Real Salt Lake Begins '09 Campaign Saturday Night at Seattle Sounders FC
After seeing Major League Soccer's other 14 teams take part in "MLS First Kick" last weekend, Real Salt Lake will finally get its turn to start regular season play this Saturday, March 28, when Utah's side will travel to the Pacific Northwest for its first-ever contest against expansion side Seattle Sounders FC. Kickoff from Qwest Field in Seattle is set for 8:30 p.m. MT, while broadcast coverage on RSL's new television partner, KUTV2 (CBS), and its KUTV-2.1 digital and KUTV-HD high-definition (Comcast Ch. 654) channels will start at 8:00 p.m. with the America First Credit Union Pre-Game Show. Fans can also catch the action live on RSL's English radio partner, KALL 700 Sports, starting with RSL First Kick pre-game coverage at 7:30 p.m.
Real Salt Lake and Seattle may be meeting for the first time on Saturday, but there are still some links between the two sides. Real Salt Lake rookie MF Raphael Cox will be making a homecoming this weekend, as the University of Washington standout was born and raised in nearby Tacoma, while Sounders FC D/M Nathan Sturgis will have the opportunity to take on the Claret-and-Cobalt for the first time since he was plucked by Seattle in last November's MLS Expansion Draft. In addition, a marquee match-up pitting a pair of Colombian natives and former teammates is in the works, as RSL DF Jamison Olave and Seattle FW Fredy Montero will square off for the first time since they played for South American power Deportivo Cali during portions of the 2004, 2005 & 2007 Colombian Copa Mustang seasons. Real Salt Lake will look to put disappointing draws in its last two MLS openers behind it and improve upon its 0-1-3 overall mark in season debuts.
RSL 2009 Season Media Credential Applications Due Friday at 5:00 p.m. MT
In anticipation of Real Salt Lake's fifth campaign in Major League Soccer, the RSL Soccer Media Services Department is now accepting full season credential applications for the Utah side's 2009 campaign. Local media interested in covering RSL's upcoming home schedule of games at Rio Tinto Stadium can click on the following link to fill out the online application at www.riotintostadium.iwebreg.com. All media members whose applications are received by this Friday, March 27, at 5:00 p.m. MT will be able to pick-up their credentials at RSL's Rio Tinto Stadium opener on April 2 v. Columbus.
Media members with any questions regarding the 2009 RSL season credentialing process are asked to contact John Koluder at jkoluder@RealSaltLake.com or 801-727-2716.
RSL Hits the Airwaves with Weekly Hits on KALL 700 Sports & 1280 The Zone
Real Salt Lake players and coaches will be taking to the radio airwaves every week throughout the 2009 season, as the team's radio home, KALL 700 Sports, and 1280 The Zone will welcome RSL personalities to their studios to give fans the scoop on RSL every Monday through Thursday. The radio blitz yesterday with defender Chris Wingert's "Wingin' It" segment on KALL 700 Sports' Bill & Spence show, and will continue with the following set schedule for each week:
Mondays: "Wingin' It" with Chris Wingert - KALL 700 Sports' Bill & Spence Show at 4:40 p.m. MT
Tuesdays: GM Garth Lagerwey - KALL 700 Sports' Bill & Spence Show at 4:20 p.m. MT
Wednesdays: RSL Coach's Corner with Jason Kreis - KALL 700 Sports from 6:00-7:00 p.m. MT
Thursdays: GM Garth Lagerwey - 1280 The Zone with "Monson and Graham" at 4:20 p.m. MT
Thursdays: RSL First Kick with Spencer Checketts & Trey Fitz-Gerald - KALL 700 Sports from 7:00-8:00 p.m. MT
We've got Just the Ticket for RSL's 2009 Home Schedule at Rio Tinto Stadium!
