Chivas USA (3-19-5, 14 pts.) returns to The Home Depot Center in anticipation of this weekend's Mexican Independence Day festivities, to be celebrated during the team's game against the San Jose Earthquakes (14-4-8, 50 pts.) on Saturday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. PT (TV/LIVE: Fox Sports Net West 2; TV/DELAYED: KAZA Azteca 54; RADIO: KMXE Radiovisa 830; WEB: www.CDCHIVASUSA.com). The game will not only feature a variety of special activities in celebration of Mexico's most important national holiday (see below), but fans will also be able to arrive early and watch Chivas USA's sister team, Club Guadalajara, take on Necaxa at 5:00 p.m. on the stadium's big screen. For tickets or more information, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.CDCHIVASUSA.com, the official web site of Chivas USA.
INDEPENDENCE DAY ACTIVITIES: Chivas USA has organized a variety of activities for this weekend's Mexican Independence Day celebration, Mexico's most important national holiday. These include the Orange County Miss Fiestas Patrias contest, to take place in ChivaTown; a reenactment of the Grito de Dolores (see below) featuring Mexican dignitaries from both Mexico and the United States; and a special Chivas USA uniform in honor of Mexican Independence Day, which will be previewed during a press conference Thursday at The Home Depot Center (see below).
¡VIVA MÉXICO!: Chivas USA proudly celebrates this weekend's Mexican Independence Day (Mexico's equivalent of the Fourth of July) and the nation's most important national holiday (way bigger than el Cinco de Mayo). On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest and revolutionary leader, made a historic plea for independence in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato, ending a sermon to his congregation with an impassioned cry of "¡Viva Mexico!" (Long live Mexico!). The now-famous Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) is reenacted every year in cities and towns throughout Mexico in celebration of this important date in Mexican history. For more information on Mexican Independence Day and the Grito de Dolores, check out http://www.mexonline.com/person1.htm.
BUSINESS EXPO THIS SATURDAY: Chivas USA will be holding a Business Expo prior to this Saturday's game on the Southeast Concourse of The Home Depot Center featuring scores of national and international businesses from a variety of fields such as insurance, finance, publishing and tourism, each showcasing their products and services to Chivas USA's fans. Please note that the registration deadline is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 13; to sign up or for more information, call Chivas USA Corporate Account Executive Adolfo Romero at (310) 630-4566.
TIGRES DEL NORTE, SPECIAL UNIFORM AT HDC: Chivas USA's final 2005 regular-season game against the MetroStars on Sunday, October 16, will feature an exclusive postgame performance by Grammy-winning artists Los Tigres del Norte in an event dubbed 'La Celebración del Pueblo' (Celebration of the People), a portion of whose proceeds will go to the United Farm Workers (UFW). Ahead of this historic celebration, Chivas USA, Los Tigres del Norte and UFW will be holding a press conference this Thursday at The Home Depot Center featuring members of the group, UFW representatives and Chivas USA players. At the event, media will also get the chance to preview Chivas USA's special third kit in celebration of Mexican Independence Day, to be worn for the first time during Chivas USA's game this Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes.
RESERVES FACE SAN JOSE ON SUNDAY: The Chivas USA Reserves (1-7-0, 3 pts.) return to action this weekend with a game against the San Jose Earthquakes Reserves (4-3-2, 14 pts.) on Sunday, September 18 at 10:00 a.m. PT on The Home Depot Center's Field 7. The teams last met on April 9, 2005 at Spartan Stadium in the Reserve Division's inaugural fixture, in which the Red-and-White defeated their Northern California rivals 2-0 with goals by Víctor Arbeláez and Francisco Mendoza. For more information on the inaugural season of Major League Soccer's Reserve Division, please visit www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/es/reserve/ (Spanish) or www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/reserve/ (English).
