SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Real Salt Lake, Major League Soccer's 12th team, has chosen the SkyBox Sports Grille & Arena at the Gateway to serve as the organization's Expansion Draft Headquarters next Friday, November 19, when Real Salt Lake General Manager Steve Pastorino and Head Coach John Ellinger select the squad's first 10 players from a pool of existing MLS athletes.
Major League Soccer's 2004 Expansion Draft will be carried LIVE on ESPNews at 2:00 p.m. MT and is expected to last between 60-90 minutes. Real Salt Lake season-ticket holders and fans are invited to join the team for this historic event at the SkyBox and are encouraged to reserve seating by e-mailing RSVP@RealSaltLake.com. At the event, fans will have the opportunity to reserve season tickets, buy merchandise, witness the historic draft-day events and interact with Real Salt Lake management and possibly players.
"Our mission at Real Salt Lake is to build a community-oriented organization that appeals to all cultures, ages, and families," said RSL General Manager Steve Pastorino. "We are excited to give our fans the opportunity to enjoy SkyBox Sports Grille's hospitality as we make the transition from a logo into a team."
Real Salt Lake Owner David W. Checketts will participate in a coin flip at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Sunday, during MLS Cup 2004. Checketts will be joined by CD Chivas USA ownership to determine which expansion club will own the #1 overall pick in Friday's Expansion Draft. The coin flip will also determine which club picks first overall in January's MLS SuperDraft, the mechanism by which college and select youth players enter Major League Soccer. The coin flip will be televised during ABC Sports' live coverage of MLS Cup 2004 beginning Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 1:30 p.m. MT.
