SALT LAKE CITY - Real Salt Lake today announced its partnership with Firebirds Soccer Club for the 2006 campaign including season tickets, two club nights, Pioneer Cup tournament promotion and assistance in youth development. Firebirds Soccer Club has more than 1,700 youth, including competitive and recreational programs in Salt Lake City, in the shadows of Rice-Eccles Stadium.
"We appreciate the time, money and effort of all the families that support the Firebirds Soccer Club," said RSL General Manager Steve Pastorino. "We are excited about our partnership - and we look forward to demonstrating our support for Firebirds initiatives for years to come."
Firebird's Soccer Club, established more than twenty years ago, is one of Utah's top soccer clubs and a proud member of the Utah Youth Soccer Association (UYSA) and the United States Soccer Association. The Club was founded to serve the soccer needs of children from around the Salt Lake area. The Firebirds, one of the state's largest clubs, manages 30 competitive teams and 120 recreational teams providing soccer players with a bridge to higher-level soccer.
"In the past we've enjoyed our relationship with Real Salt Lake and we want to build on that relationship," President of Firebirds Soccer Club John May. "I think it's important for kids in our neighborhood to have the opportunity to interact with professional players and coaches, go to professional games and this partnership will provide the Firebirds players with that opportunity."
"We feel that this relationship is beneficial not only for soccer, but for the community as a whole. As interest grows in soccer, Firebirds players will be taught the principles of integrity, cooperation, sportsmanship, leadership, positive thinking, and fun through hard work in a team environment. We want to show them players and what the game should be played like; this provides an opportunity for that."
The Firebirds host two annual tournaments: the Icebreaker tournament held during Presidents Day weekend (February) in St. George, Utah, bringing together soccer teams from around the western states; and the Pioneer Cup held during Utah's statehood celebration (the weekend of July 24) in Salt Lake City. The partnership includes RSL's involvement in the Pioneer Cup, which host 116 teams in a tournament from ages 10 to 18.
"I'm extremely pleased that RSL and the Firebirds have been able to improve its relationship. Specifically, I am delighted with RSL's involvement in the Firebird's Pioneer Cup hosted this year from July 20 through the 22," said RSL Sales Manager Greg Zaskowski. "The notion that every participant in the tournament will receive a ticket, courtesy of the tournament planning committee, to the July 22 match versus FC Dallas followed by RSL's Days of 47 Fireworks Show will only enhance the tournaments awareness and bring more excitement to Real's annual celebration."
MLS Camps, the Official Camp & Clinic of Real Salt Lake, will provide two summer trainers for Firebirds between June and August, and again in November and December to develop players in coordination with the club's new technical director, who is yet to be named. In addition, Sporting Essentials, a sister company of MLS Camps, will be a resource for equipment and apparel to support the club and its tournaments.
"This partnership between Firebirds Soccer Club, Real Salt Lake and MLS Camps reflects precisely how Major League Soccer can support the local soccer community, and all parties benefit from the relationship," said MLS Camps Mountain Territory Sales Consultant Scott Reynolds.
JERRY SEINER / RSL COACHES SHOW CONTINUES THURSDAY ON KALL 700: RSL invites fans to join RSL players, coaches and front office staff at the Jerry Seiner Salt Lake dealership's Iceberg Café located at 1530 South 500 West THURSDAY for the weekly "Jerry Seiner/RSL Coaches Show" at 6:00 p.m. MT. The KALL 700 Bill Riley Show will broadcast LIVE each week AT Jerry Seiner Salt Lake from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. MT, with Coach Ellinger and RSL personalities featured during the final hour.
Each week, fans can compete against players, coaches and each other in the X-BOX FIFA 2006 Challenge. Supporters will compete to qualify to play in the Carnival Real X-BOX competition at every home game, where an X-BOX will be given away to the most outstanding player. RSL's home season and the 2006 X-BOX FIFA Challenge begins Saturday, April 15 when RSL takes on the New York Red Bulls at Rice-Eccles Stadium at 7:00 p.m. MT. Carnival Real opens at 6:00 p.m.
2006 RSL TICKET PACKAGES ON SALE: RSL 2006 ticket packages are on sale and fans can now purchase full season, half season, the "High-Five" pack and flex season by visiting the RSL Ticket Office at 515 South 700 East, #2R, SLC, UT 84102, by logging onto www.RealSaltLake.com or by contacting the Real Salt Lake Ticket Office at (866) 9-SOCCER. Fans can also purchase single-game tickets 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. Finally, fans can purchase The KFC Colonel's Corner $12 ticket voucher, the club's most affordable single-game ticket, by visiting any of the 36 KFC® restaurants in Utah.
REAL ELITE TRAINING PROGRAM: The Real Elite Training Program is a progressive summer training program for boys and girls ages 8-16 with previous playing experience and a strong desire to reach their maximum potential. There are a total of 18 sessions, three days a week, and two and a half hours per day. The benefits of the program include: exposure to the highest level of training; specializing in technique, tactic, fitness and teamwork; training from RSL soccer players and coaches; and two training shirts and ticket voucher to a select game. For more information, contact Teresa Nelson by phone at (801) 924-8565, by email at tnelson@RealSaltLake.com or by logging onto http://real.saltlake.mlsnet.com/MLS/rsl/player_development/.
MLS CAMPS: The Official Camp and Clinic of Major League Soccer is NOW the Official Camp & Clinic of Real Salt Lake! NEW for 2006, Fantasy Camp and focused Team Training experiences. To find out more about all of RSL's Youth Development Programs, call Scott Reynolds at (801) 924-8575 or by email at SReynolds@RealSaltLake.com. To partner with RSL to host MLS Camps in your community, call us today.
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.
