SALT LAKE CITY - Recuerdo 1600 AM, the Bustos Media-owned Spanish-language station raising ratings expectations across Utah's Wasatch Front and one of the group's three radio outlets, today was named the Spanish-language radio home for Real Salt Lake during the team's inaugural 2005 Major League Soccer season.
The partnership kicks off Saturday night at 6:45 p.m. MT, covering Real Salt Lake's inaugural game against the MetroStars at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, New Jersey. Salvadoran baritone Luis Rivas calls the play-by-play action and Telemundo news and sports anchor Nelson Moran provides the color commentary. The two-hour game broadcast is supplemented by 15-minute pre- and post-game shows.
"We are elated that Recuerdo 1600 AM and the Bustos Media Group have embraced the arrival of Real Salt Lake and Major League Soccer to the area," said RSL General Manager Steve Pastorino. "Our fans, a significant amount of whom want their futbol en espanol, can now call Recuerdo home for the nearly 40 games during our first-ever season."
Real Salt Lake and Recuerdo 1600 AM The Zone continue in Week Two, bringing the RSL contest against the Los Angeles Galaxy from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., live across the Wasatch Front before celebrating the arrival of Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium during the team's home opener on Saturday, April 16, against Rocky Mountain rival Colorado Rapids at 1:00 p.m.
"The passion and excitement that Real Salt Lake represents to our listeners across Utah is already evident and the team hasn't even played a game," said Ed Distel, Recuerdo 1600 AM/Bustos Media Regional Vice President. "We want our stations and our listeners to be a part of the Real Salt Lake family, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship."
Rivas, worked for La Fiera radio based out of Orem, Utah, and has been in the industry for 14 years. He started his career in El Salvador, where he worked for Cadena Horizonte for three years. He spent the next six years working for Cadena de Oro followed by five with YSKL, both in El Salvador. Rivas spent some time with KGRB in Los Angeles, Calif. before moving to Utah in 2003 to work for La Fiera. The El Salvadorian native has broadcasted three FIFA World Cups including the 1982 Cup in Spain, the 1986 Cup in Mexico and the 1990 Cup in Italy.
Moran, Sports Reporter for Telemundo 50/51/57, will serve as Rivas' partner in the booth adding 15 years of experience with sports broadcasting. Moran began his career as a production manager for Supersonido Records in El Salvador. While a production manager, Moran was disc jockey for Radio 123 1230 AM and Radio Mil-80 101.7 FM both in El Salvador.
In 1997, Moran was elevated to programming manager for Radio Mil-80 101.7 FM in El Salvador. The El Salvadorian native made the move to Utah working for Radio Unica 1640 AM as the production manager and on-air talent in August of 2002 and spent three years with the station.
The mission of Bustos Media Group is to provide "Good Radio for a Great Community" by building and managing the premier independently/owned, Spanish-language network and radio group serving the fast-growing mid-tier Hispanic markets in the United States. In order to accomplish the mission, Bustos seeks to attract and retain experienced on-air talent, sales people and a management team committed to deliver to a growing audience the best entertainment, and to advertisers, high-quality service and results, all with high financial efficiency.
Bustos efforts are focused on reaching, through stations and affiliates, a substantial share of the Hispanic audience, and gain, as a result, an equitable proportion of the advertising dollars invested in the markets where it operates. An essential element of our mission is to provide long-term employment stability to the staff, and a substantial return to our equity holders and investors.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS NOW ON SALE: Real Salt Lake single-game tickets for its inaugural 2005 season at Rice-Eccles Stadium went on sale Saturday both online and at the University of Utah Ticket Office, located at the Stadium's south end. Individual game prices are $14 for north goal, $18 for corner flag, $25 for premier east and $32 for VIP west. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Utah Ticket Office at 451 South 1400 East, by logging onto www.utahtickets.com or by contacting the Ticket Office at (801) 581-UTIX.
ACCESS REAL: Real fans can now receive up-to-date information on the team by signing up for the RSL Weekly Newsletter at the fans section of RealSaltLake.com.