Only nine days remain until Real Salt Lake kicks off its first full campaign at Rio Tinto Stadium, and time is running out to secure your seats for RSL's marquee match-up against the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew next Thursday, April 2. Whether you're looking for seats for the home opener, every 2009 Real Salt Lake contest, or something in between, RSL has you covered with the following ticket options:
• Individual game tickets are available at the following prices: $15 (Upper Deck) / $18 (North End Zone) / $20 (South End Zone/Supporters Section) / $25 (Corner Flag) / $30 (Lower Sideline) / $60 (Stadium)
• RSL 2009 Season Tickets start at just $300, with benefits including seats to all 15 MLS contests, the 2009 MLS All-Star Game, and additional exhibitions; right of first refusal for additional events taking place at Rio Tinto Stadium; an invitation to the club's annual "Meet the Team Day" event; and much more.
• The RSL Flex Pack includes 18 vouchers redeemable in any combination for any of the team's regular season games. The RSL Flex Pack is available in four different price levels, starting at $315 for North Goal seats.
• The RSL Family 4-Pack is available for every home regular-season game and includes four tickets, four brats and four drinks for only $88.
To order your tickets or obtain more information regarding Real Salt Lake's 2009 seating options, please visit www.RioTintoStadium.com or call 800-838-3380.
Out with the Old ('08) and in with the New ('09) at RSL Team Store
So you thought spring had sprung, eh? Well, the Real Salt Lake Team Store at Rio Tinto Stadium (located on the east side of the stadium at 9256 S. State Street in Sandy) figured old man winter might be back, so this week's "Item of the Week" special is bringing long sleeves back into focus by offering a free RSL T-shirt with the purchase of an authentic 2008 home RSL long-sleeve jersey. In addition, the RSL Team Store will carry over last week's "Real Hours" special to this Friday, offering all 2008 RSL T-shirts and polos for 50% off from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
The RSL Team Store is looking to get these 2008 items out the door as soon as possible to make room for the shipments of '09 gear that is coming in this week, so make sure to check RSL's Behind the Shield blog, located at www.RSLtotheCore.com, to see when the new merchandise will be hitting the shelves. To take advantage of the store's weekly deals and to see the full range of officially licensed RSL gear, drop by the RSL Team Store during regular business hours: Monday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. MT. For more information on the Real Salt Lake Team Store - including $10 shipping, phone orders, autographed and personalized merchandise, and how you can get 25% off your purchases - call the RSL Merchandise Hotline at 801-727-2888.
USA Men's and Women's Teams to Call Rio Tinto Stadium Home in 2009
The first full season of events at Rio Tinto Stadium will feature the return of U.S. Soccer to the Beehive State, as games featuring the United States Men's and Women's National Teams have been finalized. U.S. Soccer will announce ticket information for both contests in the near future, but Real Salt Lake has announced that the club's 2009 season ticket holders will be given the opportunity to purchase tickets for both USA matches before seats become available to the general public.
The U.S. Women will start off the star-spangled soccer slate in Sandy on Saturday, May 23, when the defending Olympic champions will take on Japan in a rematch of their Olympic semifinal clash last summer in Beijing, with kickoff for the Memorial Day weekend friendly set for 4:00 p.m. MT. On Saturday, Sept. 5, the U.S. Men's National Team will take its turn in calling Rio Tinto Stadium home, as the squad will play host to El Salvador in a pivotal CONCACAF region World Cup qualifier. Kickoff and broadcast information for the contest will be announced by U.S. Soccer in the near future.
CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' 2009 Tour Joins the Eagles and Kenny Chesney on Rio Tinto Stadium Concert Slate
Rio Tinto Stadium has already lined up three big shows to start off the state-of-the-art venue's slate of concerts in 2009, with the Eagles' Long Road Out of Eden tour (May 9); the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' 2009 tour featuring REO Speedwagon, Styx & .38 Special (May 30); and Kenny Chesney's "Sun City Carnival" (July 23) all scheduled to come through Sandy this spring and summer. Tickets for the Eagles ($50-$175), the CAN'T STOP ROCKIN' tour ($13.50-$75), and Kenny Chesney ($29-$125) shows are now available and can purchased via one of three ways:
• Online at www.RioTintoStadium.com
• Over the phone at 888-4RSLTIX (888-477-5849)
• In person at the Rio Tinto Stadium Box Office from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. MT.
For more information on these concerts, or to see the full slate of events taking place at Utah's new world-class entertainment venue, please visit www.RioTintoStadium.com.