CHIVAS USA SOCCER ACADEMY: The Chivas USA Soccer Academy continued its successful campaign in the Baldwin Park Soccer League this past weekend, recording victories in three out of five matches played. The results, by age division, are as follows: Chivas USA 2-0 Chivas B.P. (Peewees), Chivas USA 3-0 Cosmos (Sexta A), Chivas Monrovia 2-0 Chivas USA (Sexta B), América 3-2 Chivas USA (Quinta), Chivas USA 5-0 Inter (Cuarta). The Academy continues play this week in preparation for this weekend's slate of games in Baldwin Park, with sessions at The Home Depot Center's Field 7 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday. For more information on the Academy, please contact Eduardo Creel at ecreel@cdchivasusa.com.
COME TRY OUT FOR CHIVAS USA: Chivas USA reminds male soccer players under the age of 17 that it will be holding tryouts today and tomorrow on Field 7 at The Home Depot Center (September 12 and 13, 4:00-7:00 p.m.). Next week there will be tryouts for players under the age of 19 (September 19 and 20, 4:00-7:00 p.m., Field 7). For more information on these free tryouts, please email Eduardo Creel at ecreel@cdchivasusa.com or call (310) 630 4550 x 3603.
MINI-CHIVAGIRLS: The ChivaGirls are offering a clinic for Mini-ChivaGirls, where young women from 3 to 15 years old will be taught to dance and perform cheering routines. The classes will be held Wednesday and Friday afternoons at The Home Depot Center, with a cost of $50 per month, plus uniform costs. Participants will have a chance to take the field with the ChivaGirls during select Chivas USA home games, and will also be able to dance on the ChivaTown stage during halftime. For more information, please call ChivaGirls Business Director Elsie León at (310) 630 4550 x 3616.
'CHIVAS DE CORAZÓN': This and every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. PT, be sure to tune in to KMXE Radiovisa 830 AM for Chivas USA's weekly Spanish-language radio program, 'Chivas de Corazón', hosted by John Laguna and Mario Valadez. The one-hour program features news, interviews, analysis and fan commentary about Chivas USA and sister team Club Deportivo Guadalajara. To participate in this exciting weekly program, please dial 1-877-883-0830.
CHIVAS USA INJURY REPORT - SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
PROBABLE: Armando Begines (R knee strain), Sergio García (L hip pointer), Víctor Arbeláez (L adductor muscle strain)
OUT: Francisco Gómez (L quad strain), Héctor Castro (L knee ACL surgery), Thiago Martins (R knee MCL sprain)
CHIVAS USA SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12 - 19
*Subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, all times Pacific and all events scheduled for The Home Depot Center. Media access provided after games, trainings and airport arrivals.
Monday, September 12: [Day off]
Tuesday, September 13: Training (10:00 a.m.), University Field 1; English and Spanish classes; Training (4:00 p.m.), University Field 1
Wednesday, September 14: Training (10:00 a.m.), University Field 1
Thursday, September 15: Training (10:00 a.m.), University Field 1; Press conference with Los Tigres del Norte and presentation of Chivas USA's special uniform in celebration of Mexican Independence Day
Friday, September 16: Training (10:00 a.m.), Field 2
Saturday, September 17: On HDC big screen: Guadalajara vs. Necaxa (5:00 p.m. PT); Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes, The Home Depot Center (7:00 p.m. - TV/LIVE: Fox Sports Net West 2; TV/DELAYED: KAZA Azteca 54, 11:00 a.m. Sunday; RADIO/LIVE: KMXE Radiovisa 830; WEB/LIVE STREAMING VIDEO AND AUDIO): www.CDCHIVASUSA.com)
Sunday, September 18: Chivas USA Reserves vs. San Jose Earthquakes Reserves (10:00 a.m.), Field 7; Regeneration for starters, Field 2; ON TV (DELAYED): Chivas USA vs. San Jose Earthquakes, KAZA Azteca 54 (11:00 a.m.)
Monday, September 19: [Day off]
