbus Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Small Business Council of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce; Ohio Advisory Committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission; Bureau of Motor Vehicles Citizens Advisory Committee; South Central Ohio Minority Business Council; and The Gathering. He also serves as Chairman of the Ohio Republican Hispanic Assembly and on the Make-A-Wish Foundation Board.</p>
"On behalf of the Crew Soccer Foundation board, I would like to welcome John to the organization," McCullers said. "We have very high aspirations for CSF and quality board members like John will ensure that we reach our potential in the community."</p>
Perez has represented clients in employment counseling and litigation on behalf of employers, as well as general business counseling and litigation throughout the U.S. He has also successfully represented clients on various immigration and construction litigation matters. </p>
"I am delighted to be joining the Columbus Crew Foundation in helping to make our city a better place to live, work and raise our families," Perez said. "I look forward to working with the rest of the board as the Foundation serves our community."</p>
Born to migrant workers in Carrizo Springs, Texas, Perez attended elementary and high school in many states as his family traveled throughout the northwestern states working in the fields. After earning his undergraduate degree from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, he attended The University of Toledo College of Law and graduated in 1985. John and his wife, Joan, have three sons. He is very active in church and community activities, and is fluent in Spanish.</p>
The Crew Soccer Foundation is dedicated to giving back to the community that supports Ohio's Major League Soccer club, by serving as a catalyst for community investment and development. Leveraging the club's unique status as the state's - and region's - acknowledged soccer leader, the CSF works to advance the sport at all levels and enrich the overall quality of life in central Ohio and beyond, with an emphasis on developing the potential of our area's young people. </p>
In addition to McCullers and Perez, the rest of the Board of the Directors is comprised of Brad Eldridge, CFO, Scott DeBolt, Secretary, Dr. Jay Martin, Jamie Ryan and Michael Scoliere. For more information on the Crew Soccer Foundation, please contact Dave Stephany, executive director, at 614-447-4190 or DStephany@TheCrew.com, or visit us on the Web at www.CrewSoccerFoundation.org. </p>
CREW TRAINING AND GAME SCHEDULE (Media availability at the end of training; All times listed Eastern)
May
Mon., 1: OFF
Tues., 2: 10 a.m. training at Obetz
Wed., 3: 10 a.m. training at Obetz
Thurs., 4: 10 a.m. training at Capital
Fri., 5: 10 a.m. training at Obetz
Sat., 6: Crew at Real Salt Lake - 9 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium
Sun., 7: Crew Reserves at Real Salt Lake Reserves - Noon
